Case Nelson, a sophomore at Eads High School and one of the five Eads players who were welcomed onto the Wiley Panthers’ baseball team after Eads failed to field a team this year, put together the game of his life from the hill throwing a perfect game on Friday and getting the 19-0 league win over Manzanola. The southpaw worked through four innings giving up no hits, no runs, and no walks. Nelson struck out 11 Bobcats.
Give credit to the defense for Wiley, as well, as they needed to make one put out keeping Nelson prime on the bump.
It was a strong comeback from Wednesday’s housecleaning of the Panthers by Holly where the Wildcats won two nailbiters in game scores of 1-2 and 7-8.
Wiley is now 8-4 on the season and will take on a good Stratton group on Tuesday. They then have another huge date at Cheyenne Wells on Friday in a double-header challenge as the Tigers continue to click along and are one of the top teams in the league.
Holly is sporting a 10-2 record. After the double-header sweep of Wiley, they defeated Cheyenne Wells in Game 1 of a double-header, 13-5, but the second game was suspended due to weather with the Tigers leading 3-1 after two complete innings.
In the Manzy game, Nelson sat down every batter but one and it was up to Rhett McDonald at first base to make the one ground out needed for the perfect game.
McDonald was also key to the Manzy win at the plate as he went 3-for-3 and drove in runs on a double in the first inning, a home run in the second inning and a single in the third inning. In all, McDonald scored three runs and added 5 RBIs.
Eads jumped out to a huge lead in the bottom of the first scoring 10 runs. They would scatter 11 hits around the field as Nelson held the hatch down from the mound.
Eads sophomore Spencer Uhland was also 3-for-3 on the day with a double, 3 stolen bases, and 3 RBIs.
Johnny Vasquez, an Eads freshman, was 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs off of a double and four stolen bases, and scored two runs.
On Wednesday fans saw classic southeastern Colorado baseball as Holly and Wiley clashed in a key league contest. Most of the players from these two teams have played against, and sometimes, with each other since they were Pee Wee players.
Game one was a pitcher’s dual between Case Nelson for Wiley and Holly’s ace Julian Terrazas. Nelson put in a complete game going four innings, giving up 7 hits, 0 earned runs, 1 walk and struck out 3 batters.
Tarrazas also went the distance in 5 innings of work for Holly giving up just one hit, 0 earned runs, 2 walks and struck out 9 Panthers.
The lone hit for the Panthers came from James Pearson in the bottom of the order. Nelson and Uhland would get aboard off of walks, but the Panthers couldn’t get anything going.
Tomayo had a strong game going 2-for-2 from the plate and adding 1 RBI off of one triple. Devin Eaton was also 2-for-2. Hits came from Andre Salgado, an RBI double, Nick Vazquez, and Roque Torres.
In the nightcap the Wiley Panthers varsity fought back after being down by four runs in the second inning. The comeback fell just short through, in an 8-7 defeat to Holly on Wednesday.
Wiley had scored four runs in the failed comeback on a triple by Case Nelson in the third, a double by Nelson in the fourth, and a single by Evan Larrick in the fourth. The Panthers were in it until the bottom of the fourth inning.
Holly grabbed the early lead in the first inning when Reuben Maldonado drew a walk, scoring one run. After the first inning, Holly had the 4-3 win. The Wildcats then looked like they would dominate the contest as they pounded out 3 more runs in the bottom of the second leading 7-3.
But, slowly but surely, the Panthers creeped back into the game. They would score one run in the top of the third when Shaine Winder started things getting on base off a walk by Truman King. Nelson then came up and tripled, scoring Winder.
Then in the top of the fourth inning the Panthers scored three runs tying the contest up at 7-7. In that inning Jace Parker was hit by pitch and went to first base. With one out, Winder joined Parker on the basepaths. Nelson then came through again with a 2 RBI double scoring Brenden Reifschneider (running for Parker) and Winder. Larrick then pounded out a timely single scoring Nelson.
With the score tied 7-7 the Wildcats capitalized off a Panther error to score one run by King.
Going into the top of the fifth inning Parker walked, and Pearson also pulled a walk putting two aboard. Nelson then walked, juicing the bases with one out. Things looked good for Wiley but then Uhland hit into a fielder’s choice double play that was executed perfectly by the Wildcats and ending the game.
Parker had a strong game on the hill going the distance for Wiley giving up 6 hits, 0 earned runs, 5 walks and struck out 6 Wildcats.
Holly had to throw everyone but the kitchen sink in Game 2 at the Panthers as King got the nod going 2.1 innings. The sophomore would give up 3 hits, 3 earned runs, 4 walks and struck out 4 batters. Eaton came in relief for 1.2 innings giving up 2 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, and struck out 2. Salgado finished the final inning giving up no hits, no runs, and walked 3 batters.
