Blue Jackets look to rally in post-season

“It’s going to be important to get fired up”

No matter what happened during the regular season, the slate is washed clean heading into the playoffs, with the Tri-County Babe Ruth title up for grabs.

Crested Butte Blue Jackets coach Dave McGuire believes his squad can take it.
“It’s a team that can win it all,” says McGuire. “They’re in a good place and we’ve got some guys on hitting streaks.”
The Crested Butte Blue Jackets closed the regular season 6-5 with a win over Delta II and a loss to undefeated and number-one-seeded Montrose last week.
They opened the final week of the regular season with a slow start against the Delta II team last Wednesday at Tommy V Field. While Tylor Byers was throwing good stuff in his first start as pitcher, the defense was a bit shaky and Delta II built a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
McGuire moved Byers back into his starting spot in the infield and sent Troy Pike to the mound before it was too late.
“I didn’t want them to fall back six or seven runs,” says McGuire.
The Blue Jackets recovered quickly enough as their bats lit up the Delta II pitcher for 15 runs, including 10 in one inning, building a 15-5 lead by the fourth inning.
Nolan Blunck closed the game on the mound with a solid effort and the Blue Jackets tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fifth for the 17-5 win.
“It was a great night for ball,” says McGuire. “Everyone got in and got at least one at-bat.”
The Blue Jackets then hit the road to face Montrose on Friday for their final game of the regular season and their biggest test to-date.
Montrose joined the league this season and established themselves as one of the premier Babe Ruth clubs on the Western Slope, taking over first place with an undefeated record.
Crested Butte opened the game denting the Montrose team for two runs in the top of the first.
Ryan Costello was called to start on the mound and was solid but the Montrose bats returned the favor to score three in the bottom of the first inning to take a 3-2 lead.
“Ryan was throwing good—they just can hit good pitching,” says McGuire.
The Blue Jackets strung together another solid effort at the plate to push in three more runs and go up 5-3 by the third but Montrose kept coming. The Montrose middle reliever stepped in and fanned three Blue Jackets in a row and their offense backed him up to score five runs, taking a 9-5 lead into the seventh.
Blunck maintained his presence at the plate, going three-for-four on the night and the Blue Jackets pushed in two more runs in the top of the seventh, but it was too little, too late as Montrose held on for the 9-7 win.
The Blue Jackets enter the playoffs the number-three seed and advanced to the semi finals when Delta II forfeited Monday night.
Another win this week sends the Blue Jackets to the championship game on Friday, July 2 where they will either host Olathe at Tommy V Field or head to face Montrose for a rematch in Montrose.
“It’s going to be important to get fired up,” says McGuire. “It’s a matter of them getting focused.”