(Max Potter/CHSAANow.com)
AURORA — No. 4 Cherry Creek used a late-inning offensive explosion to top No. 5 Regis Jesuit on Tuesday.
A seven-run seventh inning, started by a double off the wall from Tanner O’Tremba, lifted Cherry Creek to a 10-4 win.
It was a pitcher’s duel throughout as Regis ace and Texas Christian commit Caleb Sloan gave up an early two-run homerun but then proceeded to shut down the Bruins. It was the junior, Jake Lawrence, who had the exceptional performance for the Bruins on the hill as the reliever allowed just one hit in four innings.
“It was a really good team win,” said O’Tremba, a Texas Tech commit. “We always have intensity in the seventh inning and we need to take it throughout the game, we never give up and that’s the best part about this team.”
The Bruins have had three of their four games this season decided in the seventh inning, and they have found a way to win two of those.
“No one ever hangs their head and no one quits on each other,” O’Tremba said. “(Coach Marc Johnson) has scheduled every good team in the state this year, so we have seen a lot of good pitching. I think we have the experience we just need to do what we did in the last inning and we will be good.”
The No. 5 Regis Jesuit Raiders took a tough loss in their opening game, but they will be back in action on the road at No. 7 Ralston Valley on Wednesday to look to rebound after this loss.
No. 4 Cherry Creek will face No. 10 Heritage on Thursday afternoon in Littleton as the Bruins look to get one more victory before they head off on their spring break trip.