HIGHLANDS RANCH — Rock Canyon is the only Class 4A baseball team in the otherwise 5A Continental League, and for a long time, the Jaguars looked like it.
But those days are over.
University of Nebraska-bound pitcher Tanner Krietemeier proved as much Friday by throwing a one-hitter against Heritage in the Jaguars’ 6-0 win on their home diamond.
This wasn’t another step in the progression for Rock Canyon. The Jaguars (10-3, 2-3) have already arrived as legitimate factors in the rugged league.
“It felt different, like we’re not surprised anymore,” said Jaguars skipper Tyler Munro, whose team is only two seasons removed from a 3-15 campaign. “We come to expect it if we play well.”
Krietemeier, who improved to 5-0 with an 0.38 ERA, allowed only Jimmy Ellis’ fifth-inning single past diving shortstop Erik Wetzel and permitted only four baserunners. Making matters sweeter for the right-hander was that his summer teammate and future Huskers teammate, Shane Opitz, played shortstop and batted third for Heritage (8-4, 3-2).
“He was on point today,” said Opitz, who flied out in each of his three at-bats. “He did a good job of pitching to his defense. The wind was blowing, and he was hitting his spots. He pounds the zone, he doesn’t walk people, and when you have the lead, that’s a perfect pitcher.”
Rock Canyon got two runs in the third and four more in the fourth to chase Heritage starter Steven Egeberg (4-2). Krietemeier was a chief factor at the plate by doubling home a run in the third and producing a run-scoring single in the fourth. But his work on the mound clearly was the chief factor.
“It was basically a team effort,” said Krietemeier, who struck out seven. “I had a lot of backup behind me.”
That backup included center fielder Reid Carter, third baseman Drew Sandlin and designated hitter Ty Wiest, who collected two hits apiece, and second baseman Chris Gibbons, who added two sacrifice flies. The way Krietemeier was going, the production was more than enough.
Heritage 000 000 0 — 0 1 1
Rock Canyon 002 400 x — 6 11 1
Heritage (ab-r-h-rbi) — Madrid rf 3-0-0-0, Wilkinson 2b 3-0-0-0, Opitz ss 3-0-0-0, Mul- hern cf 3-0-0-0, Hercher dh 3-0-0-0, Egeberg p 1-0-0-0, Kitchen 1b 0-0-0-0, Griebel lf 2-0-0-0, Ellis 3b 2-0-1-0, Miller c 2-0-0-0. Totals 22-1-1-0.Rock Canyon — Carter cf 3-1-2-1, Gibbons 2b 2-0-1-2, Krietemeier p 4-0-2-2, Davis rf 4-0-0-0, Wetzel ss 3-0-1-0, Sandlin 3b 3-1-2-0, Link 1b 3-1-1-0, Wiest dh 3-2-2-0, Brown c 0-0-0-0, Rodriguez lf 2-1-0-1. Totals 27-6-11-6.E — Opitz, Gibbons. LOB — Heritage 4, Rock Canyon 6. 2B — Krietemeier, Wiest. SB — Madrid, Carter, Gibbens. CS — Wetzel. SF — Gibbens 2.
Batteries — Egeberg, Busto and Miller; Krietemeier and Brown. W — Krietemeier (5-0). L — Egeberg (4-2). T — 1:34.
