The Cheyenne Wells Tigers spent their time up north over the past week as they played two double headers including a key conference date with Stratton and then finished off with Otis.
The Tigers struggled at times and looked magnificent at other times. Against a very athletic 10-8 Stratton team the Tigers came away with a 7-2 win in Game 1 on Tues., April 25. But unfortunately, the tables were turned by Stratton in Game 2 where the Eagles grabbed the exciting final, 3-2.
The same occurred in Otis two days later on Thurs., April 27. Cheyenne Wells grabbed the win in Game One, 16-12, in a slugfest. But then lost the nightcap to Otis, 8-5.
The Tigers are a good team with a decent 11-6 overall record and are third in one of the toughest leagues in the state in the 1A division. They now enter the first round of the District 4 Tournament hosting as the higher seed on Tuesday, May 2nd at 4:00 pm. The Tigers will take on #6 seed Baca County who they defeated in two identical scores of 12-2 in a double-header played in late March.
The loser goes home for the summer and the winner advances to the District Final Four Tournament in Las Animas on Saturday, May 6.
In Game 1 against Stratton the Tigers opened up the first inning with a run when Paul Mitchek drove in Blake Gilmore who had arrived on an error.
The Eagles evened the score, 2-2, in the bottom of the second inning when an error scored one run.
But the Tigers pulled away for good adding two runs in the top of the third inning when Alex Mitchek doubled scoring Gilmore, and Ty Scheler’s ground out to shortstop scored Alex Mitchek.
Scheler was on the mound for the Tigers in a pitcher’s dual against Cooper Seaman from Stratton. Scheler worked through a complete game of five innings, allowing two runs on three hits, striking out nine and walking just one batter.
Jonathan Reyna tallied a home run for the Tigers going yard in the fourth inning.
Scheler, Reyna, Bryson Hyle, the Mitchek brothers, and Carson Noe all had one hit to lead the Tigers to victory.
Game 2 came down to the pitching for both teams. Alex Mitchek was on the hill for the Tigers working through three innings, surrendering no runs on three hits, and striking out four batters. Gilmore took the reins for one inning out of the bullpen.
Stratton’s Camden Bledsoe went the distance and got the 3-2 win allowing seven hits, striking out one and walking none.
The CW batters saw the ball well in Game 2 pounding out seven hits in the contest. Alex and Paul Mitchek each managed two hits apiece. The Mitcheks and Mason Marriott each hit a double.
On Thursday the Tiger bats were on fire in Game 1 as Ty Scheler bagged four hits against Otis. The senior singled in the first, singled in the second, homered in the fourth, and singled in the fifth in the Tigers’ 16-12 win over the Bulldogs.
Cheyenne Wells got on the board in the first inning when Paul Mitchek doubled and scored one run. The Tigers then put together an 8-run inning in the fourth. Alex Mitchek, Scheler, Reyna, Carson Noe, Bryson States, and Mitchek each drove in runs during the inning.
But Otis came back in the bottom of the same frame scoring six runs to answer making the score 15-9.
The Tiger players were strong at the plate in Game 1 where they racked up 16 hits. Scheler, Gilmore, Reyna, Hyle, and Paul Mitchek each managed multiple hits. Scheler led the way going 4-for-4 with a homerun in the fourth inning.
The speedy Tigers also stole 11 bases during the game. Gilmore led the way with two thefts.
Alex Mitchek got the nod on the mound. The Kit Carson senior allowed six hits and seven runs over three and a third innings, striking out four and walking one. Sophomore Keaton Marriott came in from the bullpen in relief. Marriott worked through 1.2 innings, giving up 5 hits and 3 earned runs, and walked two. The right-hander got the save for the Tigers.
Otis came back in the night game and won 8-5. The Tigers managed to score five runs in the fourth inning to stay alive after they fell behind, 8-0, when Otis poured it on in the bottom of the third for all 8 runs. The fourth inning rally was led by doubles by Alex Mitchek and Bryson Hyle and a sac fly by Scheler.
Hyle was on the bump for Cheyenne Wells to begin the game. The righty lasted three innings, allowing seven hits and eight runs while walking one.
The Tigers had 7 hits in the contest with Gilmore and Paul Mitchek each going 2-for-3 on the day. Gilmore, Hyle, Paul Mitchek, and Alex Mitchek each pounded out doubles.
