Novocaine - Fall Out Boy (Lyrics)
Police continue to search for suspect after Saturday night manhunt in Garden City
Could snake venom hold the cure to cancer? One University of Northern Colorado professor thinks so
Greeley GoJo’s numb to all outside factors in must-win game against Monarch Novocaine
Moments after his team won a must-win game in the Legion A Elite state baseball tournament Monday, Greeley GoJo Sports coach Josh Mondragon compared his team to novocaine.
Yet it was GoJo's own players, rather than their opponents, who appeared to be numb — numb to the pressure of playing in an elimination game, numb to the stress of having to erase a late-game deficit and having little time to do so, numb to any inclination of going home and ending their season even a moment shy of the final day of the five-day tournament at Rocky Mountain High School's Gabe Pando Park.
As the need for urgency ratcheted up, second-seeded Greeley brought its best — and its bats — in an 8-3 semifinals win against No. 4 Monarch in a game that was far tighter than the final score might indicate.
"I compare this guys to novocaine: Sometimes it's going to take time to work," Mondragon said. "I think the thing that really helps is we have state championship guys — we have the Valley guys, we have the University guys and we have guys who have won a lot of games for us."
They won another game Monday, in the most critical point of the season, at least until today.
GoJo's (37-15-1) will face top-seeded Rocky Mountain at 11 a.m. today. Greeley must win that game to face the Lobos a second time, at 2 p.m. today, in a winner-take-all title game.
If anyone doubts GoJo's players have the temperament to withstand the drama of possibly two high-stakes games today, look no further than Monday's semifinals victory.
Greeley went up 1-0 in the top of the first when designated hitter Freddy Verdugo drilled a triple to center field and scored on the play after an errant Monarch throw sailed well past its target.
The Coyotes aggressively seized momentum, and the lead, with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the fourth.
With just six outs at its disposal, GoJo's showed the same type of moxie and hitting prowess that carried it this far into the eight-team, double-elimination tournament.
Greeley capitalized on three Monarch errors and three hit batters during a seven-run sixth inning. Tyler Kissler's RBI double trimmed the gap to 3-2. Then, in the next at-bat, nine-hole batter Lee Strang lined a two-run single up the middle to put Greeley up 4-3.
"It felt so good," Strang said. "I have been struggling at the plate lately. Just having that (hit) at the right time, the perfect time, it was awesome. … All season, we've had that problem where we just wait to turn it on, and that's usually how it goes."
In a game in which offense came in bunches, the one consistent was Cameron Multer.
GoJo's battled-tested 6-foot-5 pitcher allowed just one earned run on five hits, walking one and striking out three.
"I was feeling good, my arm was pretty fresh," Multer said. "I hadn't thrown in awhile (two weeks). … My curveball was working today better than it usually does. That helped out on a few batters. I got them to chase."
In just about every game of this tournament, Greeley has had at least one player put up jaw-dropping offensive numbers.
This time it was leadoff batter Cael Croissant's turn. He hit 3 for 4, scored a run, reached base a fourth time when he was hit by a pitch, and generally served as an igniter for GoJo's offense.
The game appeared to turn decisively in Monarch's favor when the Coyotes scored three runs in the fourth. But, it turned for good, in favor of GoJo's, during its seven-run sixth inning.
GoJo's win, coupled with Rocky Mountain's win against Horizon later Monday, coupled with Rocky Mountain's win against Horizon later Monday Novocaine
As a result, GoJo's clinched one of two berths allocated to Colorado teams for the Western Regional tournament Aug. 8-12 at Metropolitan State University in Denver.
Greeley faces Rocky Mountain at 11 a.m. today at Gabe Pando Park in the first of potentially two finals matchups.
If GoJo's wins, it will take on the Lobos again immediately afterwards, at 2 p.m., in a winner-take-all title game.
GJ — Cameron Multer (W, 6-1, 5H, 1ER, 1BB, 3SO) and Tyler Kissler. 2B – Kissler; 3B – Freddy Verdugo; RBI – Lee Strang 2, Levi Dart, Kissler, Dalton Logan, Verdugo.
M — Nick Santman (L, 7H, 3ER, 4BB, 0SO), Dave Fish (6th, 3H, 0ER, 0BB, 0SO) and Justin Langer. 2B – Trevor Flynn; RBI – Fish, Tyson Trofino.
holds off Colorado State in season opener Novocaine , holds off Colorado State in season opener
Nerves of Steel: Greeley knife maker does well on reality show “Forged in Fire”
Prep Roundup for Aug. 25: Northridge softball picks up a pair of wins to finish Eaton Tournament undefeated
University of Northern Colorado volleyball battles, but falls to No. 12 Illinois in five sets
Police continue to search for suspect after Saturday night manhunt in Garden City
Could snake venom hold the cure to cancer? One University of Northern Colorado professor thinks so
Weld Food Bank is seeking a full time, CDL-B driver. Responsible for our...
Heavy Equipment Mechanic GLH Construction is seeking an ...
Advertising Services Assistant Advertising Services Assistants provide ...
STARTEK Greeley is NOW HIRING! $1,000 Sign-On Bonus Full Time ...
Cementer's Well Service: Oil field cement bulk driver, hiring ASAP $500 ...
NOW HIRING: To apply for this opportunity and view all current opportunities...
If you think this position is for you please visit www.swiftcom.com/careers ...
0 Reviews:
Post Your Review