Men's Baseball
The CCU baseball team plays the majority of their home games at All Star Park (Lakewood, CO). When weather does not allow games to be played in Denver, CCU Baseball will play home games at Runyon Field in Pueblo, CO. The location of all Cougar games can be found on the Schedule/Results page.
Mesa State Shuts Down CCU Hitters
March 13, 2010 – 5-time Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Champions Mesa State College made 
quick work of CCU Baseball today in Grand Junction, scoring 28 runs to CCU’s 2, and outhitting Christian batters 32-10 in the final 2 games of the conference series.
It was another tough day for CCU starters, who allowed runs in bunches all day. Their relief fared no better, as the Mavericks pounded home 10 more runs against Colorado Christian’s back-ups.
The Cougar offense connected on 10 hits in the day’s opener but was unable to match Mesa’s potent attack. In game 2, senior pitcher Chris Shea pitched a 3-hitter gem, shutting down CCU hitters to earn the shutout. Colorado Christian fell 12-2 and 16-0. (Boxscores)
The Cougars return home to face Nebraska-Kearney in a double-header scheduled for Friday and Saturday at All-Star Park.
Road Weary Cougars Still Winless in RMAC
March 12, 2010 – With 19 games gone in the 2010 season, Colorado Christian University has yet to play an inning of baseball at All-Star Park. Instead, the well-traveled team has logged over 3,000 miles, 
playing in parks in Texas, New Mexico, Pueblo, and today, Grand Junction. Unfortunately, with a 13-6 loss at Mesa State today, CCU sits at 1-11 when the Cougars are the visitor on the scoreboard.
Jake Logan got things going for Christian on a chilly night game – their first one under the lights this season. Throwing 4 innings, the junior pitcher from Paola, KS came out strong in the 1st, but couldn’t do much to stop Mesa State bursts in the 2nd and 3rd inning that accounted for 11 early runs. Lawson Cheek stepped up in relief, throwing the remaining 4 innings for CCU and allowing only 2 hits.
Colorado Christian’s bats stayed relatively quiet until the 4th inning, when J.L. Buchanan, Chris Guyer, and David Altman delivered a single and 2 doubles . The hits led to 3 Cougar runs, advancing the score to 11-4, Mesa. It would be the biggest scoring inning of the day for CCU. In the final 5 innings, Christian would only cross home 2 more times, forcing the road team to settle for a 13-6 loss to last year’s RMAC Champs. (Boxscore)
The Cougars complete their series with the Mavericks in a doubleheader scheduled for tomorrow before returning home to play their first game of the year at All-Star.
Cougar Offense Unable to Produce at Regis
March 10, 2010 – The Colorado Christian batters had no trouble connecting on balls tossed their way from Regis pitchers Wednesday. The Cougars out-hit the Rangers 18-11 in the last minute non-
conference game, but were unable to turn those hits into enough runs to stop a 9 game skid that includes losses to nationally-ranked New Mexico Highlands and Division I Air Force.
The contest opened with 3 Colorado Christian singles, including a J.L. Buchanan shot to left field that scored a waiting Ryan Serena. It would be Christian’s only lead of the day. Regis brought 2 runners home that same inning, and then scored again after CCU was unable to muster any response in the 2nd.
It wasn’t until the 3rd inning - when another Buchanan single scored Chad Meske - that CCU would get back on the scoreboard. The 4th inning brought 2 more runs (David McKendrick & Meske), but Regis continued to answer. After scoring 6 runners and stranding 14, the Cougars lost the cross-town dual 12-6. (Boxscore)
Austin Bell (L,0-1) gave up 7 hits on 17 batters faced in the first 3 innings for Colorado Christian. The Stafford, VA native threw 1 strike-out and walked 2 batters before being relieved by Cougar pitchers Lawson Cheek, Craig Provow, Jeff Ross, Aaron Orr, and Trey Stastny, who each threw 1 inning for the visiting team.
CCU hits the road in their return to conference action, traveling to Grand Junction to take on Mesa State in a Friday-Saturday series. The Cougars return home the following weekend to square up against Nebraska-Kearney. If the weather cooperates, it will be the first series in their home park in 2010.
