For the second time in two weeks, the Rifle Bears baseball team saw a pitcher record a one-hitter at Cooper Field.
This time, it was Rifle freshman Charlie Hisel who one-hit the visiting Roaring Fork Rams Wednesday night, joining senior Eddie Medina with a one-hitter on the season for the Bears’ program.
Hisel kept the Rams off-balance all night long, allowing only a single in the fifth inning to Roaring Fork junior Eli Nickamin in the top of the fifth inning.
“He [Hisel] did a good job of challenging hitters in the zone early in the game with a 5-pitch second inning,” said Troy Phillips, Rifle’s head coach after the win. “He did have five walks in the final three innings, but the defense was very good behind him. He will be one of our top pitchers for years to come.”
Hisel struck out six Rams and walked four in the complete-game win.
Offensively for Rifle, Hisel led off the second inning before giving way to junior Delaney Phillips as a curtosy runner. Phillips then stole second and scored on two wild pitches for a 1-0 lead. Junior Levi Warfel later walked in the inning, stole second and third, and scored on a Roaring Fork error for a 2-0 lead. In the fourth inning, Broc Caldwell singled and later scored, while Trey Caldwell reached on an error and scored for a 4-0 lead. Freshman Gavin Peterson then was hit by a pitch and scored, while senior Randy Starks doubled and drove in Peterson for a 5-0 lead. Starks then scored on an RBI single by junior Derek Wagler to make it 6-0, before Wagler scored on a passed ball to make it 7-0 in the fourth inning.
Medina then singled and scored on a single by junior Holden Stutsman to make it 8-0.
The Bears then added two runs in the fifth inning to cap off the 10-0 win.
Starks drove in two in the win, while Wagler added two RBIs as well.
The win pushes Rifle to 11-7 (4-5 in 4A WSL) on the year. The Bears host Steamboat Springs Saturday in a 4A WSL doubleheader, starting at 11 a.m.
The loss drops Roaring Fork to 4-11 (3-2 in 3A WSL) on the season. The Rams travel to Glenwood Springs Thursday for another non-league matchup with the Demons at 4 p.m.
BASEBALL
Olathe 5, Coal Ridge 3
Hosting the Olathe Pirates Wednesday in New Castle one day after Tuesday’s game was rained out, the Coal Ridge Titans baseball team dropped a 5-3 decision to the Pirates in 3A Western Slope League action.
Against the Pirates, junior Lane Stecklein led the Titans with two hits, while sophomore Colton Westphal led the Titans with two walks in the loss.
Junior Ryan Kotz and Stecklein pitched for the Titans as Kotz worked 3.1 innings and Stecklein worked 3.2 innings in the loss. Kotz and Stecklein struck out 5 batters each in the loss.
The loss to the Pirates drops the Titans to 8-10 (3-3 in 3A WSL) on the season.
The Titans take on Rangely Thursday in Rangely at 2 p.m. for a non-league matchup.