Pine Creek resilient in victory and defeat

DENVER • Grasping for some sort of answer after a five-error game against Regis Jesuit, Glenn Millhauser and his Pine Creek club were eliminated from the 5A playoffs leaving behind three games that will be hard to forget.

The Eagles’ season ended in a 6-5 loss to Regis Jesuit but the team showed great resilience in beating Ralston Valley 11-8 in Sunday’s opener.

This coming two days after Pine Creek blew a four-run lead to top-ranked Cherry Creek in the seventh and lost in the eighth.

Against Ralston Valley the Eagles were the heartbreakers.

Pine Creek was down 7-3 entering the fifth inning before back-to-back homers cut the deficit to one. Reagan Biechler homered into the trees behind the fence at Bishop Machbeuf’s field to start the rally and Ryan Warner followed with a shot to left.

In the final frame Warner hit a towering two-run shot that gave Pine Creek the lead. CJ Krainock added a two-run homer to provide some breathing room.

Ralston Valley loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame before Bielcher struck out Lucas McKinney to end the game.

“You know I am so proud of this team and how far we’ve come,” said Warner who went 3-for-4 with five RBIs. “I feel we are the best team to ever come through Pine Creek.”

The second game started similarly to the first.

Pine Creek trailed early, and used the long ball to get back in the game.

Two home runs by Christian Hinson cut Pine Creek’s deficit to one on two occasions. But eventually only five hits grouped with five errors were insurmountable as Spencer Bedwell struck out with Warner aboard to end the Eagles’ (20-4) season.

Millhauser knew his team had chances but the errors were too much to overcome.

“It hurts to see these seniors go, especially on a down note. They’re great leaders and great players,” Millhauser said. “We had a great season but – all teams lose in the end but one.”