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Delta pounds MCHS in Saturday doubleheader

Joshua Gordon

Results ...

Results from the MCHS varsity baseball team’s doubleheader Saturday at Delta High School:

Game 1:

• Moffat County — 6

• Delta — 13

MCHS batting statistics:

(Name — hits — RBI)

• Bubba Ivers — 3 — 0

• Ivan Nielsen — 2 — 2

• Kolton Wickham — 2 — 2

Game 2:

• Moffat County — 1

• Delta — 20

MCHS batting statistics:

(Name — hits — RBI)

• Sheldon Greenwood — 1 — 1

• Bubba Ivers — 1 — 0

Results …

Results from the MCHS varsity baseball team’s doubleheader Saturday at Delta High School:

Game 1:

• Moffat County — 6



• Delta — 13

MCHS batting statistics:



(Name — hits — RBI)

• Bubba Ivers — 3 — 0

• Ivan Nielsen — 2 — 2

• Kolton Wickham — 2 — 2

Game 2:

• Moffat County — 1

• Delta — 20

MCHS batting statistics:

(Name — hits — RBI)

• Sheldon Greenwood — 1 — 1

• Bubba Ivers — 1 — 0

From line drives to base hits, the Moffat County High School varsity baseball team struggled to slow the Delta offense Saturday on the road.

In the Bulldogs first doubleheader since March 30, MCHS gave up four runs in the first inning in both games, falling 13-6 in the first and 20-1 in the second.

“Delta came out swinging in the first game and hit the ball really well all day,” head coach Justin Folley said. “They had some hits in each game, but we made some mistakes in the field that cost us. But, when they come out swinging like they did, it is without a doubt hard to stop them.”

Senior Ivan Nielsen started at pitcher in the first game for the Bulldogs, who dropped to 3-8 overall and 1-5 in the Western Slope League.

Nielsen gave up 13 runs to Eagle Valley on March 30 in three innings, and while Folley said his senior pitcher played a stronger game Saturday, the whole team felt out of sync.

“Ivan came out stronger and wasn’t walking as many people, but when he threw strikes, they hit the ball,” Folley said. “We kind of got into a slump where we couldn’t stop them, and they just kept coming at us.”

Folley said the Bulldog defense made fewer physical mistakes Saturday, but the mental mistakes were costly.

“There were balls we should have caught, but we just didn’t,” he said. “When we get down in a game early, we lose focus and the errors start to pile up. We have to start showing up in every inning.”

Nielsen went 2 for 4 at the plate with two RBIs and junior Kolton Wickham added another two RBIs with two hits.

The Bulldogs didn’t score their first run until the fourth inning in the first game, but Folley said it was nice to see the kids keeping their focus at the plate.

“We kind of got shut down in the first three innings against a tough lefty pitcher,” he said. “But, to have a good inning and put up some runs was something we needed to have. Unfortunately, it was a little too late.”

Folley said he felt after ending the first game strong, his players would come out with a little fire in the second game.

However, Delta (9-6 overall, 6-3 WSL) took an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning against sophomore pitcher Sheldon Greenwood.

“It is hard for a team who loses a game big to be ready to play the second,” Folley said. “Delta was a tougher team than Sheldon has faced in the past, and he walked a few guys, but he didn’t have the defense behind him. (Delta) was dropping the ball in the gaps and getting easy base hits.”

The Bulldogs only recorded two hits in the second game, a triple by junior Bubba Ivers and a RBI single from Greenwood.

Folley said the team has a lot to work on before their next game Thursday against Rangely at home.

“I think the older guys are starting to get a little aggravated with the mistakes we are making and not being able to fix them,” he said. “I keep telling the guys we have to play every inning and every pitch, so I hope to see a lot of push and drive in practice this week so we can start winning games again.”

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