Blue Jackets fall at home but notch a victory from the road

Split double-header in Cedaredge

It looked dire for the Blue Jackets heading into their game against Delta II on Wednesday, June 11 at Tommy V Field. First of all, the Blue Jackets lost to Delta I earlier this season by 10 runs and Delta II beat Delta I. Furthermore, the Blue Jackets were missing leading hitter Jenner Currier.

In the end it played out just as expected, as Delta II handed the Blue Jackets a resounding 15-4 thumping.
Delta II was relentless from the first pitch of the game, showing patience at the plate and aggression on the base path, testing the arm of Blue Jackets catcher Sam Evans.
While second base appeared to come easy to the base runners, Evans sent a message gunning down an attempt to steal third in the top of the first inning.
Delta II scored its first run on a single up the middle and loaded the bases looking to blow the game open early.
The Blue Jackets defense stepped up to the initial challenge when Colin Dill pulled in a grounder between first and second and fired to home for the force to deny the run.
Unfortunately, the play offered only a brief reprieve from the Delta II attack as they closed the top of the first inning scoring three more runs to take a 4-0 lead.
Delta II added four more runs in the top of the second inning, spraying the field with hits. The Blue Jackets defense did make some key plays when the ball was hit to them. Ben Reaman sprinted to deep left center to deny a hit with a spectacular grab and Troy Pike flagged down a ground ball up the middle to fire to first for the out.
The harm was done though, as Delta II built a comfortable 8-0 lead midway through the second inning before pitcher Jake Sunter recorded his first strikeout of the game, fanning a Delta batter for the third out.
Singles from Evans and Dill set up the Blue Jackets’ first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning. The Blue Jackets added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning when Pike crushed a two RBI double to left catching the outfielder cheating in.
Unfortunately, Delta II responded with a two-out rally in the top of the fourth inning, scoring four more runs to take a 12-3 lead.
The two teams traded a run in the fourth and fifth innings and Delta added two more runs in the top of the seventh inning for the 15-4 win.
The Blue Jackets recovered in time to split a double-header in Cedaredge on Saturday, June 14, recording their second win of the season.
The Blue Jackets opened the double-header against Cedaredge under blazing Western Slope skies, looking for a shot at revenge against a team that beat them 12-2 earlier this season.
Dill capped a three-run outburst in the top of the first inning with an RBI double and Crested Butte added two more runs in the top of the second inning, as Ashlee Reimer and Ian Kelly both scored.
Meanwhile, Currier started on the mound, holding the Cedaredge hitters at bay for the first two innings as the Blue Jackets built a 5-0 lead.
After giving up two runs to Cedaredge in the bottom of the third inning, Sunter took over on the mound and struck out three batters in a row to hold onto the lead.
Crested Butte added two more runs in the top of the fifth but Cedaredge scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 9-7 lead.
Rather than fold, the Blue Jackets fought back, scoring eight runs in the last two innings for the 15-9 win.
“The team dug deep in the heat of the Field of Dreams,” says coach Dave McGuire. “It was a good game for everybody.”
The heat eventually took its toll on the Blue Jackets in their second game of the afternoon against Delta I.
Crested Butte opened the game on fire, maintaining their rhythm at the plate from the previous game.
The Blue Jackets jumped out to an 8-2 lead midway through the second inning but Delta I responded to score seven runs in the bottom of the second inning to go ahead 9-8.
Crested Butte took a 10-9 lead in the top of the fourth inning on hits by Elias Friedman and Troy Pike, but eventually succumbed to the Delta I offense and the 90-degree temperatures, losing 20-10.
“It was a great offensive output for the team,” says McGuire. “We felt good about getting the win.”
The team is scheduled to host a double-header on Saturday, June 21 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Tommy V Field.