D’Evelyn baseball shuts out Pueblo Centennial

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

DENVER — D’Evelyn senior pitcher

Tate Aurich didn’t have an issue with a long period of inactivity during the bottom of the second inning April 1. e Jaguars’ starting pitcher was a spectator as D’Evelyn — No. 8 in the CHSAANow.com Class 4A baseball rankings — piled up 11 runs all with two outs in the second inning against Pueblo Centennial.

“I was sitting there just waiting and then Coach Porreco told me I better go stretch out,” Aurich said after the Jaguars’ 15-0 home victory. “I expect a lot of those because we have a lot of good hitters. ere is a lot of times that I’ll be waiting for a while with how much we put the ball in play.”

Senior Jack McMann got it started with a 1-out double in the second inning. After a ground out by senior Kannon Perry, the Jaguars (4-2 record) went on an impressive run. Eleven straight batters reached base on Pueblo Centennial starting pitcher Jack Espinoza.

“With Tate shoving it up on the mound we had to help him out,” McMann said of the 11-run second inning. “It feels good to get it going, especially with two outs.”

Senior Colin Kim had a big 3-run triple during the o ensive explosion.

Senior Kyle Vanek had a 2-run double and senior Gabe Jackson capped o the inning with an RBI single to put the Jaguars up 11-0 heading to the third inning.

“Tate did really well and then we came out really hitting after the rst inning,” D’Evelyn coach Dan Porreco said. “ at really helped. Everyone came out and hit today.” e Jaguars nished with 10 hits, while taking advantage of four walks and three Bulldog errors in just the three frames D’Evelyn batted. It was the second straight blowout victory for the Jaguars. D’Evelyn hammered Elizabeth 19-0 earlier in the week.

“We said after the Florida trip (Spring Break) it was going to be a new start to our season,” McMann said.

It was the best outing of the season so far for Aurich. e senior got roughed up a little bit giving up eight runs in four innings against Prairie View in his last appearance.

“I felt like I had everything,” Aurich said of his 64-pitch outing that lasted