Eagles fall in district semis, still qualify for regionals
Heading into last Tuesday’s district quarterfinal contest with Eads, the Stratton Eagles knew that even without winning a single game in the tournament, there was a very high likelihood of qualifying for this weekend’s regional round.
They solidified those chances by winning that contest, but the Eagles bowed out in the semifinals on Saturday. Their RPI score was high enough to get them into the postseason as a wildcard.
Thanks to a pair of runs in the top of the first and two more in the fourth, Eads took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth. Stratton’s offense found its rhythm at that point, and they gained a 5-4 lead with a four-spot in the frame. They would add four more in the fifth and five in the sixth, to pull away for the 14-6 victory.
Stratton strung together 12 hits, two apiece by Camden Bledsoe, Ethan Bohnen, Jose Gallardo, and Gage Levin. Charlie Tagtmeyer drove in a game-high four runs and Bledsoe scored three times.
As a team, the Eagles stole 11 bases, three by Cyler Notter. Cooper Seaman allowed four runs (two earned), on six hits and four walks, while striking out a dozen in five innings to collect the win. Dawson Thompson worked the final two innings to earn the save.
The win advanced Stratton to Saturday’s semifinal contest against the No. 1 seed, Holly, at Las Animas. Their offense would be held at bay, as the lineup only managed two hits, a single by Bohnen and a triple by Gallardo. Holly pushed a single run across the plate in the bottom of the second, which would be the winning run in a 10-0 victory by the defending state champs.
Despite the loss, Stratton finished the week ranked eighth in the RPI. With the five district champions seeded 1-5 for regionals, that RPI standing was good enough to garner the No. 10 seed in regionals.
The Eagles will face District 5 runner-up, Haxtun, on Saturday at Cheyenne Wells. Cheyenne Wells, who defeated Holly 1-0 to win the district, will face No. 15 Prairie. The winners of those two games will meet with a spot in the Final Four at stake.
Stratton 14, Eads 6
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Stratton 1 0 0 4 4 5 x 14 12 3
Eads 2 0 0 2 0 1 1 6 8 7
Stratton hitting – Cyler Notter 1-3, double, walk, 3 stolen bases; Bex Seaman 1-5, 2 RBI, stolen base; Dawson Thompson walk, RBI, 2 stolen bases; Camden Bledsoe 2-3, hit by pitch, stolen base; Ethan Bohnen, 2-4, double, 2 RBI; Charlie Tagtmeyer, 1-4, double, 4 RBI, stolen base; Fisher Schillig stolen base; Cooper Seaman, 1-3, walk, stolen base; Jose Gallardo, 2-4, 2 RBI, stolen base; Gage Levin, 2-4, RBI.
Stratton pitching – Thompson (save) 2 innings, 2 earned runs, 3 hits, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts; C. Seaman (win) 5 innings, 4 runs (2 earned), 6 hits, 4 walks, 12 strikeouts.
Holly 10, Stratton 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Holly 0 1 3 3 2 1 x 10 9 1
Stratton 0 0 0 0 0 0 x 0 2 0
Stratton hitting – Thompson hit by pitch; Bledsoe walk, stolen base; Bohnen 1-2; Tagtmeyer walk; C. Seaman walk; Gallardo 1-2, triple.
Stratton pitching – Thompson, 2.1 innings, 3 earned runs, 4 hits, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts; C. Seaman (loss) 3.1 innings, 7 earned runs, 5 hits, 6 walks, 6 strikeouts.
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