Halfway through season, baseball still shy on winning
After passing the halfway point of their season, the College of Eastern Utah baseball team has let itself fall to sixth place in conference standings, only besting Colorado Community College who has won a single conference game.
This archived article was written by: Robert Hanson
After passing the halfway point of their season, the College of Eastern Utah baseball team has let itself fall to sixth place in conference standings, only besting Colorado Community College who has won a single conference game.
The recent action began at Cate Field on the Salt Lake Community College campus as the Eagles met the Bruins of SLCC. The Salt Lake defense silenced CEU’s bats, as only Eric Morgan and Tyler Jones were able to get on base. Jones led the game off with a single over second base, but was later doubled up to end the inning. Morgan’s base knock came in the next inning, but was short lived as he also was doubled up with the next batter. The game ended with the Eagles being topped 2-0, by the Bruins.
The second game of the day’s doubleheader, CEU fared a little bit better at the plate and on the paths. With two down in the first, Crosby Oldham made it to first after being dealt four balls, proceeded by Greg Farnsworth belting a one bagger to right and advancing Oldham to second. But nothing came of it as Tyler Nelson grounded to short leaving Farnsworth out to dry.
In the Eagle’s half of the second, Craig Lanzeratta, after grounding into fielder’s choice, stole second, was moved to third when Kent Stilson flied out to right, and came home on a Colton Ray hit right fielder’s error.
In the fourth with one out Lanzarotta licked a single. Stilson was then hit by a pitch to advance Lanzarotta to second. Then banging a double, Ray brought Lanzarotta in to score with two now in scoring position. After a Jones strike out, Cole Robinson was walked to load the bases. The Salt Lake pitcher was rattled by the pressure and walked Oldham to score Stilson. After a Bruin change of pitchers, Farnsworth flew out to left, leaving the bases juiced.
In the sixth, Robinson and Oldham were simultaneously walked, then Brett McBride singled over first for the RBI, bringing in Robinson. Unfortunately that was all that CEU could muster, dropping yet another game, 7-4.
Tables were turned, at least momentarily, as the hard throwing Tai Penrod took the mound the next day against the Bruins. With Ryan Whitehead’s two RBI’s CEU went on to take the game 4-1. The intoxication of victory was sweet, but all good things must come to an end. The pumped Eagles put up a valiant battle in the second half of the day, led by Lanzaratta swinging his way to two hits out of his three at bats, and slugging in two of CEU’s four runs. Also aiding the offense, Morgan belted a two RBI single. The Bruins once again spoiled the Eagle rallies, by simply scoring more runs, and dropping CEU 6-4.
Next up the CEU diamond squad made their way to the Community College of Southern Nevada. The first meeting of the trip saw Brian “Goose” Smith toe the rubber for the Eagles. “Goose” hurled a good game, but with only one hit and no runs from his offence, there was nothing he could do but watch the “L” get added to his stats. Southern Nevada took control, winning 5-0.
All that can be said about the second game of this doubleheader is finally; finally the CEU bats came to life. Morgan was three for four with a run scored and two batted in to lead the offence. Reinforcement came from Robinson and Whitehead, both scoring two runs a piece as well as Mitch Ramsdell who whacked in two RBIs, for a 7-4 CEU victory.
In another well-pitched game by Penrod CEU came up just a little short losing 3-4. The following game ended with being shut out 5-0 once again, despite Jones’ and Robinsons’, attempts at waking up the Eagle offense, having two base hits a piece for CEUs only base hacks on the game.
On the seventh of March, CEU made an attempt at regaining the winning momentum by hosting the Weber State Club Team and thrashing them, 6-3 and 7-2.
In Twin Falls for their next series, the Eagles met Southern Idaho. To start it off, McBride made the attempt to surpass the Idaho team, when he smashed the ball with two on, for a three-run homer, but it wasn’t enough and another loss was handed to CEU, 9-3
Farnsworth took command in the following game, going three for four, but only one run was scored leaving a 5-1 loss for CEU
Another shutout came the next day, from a former CEU pitcher Zach Privitt, who now plays for Southern Idaho, beating CEU 3-0. This loss was followed by CEU’s third conference win. One Taumoepeau took command at the plate with two hits and RBI. Two other runs where scored for a 3-2 win.
The meeting with Western Nevada didn’t end well for CEU losing all four, 2-1, 2-0, 8-2, and 8-0.
The action starts up again at the baseball diamond, March 31 at non and April 1 at 1 p.m. The ballpark is located at 1100 East and 900 North, as CEU hosts the Colorado Northwestern Community College Spartans, the cellar dwellers of the conference.
