Bear Creek baseball walks it o against Ralston Valley

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAKEWOOD — Bear Creek junior Joey Vigil crossed home plate and the celebration was on April 27 at Bear Creek High School.

Senior Jessiah Agunaldo laced the game-winning, walk-o RBI single that drove in Vigil in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Bear Creek a huge 5-4 victory over Ralston Valley.

“ is is a big win,” Agunaldo said. “We needed this. We needed a win like that.”

Bear Creek (6-9-1, 1-2 in Class 5A Je co League) was in danger of falling into a 2-game hole in the league standings, but the win against Ralston Valley (11-6, 1-3) proved just how balanced 5A Je co could being during conference play.

“Our philosophy here is wins are made days prior,” Bear Creek coach Robert Mitchell said. “ e way that you prepare for those games. e mindset you have in practice. at is the biggest thing we are teaching these guys this year. Show up to practice like it is a game.” e Mustangs took a 2-0 lead scoring a run in the top of the rst and second innings without a hit o Bear Creek ace Sam Co man. Ralston Valley took advantage of six walks in the rst two innings and a throwing error.

However, Co man settled in and gave up just two hits while striking out 10 in ve inning pitched before he went over 100 pitches thrown.

“On the mound he is our horse,” Mitchell said of Co man. “He is the guy that we rely on. We trust him.” e Bears extended their lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning with RBI singles by junior Tyler Anderson and senior Tristian Tafoya o Ralston Valley junior Ben Schrag, who took the hill for starter Wyatt Morwood in the sixth inning.

Bear Creek sophomore Aidan Brand knocked in the Bears rst two runs with an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning and sacri ce y in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at 2-2.

“We didn’t fall over and die. We have had problems with that,’ Agunaldo said. “ is year we keep trying and keep going. Today it worked out.”

Ralston Valley responded by tying the game up against in the top of the seventh inning. Junior Laird Jones muscled a 2-run home run over the right eld fence to tie things up 4-4.

Sophomore Jamin Patterson was able to limit the damage and end the inning by striking out Ralston Valley junior Jace Cattoor to end the top of the seventh inning. e Mustangs struck out a dozen times in the loss that ended a 6-game winning streak.

Vigil hit a are to right eld that dropped and Patterson walked, putting Vigil in scoring position for Agunaldo.

“My approach is just hit the ball,” Agunaldo said of his game-winning hit. “I was getting down in the count and I swung at a slider that a barely touched. I had to keep ghting. I was able to drive that pitch (outside fastball) to right center.”

Co man was the rst teammate that reached Agunaldo as the Bears celebrated the victory.

“I’m proud of these guys. We are making big, big improvements,” Mitchell said. “I’m proud of this team.”

Ralston Valley su ered a pair of home losses against Chat eld and Valor Christian to nish o playing three games in three days.

Bear Creek lost to Arvada West on April 28, but did grab a pair of victories and a tie at the Fountain-Fort tournament April