Crested Butte Blue Jackets post season ends with loss in Olathe

“Their pitcher was just lights out”

Despite having no home field, limited practice time and a frantic regular season schedule, the Crested Butte Blue Jackets Babe Ruth baseball team rattled off five wins, two in the final two games of the regular season, to finish with a record of 5-9.

Unfortunately, their season was cut short as they lost to Olathe 5-0 in the opening round of the playoffs on Monday, June 29.
“We took it on the chin,” says coach Michael Blunck.
The days leading up to the first-round playoff game had the Blue Jackets finding their groove as they handed the Gunnison II team a 21-6 thrashing on Wednesday, June 24.
The Blue Jackets then closed the season with a forfeit turned scrimmage on Friday, June 26 and the team appeared ready for the impending post season.
“They realized it was one and done and they were hungry to play,” says Blunck.
The Blue Jackets opened the game in the hole as mishaps in the early innings gave up a couple runs but starting pitcher Collin Dill was throwing strong and the Blue Jackets defense came around to support him.
“I was proud of them,” says Blunck. “They settled down and stepped up.”
Still, Crested Butte had trouble at the plate as the Olathe pitcher proved overpowering.
“Their pitcher was just lights out,” says Blunck. “He knew how to pitch and kept us guessing.”
Dill pitched a complete game, finishing with seven strikeouts while the Olathe pitcher registered 10 strikeouts and flirted with a perfect game to seal the 5-0 Olathe win.
Despite the early exit from the post season, Blunck finds a silver lining on the season.
“For a team without a home we did pretty well,” says Blunck. “We enjoyed being out on the field. I had 14 players that wanted to play all 14 games.”
Furthermore, things are looking bright for next year as 12 of the 14 players from this year’s team will be back for next year.
“We’ll have a strong returning group,” says Blunck.