Niwot Baseball gets hot in AZ

After an 0-5 start to the season, the Niwot Cougars were looking to get well in the Arizona sunshine, and it turned out to be just what the doctor ordered.

Niwot faced Toledo, OR in the first game, and scored in every inning of a 22-1 mercy-rule victory. Senior Caleb Martinez, the ace of the Cougar pitching staff, allowed only one run in five innings, giving up only four hits and two walks while striking out 13.

“It was what we needed,” Coach Adam Strah said. “We are so young.”

The game also marked the return to the lineup of three-year starter Joey Desenfants, who scored two runs. Freshman Will Smith led the offense with a perfect 4-4 day at the plate, scoring twice and driving in two runs. Sophomore Cam Hassert made his three hits in six at bats count, driving in five runs and scoring four times. Senior catcher Colton Goldfarb also sparked the offense with two hits, two runs and three RBI, while senior Ben Goss, junior Aidan Galloway and freshman Micah Sheats also collected two hits on the day. Senior Mason Kunkel, junior Jaryd Meek and sophomore Clay Kleespies also hit safely for the Cougars.

The second game of the trip was even more one-sided as Niwot scored 13 times in the first inning of a 23-0 win over Portland Christian/Columbia Christian (OR). Desenfants, a junior, went the distance on the mound, allowing only one hit in five innings while walking two and striking out seven. Hassert had a perfect 5-5 day at the plate, scoring three times and adding eight RBI. Colton Goldfarb was close behind, with four hits in five at bats, scoring twice and driving in four runs. Smith continued his hot hitting with a perfect 3-3 day at the plate, scoring twice with four RBI. Sophomore Felipe Castro had two hits, with two runs scored and two RBI.

Others hitting safely for Niwot included Goss, Martinez, Taylor Goldfarb, Galloway and Sheats. Senior outfielder Zane Sniffin scored twice and collected an RBI.

“We ran up against two teams that were not very good,” Stah said. “But it was a confidence-builder. We were able to be aggressive, do some baserunning.”

The third game offered tougher competition as the Cougars fell to Grant (Portland,OR) by a score of 11-1. Dylan Ferraro made his season debut with two innings on the mound, and allowed five runs, with only three of them earned. Sheats finished with two innings and four earned runs allowed. Hassert, Smith and Kunkel had the only three hits for the Cougars, with Hassert getting the only RBI.

“Will Smith had an unbelievable trip,” Strah said. “He’s eight-for-ten with two doubles and six RBIs. Caleb and Joey both had 5-inning complete-game performances on the mound.”

Niwot was able to get everyone on the trip some varsity experience, including several JV players. The varsity lineup generally had Colton Goldfarb catching, Goss at first base, Desenfants at second base, Castro at third and Hassert at shortstop. Smith and Sheats played outfield, with Martinez starting there when he wasn’t pitching. Sniffin filled in for Martinez in the outfield, and Taylor Goldfarb filled started at second base when Desenfants was on the mound.

Niwot is back in action on April 5 at home against Centaurus at 4 p.m.

Toledo 0 0 0 0 1 – 1 4 X

Niwot 4 4 5 8 1 – 22 19 0

Niwot (AB-R-H-RBI) Joey Desenfants 4-2-0-0, Clay Kleespies 2-1-1-0, Micah Sheats 4-2-2-1, Aidan Galloway 3-4-2-1, Jaryd Meek 1-1-1-1, Mason Kunkel 1-1-1-0, Zane Sniffin 1-0-0-0, Will Smith 4-2-4-2, Cameron Hassert 6-4-3-5, Will Douthit 0-0-0-0, Colton Goldfarb 5-2-2-3, Caleb Martinez 2-0-0-0, Felipe Castro 2-1-1-0, Ben Goss 4-2-2-1.

Martinez (W) (IP-H-R-ER-BB-K) 5-4-1-1-2-13.

Niwot 13 2 2 6 0 – 23 19 0

PCCHS 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 1 X

Niwot: Joey Desenfants 4-1-0-1, Clay Kleespies 1-0-0-0, