The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“Every game we get better and learn more”
It was to be expected. It’s been two years since Crested Butte had a Babe Ruth baseball team and this year they jumped back into the fray with a young squad, so the opening weeks of games were going to be rough.
“The first couple of games were definitely a learning experience,” says head coach Van Taylor. “The first game they could barely stand up they were so nervous.”
After suffering on the road, the Blue Jackets rallied in their first home game of the season against Gunnison. With the comforts of their home field at Tommy V Field and some game experience, the Blue Jackets opened the game in control. Recent addition to the team Daniel O’Brien started on the mound, fanning two of the first three hitters and the Blue Jackets defense turned the third out to retire the side.
They built an early lead combining patience at the plate with savvy base running. Tommy Linehan and O’Brien connected for RBI base hits, Aiden Gunderson laid down a sac bunt to advance runners and the Blue Jackets capitalized on a couple of passed balls to go up 6-0.
Gunnison battled back to take a 7-6 lead and the two teams traded off runs but the Blue Jackets held on to close the game with a 15-14 win.
“I noticed defensively we looked a lot more sound and comfortable,” says Taylor. “The win was huge. It was a wake-up call for them that showed if we play solid baseball, we can compete.”
The Blue Jackets dropped the next two games to a heavily stacked Montrose squad in a double header at Tommy V Field on Saturday.
Crested Butte opened the double header with a stout effort in the first game. Despite facing an overpowering pitcher who had a perfect game going into the fifth inning, the Blue Jackets did what needed to be done to keep Montrose in check.
