Blue Jackets put together two wins

Five games in one week

The local Babe Ruth baseball team, the Crested Butte Blue Jackets, just got done rattling off five games this past week during a four-game home stand and a road trip to Montrose on Monday, June 6, finishing with their first two wins of the season.
After dropping the first two games of the season two weeks ago, they were poised for a win on Wednesday, June 1, hosting Cedaredge for their home opener of the 2011 season.
Truth be told, when Cedaredge rolled up to the field, things were looking a bit grim for the Blue Jackets. Cedaredge looked like a classic, big, Western Slope ball club. But upon further inspection, their warm up was a bit rough around the edges.
The Blue Jackets spotted Cedaredge four runs in the top of the first as pitching woes resulted in a succession of walks. But coach Vann Taylor made the move early before the game could get out of hand and turned to Liam Mortell to take over on the mound.
Mortell answered the call, tossing back-to-back strikeouts and catcher Peter Bright chased down a foul pop behind the plate to stop the bleeding.
The Blue Jackets bats came out hot in the bottom of the first inning, led by a triple down the third base line by Aaron Blunck.
Bright drove Blunck home with an error-assisted triple and Montana Wiggins singled and reached third with a couple of steals.
Montana scored off an infield single from his brother, Dakota Wiggins, and the Blue Jackets then tied it up 4-4, scoring on a passed ball.
A failed pick-off attempt gave up another Cedaredge run in the top of the second and looked to get worse when a Cedaredge batter drove a base hit to deep left field. One run scored but when the batter stretched for a triple the Blue Jackets defense turned a perfect relay to nail him and hold the Cedaredge lead at two runs.
Sam Reaman tied the game with a two-RBI base hit as the Blue Jackets base runners took advantage of some confusion by the Cedaredge defense.
Mortell continued his solid outing on the mound in the top of the fourth, backed by some stellar defense. Mortell fanned two of three Cedaredge batters and Blunck chased down a bloop fly ball to make a falling grab, leaving the door open for the Blue Jackets to take the lead.
Unfortunately, the typically sure-handed bats of the Blue Jackets fell silent in the bottom of the fourth inning and Cedaredge took advantage of a passed ball, a wild pitch and a base hit to take a 9-7 lead into the bottom of the final inning.
With the top of their batting order in place, the Blue Jackets had one more shot at their first win of the season, but Cedaredge sealed the 9-7 win with their hard-throwing closer.
The Blue Jackets notched their first win of the season on Friday taking down Delta and then followed up with their second win in a row, defeating Paonia in the first game of a double-header on Saturday.
Paonia won the second game and the Blue Jackets hit a wall against Montrose on Monday, June 6, dropping their record to 2-5.
The Blue Jackets host Gunnison on Friday, June 10 at Tommy V Field at 6 p.m.

Check Also

Crested Butte Nordic team opens race season this weekend

“I’m really excited to see where everyone is” By Than Acuff  While young, the Crested …