BOULDER — Over these next couple of days, it should be fairly simple for Fairview.
Either the Knights defeat Fort Collins on Monday to win the Front Range League title outright or “it could be a three-way tie if we lose (and) we all beat each other,” coach Rick Harig said.
Fairview clinched at least a share of the league title Saturday with a 7-4 home victory over defending Class 5A state champion Rocky Mountain. The Knights were thorough behind a 12-hit performance and another terrific outing by senior right-hander Ryan Madden.
Now 15-3 overall, 10-1 in league and ranked third in the final Associated Press 5A media poll of the season, Fairview will be at Fort Collins (13-5, 9-2) on Monday. Harig said he’ll see if the first pitch can be moved up to about 1 p.m. to try to avoid the rain. The Knights can secure home field for the districts, which begin Saturday.
Top-ranked Rocky Mountain (13-5, 10-2) will finish in nonleague against 4A Evergreen.
Madden, bound for Oklahoma, had lots of help, but also helped himself and his team. He went the distance to improve to 7-1 (with a 1.40 ERA) and belted his sixth home run on the way to driving home three.
“He did a nice job, and when you press him, he presses back pretty quickly,” Harig said.
Madden was touched for seven hits, including a two-run homer by Cole Anderson, but responded after getting into trouble, including retiring eight Lobos in succession and leaving the tying run at the plate in the seventh.
“They’re a good program, and it’s always fun to pitch against them,” Madden said of the Lobos.
Eight of nine Knights in the order hit safely. Among them, center fielder Tim Ryan singled, doubled, drove home a run and scored twice, once because of his speed and baserunning. Catcher Walker Harris doubled, singled and had an RBI. First baseman Steve D’Epagnier also had two hits and an RBI.
“Twelve hits are especially good against that team,” Harig said of the Lobos.
Rocky Mountain coach Scott Bullock knows to be unfazed. His Lobos probably will open districts on the road, “but we’ve been a good road team all year.”
While noting another of Madden’s solid performances this season, Bullock added that “(the Knights’) offense was the difference. … But we’re OK, and I like my team. And I can’t wait to see where we end up next Saturday.”
District pairings, involving 32 5A teams, are due out Wednesday.
