LAKEWOOD – For the first time in program history, the Merino baseball team is on top.
 
In a 10-inning marathon, the No. 1 seeded Rams claimed the 2022 1A baseball championship over No. 6 seeded defending champions Holly, 4-3, on a walk-off single from Deacon Trenkle.
 
“I don’t how to describe that hit, I still have goosebumps,” Trenkle exclaimed. “My coach said, ‘lay off the high fastballs right here.’ I saw a high fastball and I said, ‘no coach, I’m hitting this right here!’
 
The golden hit from Trenkle completed the revenge from last season for Merino, as they came up short against the Wildcats in the semifinals. It was also a redemption of sorts for the boys on the Merino basketball team, who finished runner-up this past winter in the 1A boys basketball championship game.
 
“This being the first baseball title in Merino history, it’s something special,” Rams head coach Logan Tharp stated. “Holly was a great team today, that was 10 innings of tough baseball. I’m just glad we were able to pull it out there in the end.”
 
Merino sophomore Kaden Piel was a crucial piece in the game for Merino, as he tossed 4.2 gutsy innings down the stretch. Each time Merino recorded a crucial out, Piel was the biggest cheerleader, keeping the team fired up.
 
“That kid is a dog,” Tharp exclaimed. “He loves competition and when you put the ball in his hands, he’s going to fight tooth and nail to try and get you a win. That’s exactly what he did today. That kid, all heart.”
 
“I have no words, this is a dream come true,” Piel said. “Being on the mound made my heart race, but I knew my team had my back no matter what. It’s just an unbreakable bond that we have this year and it’s something we will never forget.”
 
Trenkle tossed the first 5.1 innings of the game, only allowing one run while striking out five. At the dish, Piel added a pair of hits and runs, while Caleb Dines went 3-for-4 with two doubles.
 
For the Wildcats, the 2021 1A champs, they trailed 3-1 going into their final at bat, before Andre Salgado ripped a gapper to right center, and came all the way around for an inside the park HR. On the mound, Dakota Eaton and Julian Terrazas combined for seven innings pitched, only allowing two earned runs while striking out five.
 
The first two innings was a pitchers dual, as Holly managed a trio of hits, while Merino were held hitless. The Wildcats broke the ice in the top of the third, as Eaton drove in the first run on an RBI base hit. He then came back out and pitched a quick 1-2-3 bottom of the third to keep it a one-run game into the fourth.
 
Merino collected their first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth, and that led to their first run on a groundout to tie it at one. Later in the inning, Zach Batt drove in a second run on an RBI fielder’s choice, giving Merino their first lead, 2-1, into the fifth.
 
Trenkle continued to hold the Holly bats mostly in check, tossing a scoreless top of the fifth. Andre Salgado answered on the mound with a 1-2-3 inning to keep the one score game intact with two innings to play.
 
Holly had a golden opportunity in the top of the sixth, as they got a pair of walks to lead it off, but a caught stealing at third took a crucial runner off the base path. Later in the inning, the bases became loaded on a pair more walks, but a harmless pop out induced by new pitcher, Piel, kept the Rams ahead.
 
The Rams gained some insurance in the bottom of the sixth, as Dines notched an RBI single to make it 3-1. Holly wasted little time in getting the offense going, as a double and an inside the park HR from Salgado made it 3-3.
 
In the first two extra frames, both sides would allow some base runners, but would not yield any runs. Then came the bottom of the tenth, as the first two batters reached on a HBP and walk. That brought up Trekle, who delivered the game-winning hit, and the 1A baseball title back to Eastern Colorado.