Valor baseball takes state title

BY JIM BENTON SPECAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Valor Christian ended its baseball season in a more satisfying way than it started.

e Eagles had a 4-8 record on April 13 but Valor overlooked the poor start and wrapped up the season on June 3 at All-Star Park in Lakewood with a 4-0 win over Cherokee Trail in the Class 5A state championship game.

It was the 16th straight win for Valor, which won its rst Class 5A state title and wound up the season with a 20-8 record.

Valor, which won three 4A state titles from 201618, used a strong pitching performance from senior Hunter Smith and timely hitting to defeat the Cougars and nished the season with players and fans celebrating on the All-Star Park eld.

Valor coach Travis Cruz had to do a lot of thinking over the Eagles early-season woes.

“It’s like where do I start, how do I keep them going and how do I keep building them to know that it’s just a game of baseball,” Cruz recalled.

“It all started with a bucket,” he continued. “Here’s a Band-Aid and we’re going to cover up with a BandAid. e bucket came to life and they carried a bucket of Band-Aids around and they just kept going. ey bought into everything and just kept going.”

Smith said the 15th-seeded Eagles pulled together.

“My thoughts on the 4-8 start is that we weren’t playing as a team and then we came out with the brotherhood that we have,” Smith said. “We play together.

“ e game that turned it around for us was Cherry Creek (a 6-4 win). We went on a 16-game winning streak after Cherry Creek.I’m so happy for this team. We just did it.” the seventh inning when he reached his pitch limit. At one point during the

Senior third baseman Stephen Lukasiewicz said the Eagles started to feel comfortable as the season progressed.

“ e 4-8 start was pretty rough,” admitted Lukasiewicz. “We were all kind of down a little bit but we had two of our best players out. Once we got them back that gave us a lot of con dence and energy. As time went on we got more comfortable.

Cashel Dugger and Parker Feagan had two hits and each had an RBI.

Valor starter Hunter Smith (29) allowed just four hits in 6.2 innings of work as the Eagles shutout Cherokee Trail, 4-0, to win the Class 5A state baseball championship on June 3 at All Star Park.

“It feels like a dream to win said Cruz. “It was grateful to watch them keep going. We those outs, the game is not over. We stuck together as a

25th in the state tournament bracket, ended the season with an 18-13 record which advance into the championship game.