Niwot went 3-0 on the first weekend of the 4A state baseball tournament. (Brian Miller)
LAKEWOOD — After sitting around for more than two hours while watching an elimination game in the Class 4A state baseball tournament that featured a combined 32 runs, Niwot and Durango took its contest in the opposite direction.
Cougars starter Ford Ladd and Durango’s Ben Wiley were dialed in from the get-go Saturday, not allowing a run between them through six-plus innings. Just when it looked as though extra innings might be in store, Niwot pinch-hitter Cameron Kopplinger drove a two-out base hit through the right side, scoring pinch runner Joe Wilson to give the Cougars a 1-0 victory at All-Star Park.
That means Niwot (21-3) is the only undefeated team remaining in the double-elimination tournament headed into the final four next weekend. The Cougars will play Longmont at 2:30 p.m. on May 23 at All-Star Park, and Durango will take on Green Mountain in an elimination game at noon.
The 4A championship game will be at 10 a.m. on May 24, followed by the if-necessary game.
“This is the most fun I’ve had on a baseball field ever, I think,” Ladd said. “These competitive teams and this stage that we’re on, it’s awesome.”
The Cougars survived two wild contests Friday, holding off Green Mountain 15-11 despite taking an early 10-0 lead. They followed that up by edging Palmer Ridge 5-4 on an obstruction ruling in the seventh inning that brought home the winning run.
Ladd, who improved to 7-0 on the season, came into the tournament knowing he would start the third game.
“I could mentally prepare for that,” he said. “Even though I didn’t know who we were playing against, I could still prepare to pitch today.”
The sophomore left-hander used his curveball to keep Durango (15-9) off-balance, allowing six hits and getting three big double plays to keep the Demons off the scoreboard. He struck out four and walked two.
Wiley was equally tough on the other side, giving up two hits through six innings and striking out three.
“He did a great job. He kept us in that baseball game,” Durango coach Rob Coddington said. “Our defense played outstanding today … and really backed him up.
“Credit Niwot. They came up with a clutch hit there at the end. That kid did a nice job and they were able to get us.”
With one out in the seventh inning, Wiley hit Ladd with a pitch and Wilson came on to run. Skyler Messinger sacrificed Wilson to second, and Kopplinger ripped a ball into the outfield.
“I was just waiting for a fastball,” Kopplinger said. “I got it and got a good hit.
“I was just thinking about getting a good pitch to handle and doing it for this team,” he added. “We’ve been working so hard this year. We just want it so bad and we’re not done yet.”
Blake Dunlap had two hits for Durango, which put two runners on base in the third, sixth and seventh innings but couldn’t push a run across. The Demons had runners at first and second with no outs in the top of the seventh, but Ladd induced a pop-up and a groundball that led to a double play.
“Incredible,” he said of his defense. “I’m speechless.”
Durango will return to the Front Range again next weekend. The Demons reached the final four a year ago before losing to Valor Christian, and Coddington said his players are more prepared this time around.
“They believe a lot. Last year I think it was all kind of new to us, and this year these guys are playing to win the whole thing,” Coddington said. “There’s some good teams … it should be an exciting weekend, and I think all four teams have got their eye on the prize for sure.”