Cougars Anxious to Put Metro Series Behind Them
March 6, 2010 – It was a tough weekend of baseball for Colorado Christian University. In their second series of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, the Cougars made the short trip to Denver to take on the Roadrunners of Metro State College. From the first game of the series things looked bleak for the 
visiting team, who quickly found themselves down by double-digit runs by the time 2 innings had passed. It continued that way for the rest of the game, and though CCU collected 12 runs on 16 hits, they were outhit and outscored almost double (boxscore).
Saturday’s first game had the Cougars competing in the end, thanks in part to a solo homerun from Doug Pavlich and a Michael Cavazos run off a Roadrunner error, but CCU was left without enough innings to narrow a 5 point Metro lead. CCU lost 9-4 (boxscore). With little momentum built going into the final contest of the series, Christian was unable to stop the fast-scoring Roadrunners, and by the time the game was over they found themselves on the losing end of a 19-5 decision (boxscore).
Jake Logan (2-3), Jeff Ross (1-4), and Craig Provow (1-2) were saddled with the losses for CCU, allowing 31 hits in 9.3 combined innings. Cougar hitters connected on 33 hits on the weekend, even outhitting Metro State in the second game, but found themselves unable to produce against a tough MSCD defense.
The losses move CCU to 6-12 on the season and 0-6 in RMAC play, and leave the Cougars with a bitter taste in their mouth going to Mesa State next weekend. A 3 game series is set for Friday and Saturday in Grand Junction.
DI Air Force Too Much for Cougars
March 2, 2010 – The Colorado Christian Baseball team got off to a good start Tuesday, taking an early 1-0 lead over Division I opponent Air Force, but couldn’t sustain any momentum on the mound or behind 
the plate to orchestrate an upset over the Falcons.
Jake Logan (2-2) got the start for the visiting team, pitching 2 solid innings of shutout baseball. 7 pitchers saw action in the 9 inning affair. Jeff Ross (L, 1-2) was saddled with the loss.
Though there aren’t many bright spots in a 15-5 loss, senior Chris Guyer provided some. The Highlands Ranch native went 3 for 4 (including 1 homer), scored twice and had 1 RBI. Doug Pavlich added 2 hits on 4 at bats, hit the only other homerun for the Cougars, scored once and brought 1 runner home.
CCU led through 2 innings, but Christian’s pitchers were roughed up in the 3rd and 5th, giving up 11 runs (6 in the 3rd and a 5 spot in the 5th).
At the end of the day, Air Force outhit the Cougars 20-10.
Colorado Christian returns to RMAC play this weekend, traveling to Metro State for 3 games of action on Friday and Saturday.
Cougar Sluggers Catch Fire, But CCU Can’t Contain Highlands
February 27, 2010 – Colorado Christian had a season-high 7 homeruns Saturday (5 of them in game 1 from Michael Cavazos, JL Buchanan (2), Doug Pavlich, and Chad Meske), but couldn’t stop a lethal New Mexico Highlands offense that ended up scoring 6 more runs than the Cougars on the day.
Saturday's first game featured pitching from Craig Provow (1-1). The freshman from Naperville, IL 
allowed 7 earned runs on 8 hits in 4 innings. Lawson Cheek relieved him in the 4th, giving up the same number of runs and hits in 2 innings of work.
CCU found themselves down early, trailing the Cowboys 5-2 before rallying to tie the score in the top of the 4th. A Cavazos single followed by a Chris Guyer double preceded a double from David Altman that scored the 2 Cougar seniors. Meske singled up the middle immediately afterward to score Altman and tie the game at 5.
From there, the Cowboys unleashed. The NMHU squad scored 10 runs in the next 4 innings to put the ballgame away. Though the game saw 5 Cougar homers, they only accounted for 6 of CCU’s 10 runs. CCU lost the early contest 15-10. (Boxscore)
The first inning of the second game of the day had CCU up 2-0 after a Pavlich double down the left field line scored Meske and a Cavazos single up the middle brought home Pavlich. NMHU answered with 2 runs of their own in the 1st after connecting on 2 hits off Cougar pitcher Jeff Ross (L, 1-2).
