Peetz baseball splits with Pawnee

PEETZ, Colo. — After a weeklong spring break, the Peetz (Colo.) High School baseball team returned to the diamond Thursday and gained a home doubleheader split with Pawnee.

Both games were deadlocked late; Pawnee pushed across a pair of sixth-inning runs en route to a 5-3 win in the opener, before the Bulldogs — being the scoreboard visitor in the nightcap — broke loose for five runs in the seventh to post a 10-5 win.

Peetz pitchers Austin Crane and Josh Cavender went the distance in their respective games. The duo combined to strike out 29 Pawnee hitters.

“Both pitchers threw well,” PHS coach Darrin Fehringer said. “If you look at it, both games were close until late.”

Peetz trailed 3-1 after an inning in the opener, then tied the game in the last of the fourth. However, the Bulldogs could no more damage. Crane struck out 14 and walked five, while allowing six hits and the five runs.

John Ommen and Cavender both had a pair of hits for the hosts in the first game, Troy Clevenger and Corbin Heller having one each.

A throwing error by Pawnee opened the gates in the seventh inning of the nightcap.

Cavender started the rally by drawing a walk, and was then chased home on Clevenger’s double.

Austin Wilson then hit a grounder back through the box, which was snagged by the Pawnee pitcher. However, the hurler’s throw to first whistled past the first baseman, and the Bulldogs padded their lead with a Crane RBI single. Crane then stole third base and zipped home when the pitcher’s throw to third sailed into foul territory.

Cavender had two more hits in the second game, while striking out 15 on the hill. He walked four and scattered four hits.

Clevenger had the hot bat for Peetz in earning the split, going 4 for 4 with three doubles and a triple. Crane, Brady Holtz and Ommen each had a hit for the Bulldogs.

Peetz is 3-3 and plays Tuesday at Haxtun.