The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
There is alumnus among us
by Than Acuff
When I first checked in on Butte & Co at the beginning of the season, they were a hot mess, bordering on a dumpster fire of a team losing 33-4 to the Lords of Dirt. Granted, the Lords of Dirt are one of the top teams in the Wednesday league winning two of the last three league titles and came into the season with some roster tweaks as they search for their third title.
But still, 33-4.
Since then, Butte & Co continued to struggle through the regular season which was a bit of a mystery. So, I did some research, without AI, and while they did finish the season 2-5, three of those five losses were one-run games which told me, there’s still hope.
Then, lo and behold, they beat one of the top teams in the league, KBUT, 8-6 in their first playoff game. So, it was time to check back in on them as they faced the Bearcats, another one of the top teams in the league, in the second round of the post season Wednesday, July 22 at Gothic Field. As an added bonus, there were as many as 15 Crested Butte Titan alumni either playing or in the stands watching. What I found, what we all found, was a much-improved Butte & Co team, just not improved enough to pull off another upset win.
They came out swinging showing what they are capable of in the top of the first inning as Andrew Arnold and Kristin Tyson led off with base hits and then jogged home thanks to a three-run home run from Taylor Miller. Soon to be father and Titans alumnus Grant Spear then doubled and scored when Titans alumnus Alden Watkins tripled for a 4-0 Butte & Co lead.
The Bearcats wasted no time responding with a six-run, two out rally in the bottom of the first. Kate Schmidt and Johnny Green did their jobs to get on base and then waited for the meat of the order to do theirs. Titans alumnus Jeff Snyder started it off with an RBI single, Amber Knight followed with the same, Kody Hawkins stroked an RBI double and then Katie Sauer outdid them all with a two RBI triple just before Jesse Smith connected for an RBI double putting the Bearcats out front 6-4.
Butte & Co then showed a little bit of their old selves with some miscues on the basepath but still managed to score a run to remain in the hunt. The Bearcats looked to build on their one-run lead in the bottom of the second inning, but Butte & Co 2.0 showed back up to pull off a relay and throw a runner out at home.
The Bearcats shrugged it off to still score two runs thanks to RBI hits from Schmidt and Green, but Butte & Co remained in the hunt. And when Titans alumnus Ashton Mabry knocked a two RBI single and Miller jacked a solo shot, the game was tied 8-8.
Until the bottom of the fourth inning and subsequent fifth inning as the Bearcats matched offense and defense to take a 14-8 lead.
Base hits from Cassandra Byrne, Smith and Titans alumnus Robbie Vandervoort loaded the bases. A walk then scored one, Titans alumnus Ryan Houseman scored another with a sac fly RBI and Green smacked a two RBI double to centerfield for a 13-8 lead.
The Bearcats defense clamped down with some tenacious D and Titans alumnus Nick Catmur pushed another Bearcat home with a bloop RBI single.
Both teams provided key defensive plays in the sixth inning and Butte & Co came up empty in the top of the seventh to fall short 14-8 and get sent to the loser’s bracket joining others in a brawl for a shot at the title in the double-elimination format of the post season.