The Cowboys scored 5 more in the next 2 innings, but never held an insurmountable lead over the visiting CCU squad. Christian scored 1 in the 2nd, 1 in the 4th, and 2 in the 5th inning to keep the game close. A critical 2-run homer from Guyer (the first of 2) in the top of the 5th brought the Cougars to within 1 against the best team in the RMAC, but Highlands matched that in the bottom of the frame to advance the lead to 9-6.
Down by 3 in the final inning, Buchanan singled to left and Guyer homered to right field. The Cougars were within 1 run of the tie, but were unable to bring home the tying runner that waited on 1st.
“We were happy to have competed with a tough NMHU team today,” commented Coach Rob Pegg, “but a few costly errors and base-running mistakes harmed us all weekend.”
In 2 days of play, New Mexico Highlands benefited from 42 runs on 49 hits. CCU scored 25 times after 38 hits.
The 9-8 loss (boxscore) moves CCU to 6-8 and 0-3 in conference play. New Mexico Highlands advances to 9-1 and 3-0 in the RMAC.
The Cougars return to play Tuesday against the Air Force Academy Falcons.
Seventh Inning Slide Quiets Cougar Hopes
February 26, 2009 – Chad Meske and David McKendrick were on fire at the plate, but CCU could not stop an explosive nationally-ranked New Mexico Highlands offense Friday in Las Vegas. The Cougars lost game 1 of the RMAC opening series 18-7. (Boxscore)
Jake Logan got the start for the 6-6 Cougar team, pitching 5 innings and helping his squad to an early 7-
5 lead in the 5th. Meske connected on 5 of 5 at bats, bringing home 2 CCU runners, and David Altman hit 2 for 4, but the hitting hero of the day was McKendrick.
At the plate in the 5th with bases loaded, McKendrick doubled to left center, scoring Michael Cavazos , J.L. Buchanan, and Chris Guyer. The sophomore from Villa Park, IL crossed home two at-bats later when Altman hit a single through the right side. That put the Cougars up by 2 over the #29 team in the nation.
CCU batters went silent at that point, leaving the Cowboys to score 13 more runs in the next four frames.
McKendrick went 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored on the day. Austin Bell, Brandon Anderson and Aaron Orr pitched relief for the Cougars in the final 3 innings. NMHU scored 18 runs on 20 hits. Drew Vassil (4-0) got the win for the Cowboys, pitching 7 solid innings.
CCU will finish the series at Highlands Saturday. Game 2 is scheduled for 12 pm.
Baseball Swaps Dates With NMHU
February 23, 2010 - CCU Baseball coached Rob Pegg announced Tuesday that his squad will travel to Las Vegas, NM to square off against the Cowboys of New Mexico Highlands University Friday and Saturday. Though the contests were originally scheduled to be played in Denver, the teams agreed that with snow and cold Colorado temperatures, a home/away swap would be appropriate. CCU will now host NMHU on April 16 and 17.
Fans not able to make the trip to New Mexico will be able to follow the games on Twitter and B-2.
Cougars Done In In Two Innings
February 20, 2010 – Cougar Baseball came up short in a shortened game Saturday, and were left without the opportunity to avenge the loss in a second game after the last game of the series was 
cancelled because of weather.
The first two innings were quiet ones, with pitchers (Jeff Ross, for CCU) making quick work of the offenses. Things changed in the 3rd, however, when Minnesota State Mankato erupted for 3 runs on 4 hits, 2 of them unearned. The score sat at 3-0 until the following inning, when RMAC Player of the Week Chris Guyer scored on a balk. That was the only time Christian would cross home.
Mankato stayed quiet until the final inning (7), when the Mavericks took advantage of 4 Cougar errors to advance the score to 9-1 (boxscore). CCU finished the weekend 1-2 against their Northern Sun opponent.
Colorado Christian opens conference play next weekend against New Mexico Highlands University. Though originally scheduled for Denver, the games will now be played in Las Vegas, NM.
Cougars Split In Cold Temperatures
February 19, 2010 – Though they’ve logged 2,250 miles in just 3 weeks (including 2 home series in Pueblo), it appears the Colorado Christian Baseball team is anything but road weary. Up against last year’s Northern Sun Conference Champion today, the Cougars brought some heat on an otherwise cold day. Boys of summer? The term hardly applies when, for the second week in a row, snow forced the squad south to Runyon Field in Pueblo.
