Montrose baseball defeats Delta in windy slugfest

On a very windy day, the Montrose baseball team defeated Delta, 19-9, Tuesday.

Braeden Sprout put the Panthers ahead 1-0 with a solo home run. Montrose answered back when David Dominguez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Luke Hutto reached on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded and Rocco Manuel hit a two run double to put Montrose ahead 4-1.

After holding the Panthers, Montrose scored five more runs and went ahead 9-1 after two innings. The Panthers weren’t going away as they scored four runs in the top of the third. Montrose added one in the bottom of the third, making it 10-5 after three innings.

The teams continued to score, as it was 14-6 after five innings. Sprout hit a two run home run and Brendan Baier had a solo shot to make it 14-9 going to the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded, Manuel hit a bases clearing double, and Montrose went on to win by ten.

Gage Wareham had three hits, walked once, and scored four runs. Jaxon Barnett had five hits, one RBI, scored four runs. Zeke Steenburgen had one hit, one RBI, three walks, and scored three runs. Manuel added three hits and five RBIs.

“We knew a nine to one lead wasn’t going to cut it in the wind,” Montrose coach Landon Wareham said. “I thought Delta swung the bat really well and our kids had very good approaches today. Our seniors have bought into our program all year long and I couldn’t ask them for anything more. Very proud of them.”

“I feel we played solid today,” Hutto added. “We did a great job sticking to our approaches and getting hits when we needed them. Mr. Wareham is a great coach and we are super lucky to have him as our coach. He was my coach growing up, he is understanding and above all else, he wants to win. He gives Montrose the best chance to win.”

“I thought we swung it well,” Delta coach Steve Reiher said. “We just allowed too many freebies with walks and errors. Can’t give a team like Montrose those kind of opportunities or they make you pay.”

Landan Clay had four hits. Sprout tallied two home runs and three RBIs. Baier had a double and a home run. Ty Reed had a double, two singles, and two RBIs. Lance Porter had three hits and two RBI’s as well.