Looks like 'Stangs will host ...
Mullen beats Mountain Range 9-4 on the road to finish its regular season at 18-5; Mustangs seem to be assured of hosting in next week's Class 5A regional rounds.
And now, they wait …
Mullen’s Mustangs completed their regular season on Saturday with a 9-4 victory at Mountain Range in Westminster, a nonlegauer that pushed their record to 18-5.
Head coach Phil Stanford figures it will be enough for the Mustangs to serve as one of eight Class 5A hosts for the 32-team field that is to be confirmed by Wednesday.
The Mustangs are ranked and stand at least fifth in RPI, and Stanford said “there’s nothing I can see that’s going to change us.”
On Saturday, Mullen bats again rolled, piling up 13 hits. Dom Gamueda led the way with three, and Andrew Brady, Henry Stewart, Trevor Moore and Sage Hurley each had two with Brady ripping a triple for his 26th extra-base hit.
On the mound, Ryan Jackson got his first start and impressed Stanford, going 5.2 innings.
“He pitched his butt off,” Stanford said. “(Mountain Range) did not make solid contact on him. He really kept the hitters off-balance and our defense did a good job behind him.”
Mullen will resume practice next week and eagerly awaits its next matchup expected to be at Bill Swift Field.
“I can say,” Stanford said, “with a great deal of confidence that we expect to host.”
And as far as progressing in the playoffs, he said “the team that plays the most complete game will be able to keep playing.”
MULLEN 9, MOUNTAIN RANGE 4
Mullen 033 030 0 -- 9
Mountain Range 010 003 0 -- 4
Mullen – Hurley 4-0-2-2, A. Brady 3-2-2-1, H. Stewart 4-1-2-1, Krieger 1-0-0-0, Mackenzie 2-1-1-0, Moore 2-2-2-2, Marsh 3-1-0-0, R. Brady 4-0-0-0, T. Stewart 4-1-1-0, Gamueda 4-1-3-2. Totals 31-9-13-8.
E – Hurley. LOB – 6. SB – Gamueda 2. BB – MacKenzie, H. Stewart. 2B -- H. Stewart, MacKenzie. 3B – A. Brady.
Pitching – Jackson (W) 5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K; MacKenzie 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K; Fuentes 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K. WP – MacKenzie. SF – Moore. HBP – MacKenzie.
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