The first 3 innings of the series against Minnesota State-Mankato showcased solid pitching and tight defense from both squads (only 2 hits between them, both from the Mavericks). A small crowd of fans finally saw some offensive action in the 4th, however, when MSUM’s Aaron Berner scored on a passed ball. CCU got on the board immediately afterward, as a J.L. Buchanan sac fly to center field brought Ryan Serena home. The game was tied at 1 heading into the 5th. Mankato mounted a 6-0 scoring run from there, until a Michael Cavazos walk with bases loaded ended the drought for the Cougars. Down 7-2 in the bottom of the 9th, David McKendrick gave the home team hope with a triple to right field that scored Chris Guyer.
The momentum began to roll from there. The Cougars scored again off the next batter – Joey 
Younkerman (single) – and then filled up the bases with a Serena single and a Doug Pavlich walk. CCU could not capitalize with 2 outs and the tying run at the plate, however. A Cavazos ground out ended the hopes for a come-back.
Jake Logan (2-1) got the start and was credited with the 7-4 loss for Christian (boxscore). Aaron Orr and Todd Souza each pitched one inning in relief.
Craig Provow got things going for the Cougars in the second game (boxscore), though it was CCU’s hitters that did the damage. After a Pavlich double to right field in the 1st brought Serena home, Colorado Christian took an early 1-0 lead. Mankato answered with an RBI off a single the following inning, tying the game at 1.
Despite the lone Maverick score, it was all CCU in that inning. 6 hits (McKendrick, Younkerman, David Altman, Serena, and a Pavlich homer) meant 6 runs, and gave the Cougars an impressive 7-1 second inning lead. Not to be outdone, Mankato tied the game in the third, scoring 6 on 5 hits.
The next inning and a half went fast, with no player reaching a base. MSUM ended that in the top of the 5th with another run. Down 7-6 in the bottom of the 5th, CCU’s Pavlich singled to 3rd. That hit set-up McKendrick who, 4 batters later, reached on a fielder’s choice to bring Pavlich home. A big Altman single to center field scored McKendrick and Cavazos, and put Christian up 10-8. It was all the offense the Cougars would need. Lawson Cheek (entered the game in the 3rd) made quick work of the Mavs to finish the game, giving himself – and the Cougars – the 10-8 win.
CCU is scheduled to return to Runyon to finish up the series – weather permitting - Saturday at 11:30 am. Fans can follow the 6-4 squad on Twitter (ccucougars).
Cougars Finish Off Hastings in Dominating Fashion
February 13, 2010 –22 hits, 14 strikeouts, 26 runs, 6 homers, and 2 grand slams (in the same inning): that’s what Colorado Christian did to Hastings College Saturday. The Cougars wrapped up the home-
opening series with 16-4 (boxscore) and 10-1 (boxscore) wins over the Broncos, improving their record to 5-3 in just the second week of the 2010 season.
Pitchers Jeff Ross and Trey Stastny took home the wins, throwing 6 and 5 innings, respectively, and allowing only 13 hits. Chris Guyer and Brandon Adams rocked the grand slams, both in the 6th inning of the first game. Doug Pavlich, JL Buchanan, and David McKendrick accounted for the rest of the game 1 RBIs. In the series finale, Pavlich, Buchanan, and Guyer continued the homerun action, accounting for 6 of CCU’s 10 runs.
Todd Souza and Lawson Cheek pitched relief for Stastny in Saturday’s opener, while Aaron Orr relieved Ross for 1 inning in the second game.
The Cougars welcome Minnesota State-Mankato to All-Star Park next weekend. Double-headers are scheduled for noon on both Friday and Saturday.
Cougars Go 2-0 In Home Opener
February 13, 2010 – Though they were 105 miles from Lakewood, CCU made their home debut an impressive one Friday, defeating a visiting Hastings College team in both games of the double-header (10-5, 10-6) en route to a perfect 2-0 record at home and a 3-4 start to the 2010 season.
Snow-covered fields in Denver prevented the Cougars from opening at All-Star or Double Angel, but it didn’t bother seniors Chad Meske and Brandon Adams, who led the way for CCU with 3runs apiece in 
the first game. Nor did it affect Doug Pavlich, whose homerun in the 6th inning scored 2, putting the Cougars up 9-0. No, it seems Pueblo is a home away from home for the Christian squad, who hope to continue their winning ways over the Broncos at Runyon Field Saturday.
