Tito Nava was nearly unhittable. And once Columbine finally did solve the Cherry Creek senior, it was too late.
Nava struck out 11, including seven in a row, and host Cherry Creek jumped all over Columbine starter Bert Guzman for eight runs in the first inning en route to a 15-5 victory Saturday afternoon at Tom McCollum Field.
With the victory in the Class 5A District 7 championship game, the third-seeded Bruins (18-3) advanced to this weekend’s championship series.
“Today’s performance was just awesome,” Nava said. “Coming off losing two of the last three games, we needed something like this to become the hottest.
“Like our coach always says, the team that wins is the hottest team. So right now, I feel like we are the hottest team.”
After a leadoff walk, Nava got a groundout and a runner thrown out at third before recording seven straight strikeouts — fanning the side in the second and third innings.
“During the second and third, I was just feeling great,” he said. “I felt smooth. I felt I had a rhythm.”
Whereas Columbine (11-10) struggled against Nava — not getting a hit until Brandon Glader’s leadoff double in the fourth inning — the Bruins had no such problems at the plate. Cherry Creek opened the game with four consecutive hits, eight overall in the eight-run first.
On yet another 2010 spring day affected by Colorado’s recent stretch of inclement weather, baseball districts inched closer to classifications’ championship series, but district play will extend at least into Monday.
In 5A, Grandview, Ponderosa and Regis Jesuit also advanced, but rounds at Ralston Valley and Rocky Mountain never began and Colorado Springs’ Pine Creek and Rampart will have to resume today in the middle game of three.
In 4A, only hosts Montrose and Rock Canyon advanced. The other six districts didn’t even try and will play today.
While Faith Christian won’t begin its district until Monday, hosts Eaton, Florence, Holy Family, Kent Denver and Olathe won twice to advance, with surprising Erie and Legend moving to double-elimination.
Las Animas, Limon (behind Matt Brown), Paonia and Resurrection Christian made it through 2A regionals and will contest semifinals and a title game at Englewood on Friday and Saturday.
In the 1A semifinals, Fleming squeezed past Eads 6-5 and Stratton overpowered Holly 14-1. The two will play in the finale at 1 p.m. Saturday at Englewood.
