'Stangs drop a close one to open 2020

 

Who were those masked players?

Softball returned to Colorado high schools this week amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and Mullen’s 2020 opener on Monday at home at Santo “Doc” Scavuzzo Field was relevant to the time. It came complete with players, coaches, fans and umpires sporting an array of masks, social distancing in the dugouts, stands and during postgame meetings, members of the Mullen football team lending support to their softball classmates behind the outfield fence and a parking lot full of vehicles driven by Coloradans who clearly were excited about getting outside and viewing a prep event.

As it was, they were treated to a close one, a 4-3 victory by Cherry Creek over the Mustangs in a Centennial League matchup that came down to a final pitch as the Mustangs had the tying and winning runs on second and third base.

In his debut as Mullen head coach, the well-known Dave Atencio would have preferred a victory, but the benefits for his team were there.

Plus, the actuality of playing a game couldn’t be under-estimated.

“Hey,” he said, “we’re playing ball, we’re on the dirt, so I can’t be more blessed.”

As for the game, Atencio said, “again, overall, I’m pleased. We had opportunities and we made good on a couple of opportunities … but defense was, well … we’ll learn from it. We can learn from this game and be better for it.”

The Mustangs didn’t protect a 3-1 lead. The Bruins, expected to contend in Class 5A, pushed across single runs in the fourth and sixth innings to tie it, then took the lead in the seventh after two outs. Mustangs sophomore pitcher Morgan Margeson, who obviously has made strides from a year ago, unfortunately sandwiched two hit batters around a single to lead the bases, then walked in what proved to be the winning run.

In the bottom half, a walk and a double by senior Maggie Bertsch (she made base four times, including with a couple of hit-by-pitches and a walk) kept it interesting before being stranded.

Mullen didn’t quite come up with a couple of plays in the field behind Margeson, although left fielder Avery Walters, a freshman, turned in a couple of gems on fly balls, one deep and the other a diving stab in the gap to cap the seventh and keep it a one-run game.

Offensively, Avery Panozzo had two of 4A Mullen’s hits, a double and a single, but the Mustangs stranded eight runners and managed only two other safeties.

“We couldn’t finish the game,” Atencio said.

However, he said, “we’ll learn from this and we’ll have a full week of practice to get ready for Grandvew.”

The Mustangs will take on the Wolves in league on Aug. 24, 4:30 p.m. in Aurora.

 

Mullen – Panozzo c 3-0-2-0, Aragon cr 0-1-0-0, Mad. Bertsch cf 3-1-0-0, Mag. Bertsch 3b 1-0-1-1, Hurtado 1b 4-0-1-1, Brady 2b 3-0-0-1, Medina ss 3-0-0-0, Margeson p 3-0-0-0, Walters lf 3-0-0-0, Encinias rf 1-1-0-0. Totals 24-3-4-3.

LOB – Cherry Creek 10, Mullen 8. SB – Richardson 2, Mag. Bertsch.

2B – Mag. Bertsch. 3B – Davoll.

W -- Gruitch. L -- Margeso. Batteries -- Gruitch and Davoll; Margeson and Panozzo. HBP – Mag. Bertsch 2 (by Gruitch); Licht (by Margeson); Young (by Margeson). T – 2:34.