Game 1 was a scoreless contest until the 3rd inning, when an errant Hastings pitch with bases loaded led to a Ryan Serena score. 2 more Cougar runners found the platter that inning to put the “home” team up 3-0.
So the story went for the next 3 innings – Adams and Meske put CCU up 5-0 in the 5th, and Pavlich’s homer, combined with a Serena triple, extended the lead in the 6th. By the time Hastings put together any kind of offensive effort (in the top of the 7th), it was too late.
Junior pitcher Craig Provow threw 6 innings and 6 strikeouts in the Cougar win (boxscore). Lawson Cheek, Aaron Orr, Brandon Anderson, and Kyle Yanke provided relief. Junior Jake Logan notched the game 2 win (boxscore), after throwing 4 innings. The Paola, KS native allowed 3 runs on 3 hits.
Though Hastings made the later game more interesting, it was still all CCU. Heavy hitter Pavlich followed up on a 3rd inning Mike Cavazos home-run, hitting another out of the park in the 4th to score 3. The Cougar hitters connected on 14 pitches, compared to Hastings’ 8.
Tomorrow’s double-header at Runyon is scheduled for 11 am, and kicks off a busy day for Colorado Christian fans. Follow Saturday’s baseball and basketball (varsity and JV) on B-2 and Twitter.
CCU Completes Opening Series With Two Losses
February 7, 2010 - CCU’s offense was unable to provide a spark that the Cougars needed to go ahead on Tarleton State in the first game of the day Sunday. The Colorado Christian team stranded runner after runner in day 2 of series, leaving 13 on base in the 1-7 decision. (Boxscore)
The host Texans jumped on top of the Cougars quickly, after a Junnior Dishmey-Perez score that put TSU up 1-0. CCU wouldn’t answer until the top of the 3rd inning, when a David McKendrick groundout to the shortstop scored Chad Meske. That 1 run was all the Cougars could muster in game 3, and it certainly wasn’t enough. Tarleton State scored 5 more times in the 3rd, and followed that up with another in the bottom of the 5th.
The loss went to CCU pitcher Trey Stastny (0-1) after 6 earned runs on 6 hits. The junior from Durango threw 3 strike-outs and walked 1 Texan.
Seniors Meske and Michael Cavazos paced the Christian offense, combining for 4 hits.
The only Cougar to score in game 1, Meske did it again in the top of the 1st inning of Sunday’s 2nd game. Doug Pavlich grounded out to bring Meske home, giving CCU an early 1-0 lead. Tarleton responded in the next inning, scoring 5 runs on Cougar pitcher Lawson Cheek. Though both offenses played an even game from there, CCU was never able to regain their early lead. They got close in the 5th, scoring 4 times – including a J.L. Buchanan homer that brought 2 runners home – to narrow the gap to 7-8, but would not score again. Tarleton State won the series with a 12-7 decision. (Boxscore)
Cheek moved to 0-2 on the young season after giving up eight runs on eight hits. Brandon Adams and Kyle Yanke pitched relief for the Cougars in the final 2 innings of the day.
Because of the recent snow, CCU hosts Hastings College in Pueblo at Runyon Field next weekend. Doubleheaders are schedule for Friday (12 pm) and Saturday (11 am).
Cougars Split on Opening Day
February 6, 2010 – Despite 800 miles, a nasty snowstorm, and a Friday game cancellation, the Colorado Christian University Baseball team kicked off the 2010 season Saturday in Stephenville, TX. The Cougars took the field for the first time in 9 months against a tough Tarleton State Texan team, and spent the next 5 hours in a pitching battle that would eventually end in a split (2-3, 3-1).
“Tarleton has a good program and talented players,” remarked Coach Rob Pegg. “Our guys prepared well and were excited about the opportunity to open in Texas.”
Originally scheduled for just 7 innings, the day’s opener went long, thanks to a strong CCU showing in 
the 3rd inning that tied the game at 2.
Tarleton State found the scoreboard early, when Texan junior Junnior Dishmey-Perez stole home in the 1st inning to put the home team up 1-0. An RBI in the 2nd had the Texans up by 2, but a Doug Pavlich single with 2 outs in the 3rd brought David Altman and Chad Meske home and tied the game.
