Mountain Vista entered the Class 5A baseball tournament as the field’s lone undefeated team — 21 wins in all — but then it suddenly received what coach Ron Quintana described as a “piece of humble pie” in a first-round loss to Arapahoe.
“There was shock and guys were upset,” Quintana said. “But they were ready and hungry to go again.”
The attitude entering a win-or-go home Saturday semifinal against Heritage at All-City Stadium?
“We’re (mad),” Quintana said.
Mountain Vista showcased that edge in a 5-0 victory behind a complete-game shutout from junior pitcher Sam Ireland and strong team plate appearances in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings. Mountain Vista moves on to face Mountain Range at 10 a.m. Sunday for a spot in the finals. Heritage, which suffered its first loss of the double-elimination tournament, is guaranteed a spot in the 12:30 p.m. Sunday championship game.
Mountain Vista and Heritage were scoreless heading into the fourth when the Golden Eagles’ junior first baseman Jon Zakhem launched a full-count home run over the left-field fence. “It seems like all year, once we get that one run or two, the guys kind of loosen up and say, ‘Letap go,’” Quintana said. Mountain Vista extended its lead in the sixth when junior designated hitter Clay Burke hit a two-run double off the wall in center field and it capped the victory with a Zakehm RBI single to center in the seventh.
Heritage loaded the bases in the final frame with no outs, but Ireland worked out of the jam with two pop-outs and a strikeout to end the threat. Ireland allowed only five hits on the day with five strikeouts. Heritage cycled through five different pitchers.
Mountain Vista now needs two wins Sunday to claim its first-ever 5A state baseball championship. That challenge has not altered the team’s approach.
“I think with this group, you just come play,” Quintana said. “Thatap all you can do. As coaches, we’re pretty much done doing our jobs. The boys have got to leave everything on the field.”
