WESTMINSTER — For Tyler Fox and Mountain Range’s Mustangs, their objective is not unlike that of the Rockies or any other big-league team.
Every week, the senior said, “we want to win two-of-three.”
The Mustangs had downed usual power Rocky Mountain on Tuesday, then fell to always tough Fairview on Thursday.
So on Saturday, in a game delayed for an hour — no umpires — Mountain Range came through with a 4-1 victory over visiting Fossil Ridge, which could loom large in what is developing into a balanced, competitive Class 5A Front Range League.
Knocking on the door of The Denver Post rankings, the Mustangs moved to 8-3 overall, 2-1 in league, and incorprated Fox’s sound pitching, steady defense and multiple, well-paced bunts to get past the SaberCats (6-5, 1-2).
“It was a fun game,” Fox (3-0) said.
The right-hander survived two doubles and a first-inning run before giving way in the seventh to Cory Cyrus, who notched the save despite allowing the tieing run to home plate.
Mountain Range coach Jeremy Lustik, whose team’s past three games were decided by a combined six runs, said his group has adjusted to the newer, restricted-flight bats.
Small ball rules.
“We do it, we do a lot of it,” he said.
His guys incorporated four sacrifice bunts, three in the decisive sixth. The Mustangs plated two runs in the fourth and were helped by two Fossil Ridge errors to take the lead, then doubles by Cyrus and Noah Draper in addition to bunts by Fox (the cleanup hitter), Shane Meltz and Zach Adams proved decisive.
“We’ve got it down to a T,” said Fox, who struck out nine.
The top of the SaberCats’ order was a combined 6-of-11 — Mike Medina, Brad Lewis and Hunter Donaldson each had two hits — and they outhit the Mustangs eight to five, but stranded eight runners, five over the last three.
“Guys are going to hit the ball, but we made all the plays and it’s a good feeling,” Fox said.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
Fossil Ridge: 100 000 0 — 1 8 2
Mountain Range: 000 002 x — 4 5 0
Fossil Ridge: Medina 3b 4-1-2-0, Lewis cf 3-0-2-0, Donaldson ss 4-0-2-1, Bissell 1b 3-0-0-0, Tapia c 3-0-0-0, Brundage cr 0-0-0-0, Peter 2b 3-0-0-0, Calapp dh 3-0-1-0, Thompson lf 3-0-0-0, Waterland 2b 3-0-1-0, Bryant p 0-0-0-0. Totals: 28-1-8-1.
Mountain Range: Newton 2b 3-0-1-0, Walker c 2-0-0-0, Cyrus ss-p 2-1-2-0, Peterson cr 0-1-0-0, Fox p-ss2-0-1-1, Meltz rf 1-1-0-1, DRaper 1b 3-0-1-0, Adams cf 2-0-0-2, Maestas dh 3-0-0-0, Goodson 3b 0-0-0-0, Pelster lf 3-0-0-0. Totals: 21-4-5-4.
E: Thompson, Bryant.
DP: Fossil Ridge, Mountain Range.
LOB: Fossil Ridge 8, Mountain Range 5.
CS: Donaldson. Meltz 2, Fox, Adams.
SAC: Meltz 2, Fox, Adams.
2B: Medina, Donaldson, Fox Cyrus, Draper.
Batteries: Bryant and Tapia; Fox, Cyrus (7) and Walker.
W: Fox (3-0). L: Bryant.
Time: 1:55.