The pitchers controlled most of the next 7 innings, allowing only 10 hits from either team and assuring that innings 4-9 would be scoreless. Jeff Ross, Craig Provow, and Austin Bell each pitched 3 innings for the Cougars, with Ross getting the start. Senior Lawson Cheek entered the game in the 10th, ultimately finishing the game for CCU.
Dishmey-Perez, TSU’s first batter of the inning, got on base right away. 3 hitters and 1 Christian error later, he was crossing home, giving Tarleton State the 3-2 win. (Boxscore)
CCU junior Jake Logan continued the strength at the mound in the second game of the day. The Paola, KS native pitched all 7 innings, allowing only 2 hits and 1 run in the Cougar win.
3 hits (Chris Guyer, David McKendrick, Ryan Serena) and a Texan error eventually led to 3 scores (Guyer, Michael Cavazos, McKendrick) in the 2nd inning, giving the Cougars an early 3-0 lead. Tarleton State answered back in the 3rd, advancing the score to 3-1. Logan held off TSU for the remainder of the game however, helping CCU maintain the 3-1 lead to the finish. (Boxscore)
The Cougars wrap up the series Sunday with a 9 inning game scheduled for 9:30 mountain time.
Baseball: Cougars Sign Local Standout Sam Jones for 2011
Courtesy of the Evergreen High School Athletics Department
November 12, 2009 – The CCU baseball team is please to announce the addition of Sam Jones, a second baseman from Evergreen High School (Colorado), who has signed a National letter of Intent to compete for the Cougars next season.
One of the most consistent hitters in Evergreen baseball history, Jones has been a varsity starter since his freshman year and has posted a combined high school batting average of .438 (71-162). Over the past three years, Jones has led his Evergreen squad in numerous offensive categories, including batting average (2007; second highest BA in 2008 and third highest in 2006), doubles (2007; second most in 2008), triples (second most in 2007 and 2008), OBP (2007; second highest in 2008), walks/HBP (2007 and 2008) and stolen bases (second most in 2007 and 2008).
Jones has posted a career batting average of .451 (88-195) for American Legion play and his .565 (47-84) batting average in the summer 2009 JeffCo 5A League is one of the highest season batting averages in Evergreen baseball history.
In the summer of 2008, Jones was named to the All Tournament Team at the Mike Devereauz Invitational Tournament in Casper, WY and at one point posted nine hits and two walks in 11 consecutive at bats.
Based in part on his achievements at several national Blue-Grey showcase events, Jones garnered active recruiting consideration by various schools including NCAA Division I Samford University (Birmingham, Alabama) and Arkansas State University (Jonesboro, AR).
An excellent student, Jones has been named First Team All-Academic in both 2008 and 2009, and currently holds a 3.86 GPA and class rank of 19/241.
Teacup Series: Gold Captures Teacup Title in Four
October 29, 2009 – CCU’s Gold team pull out a four game victory over an undermanned Blue squad this past week, pulling out an 11-8 win in game three, before erupting for a 21-10 victory in the final contest.
With Gold leading 4-3 after four innings in game three, Joey Younkerman connected for a three run homer to increase the Gold advantage to 7-3. A relentless Gold team tacked on four more in the sixth to increase the margin to 11-3. Pesky Blue did not go away however, and rallied for two in the eighth and two in the ninth to keep things interesting.
Trailing 8-11, Blue’s Jeff Ross hit a bases loaded blast to deep center, but Rocco Bachara tracked it down to secure the Gold victory. Blue allowed four unearned runs in the loss.
Jake Logan picked up the win for Gold, pitching five strong and giving up just three runs on four hits while striking out five.
Joey Younkerman unleashed for the three run homer while Michael Cavazos logged two hits with a run scored and two RBI’s.
Blue was paced by Stefan Katsampes, who went 3-4 with two home runs and three RBI’s.
JL Buchanan collected two hits with an RBI and two runs scored, while Brandon Adams launched a three run homer in the first inning.
David Dickens pitched a strong 2 1/3 scoreless innings giving for Blue.
