Air Academy survives late-night elimination game

DENVER - No. 3 seed Air Academy scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the lead and hold on for a 9-7 win over No. 1 Cherry Creek late Saturday night in a elimination game at the 5A state baseball tournament at All City Field in Denver.

"Once again they came through by being scrappy," said Kadets coach Glenn Millhauser.

Singles by Ross Yeager and Ron Burton were followed by two walks to score a run and make it 7-6 Cherry Creek. A fielder's choice off a hit by Jared Brown scored two runs to make it 8-7, Kadets. Another run scored from third base on a throwing error by the catcher to the pitcher that sailed into center field.

The Kadets (22-2) will play No. 8 Chatfield at noon Friday in an elimination game with four teams left, Millhauser said.

No. 2 Rocky Mountain (20-3) plays No. 6 Arapahoe (18-6) at 2:30 p.m. Rocky Mountain does not have a loss yet in the double-elimination tournament.

Burton hit two singles while Matt Moore had a double. Dexter Price hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Pitcher Bob Terry picked up the win.

"He doesn't get a lot of innings, but he came through big today," Millhauser said.