Gold scored early and often in the 21-10 series finale, exploding for seven runs in the top of the second and turning the contest into a laugher from that point on. Through five innings Gold held a commanding 14-0 lead and finished with 21 runs on 21 hits.
Blue salvaged some pride near the end of the contest, putting up four spots in the sixth and seventh.
Series MVP, Trey Stastny, picked up his second win of the series, going five strong scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out 10. This marks the first time in Blue/Gold Teacup Series history that the series was not pushed to the brink. It is also the fourth time that Gold has won in five years.
Gold was highlighted by Chad Meske, who went a perfect 2-2 with three walks, four runs scored and two RBI’s.
Doug Pavlich chipped in a 3-5 showing with five RBI’s and two runs scored, including a three run homer.
Jimmy Martinez went 4-6 with three runs scored, while Matt Sullivan, David Altman (his first home run ever in his life) and Seve Carbajal all had a pair of hits in the win.
Blue was paced by Chris Guyer, who put on a 3-5 showing with a home run and twin RBI’s.
Buchanan logged a 3-4 performance with three RBI’s and a run scored, while Jeff Ross pitched a scoreless 1 1/3 innings, a huge accomplishment for a battered Blue team.
Gold will once again hoist the coveted championship trophy and Blue will get their voices ready for a rousing rendition of "I'm a little teacup." Just wait ‘til next year!
Blue, Gold All Even in Annual Autumn Classic
October 20, 2009 – One sure sign that fall is in the air is the return of the annual CCU Baseball Blue-Gold Series. Each year, all eyes in the state turn to local D’Evelyn High School, where the Cougars offer a brief glimpse of things to come in the spring.
Despite the overwhelming fan-fare, media blitz and all-around high expectations, the Cougars were once again able to live up to the billing and wow the packed stadium with a fantastic display of skill and excitement.
The series opener began with a 10 inning thriller, as the Blue team was able to pull out a narrow 9-5 victory over the heavily favored Gold squad.
Gold was shining early on, holding a commanding 4-1 lead after six innings. With the contest seemingly all but in the bag, Blue pulled off one of the most memorable rallies in the storied history of the series. Following a two run seventh frame which tied the contest up at five all, Blue unleashed for four runs in the top of the tenth to escape with the victory and ignite a celebration that spilled back onto the residence side of campus.
Blue was led by newcomer Shawn Tichota who went a perfect 2-2 on the contest, including a double, two runs scored and the game-winning two-run bomb in the 10th.
JL Buchanan added four RBI’s on a 3-5 showing, while Jeff Ross pitched five innings and allowed just two earned runs.
Gold was paced by Chad “B2” Meske, who exploded with a 3-5 performance, including a double off the fence in the ninth inning that fell less than a foot away from ending the game.
Jake Logan tossed five strong innings, giving up one run on three hits, while striking out six in the loss.
It was all Gold all the time in the final contest of the doubleheader, as the favorites shook off the morning setback and jumped ahead 6-0 after two short innings.
Holding a commanding six run advantage, Gold was able to coast for the remainder of the game, giving up no more than three runs in the seventh and two in the ninth to eventually cruise to the easy 7-6 blowout.
Blue had one last breath of hope in the ninth, but left the tying run on 3rd, when Gold’s David ‘Voice of Men’s Soccer’ Altman made a strong defensive play to put the contest on ice.
Trey Stastny earned the win for Gold, dominating five innings to the tune of eight strikeouts and only one run on two hits.
Joey Younkerman, collected three hits on the afternoon, while Jake Logan went 2-3 with one RBI and one run scored.
The surprise player of the series was Stephen Williams, who reached base on all three plate appearances, notching two walks and a run scoring infield single.
Tichota remained hot for Blue, notching two doubles with a run scored.
Kyle Yanke was a solid 1-3 with two RBI’s and two runs scored on offense, while making one dazzling play after another defensively, finishing with nine assists and two putouts.
Lawson Cheek went four solid innings in relief for Blue, allowing 0 runs and only two hits.
With the series all knotted up at one each, the teams will resume action on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at D’Evelyn High School (Home of the Cougars).
Aaron Orr
Men's Baseball
Why CCU?
I chose CCU because the opportunity to play baseball with a group of guys who seemed to be less like a team and more like a family who loves to compete together was altogether intriguing to me. For this reason alone, I was ...
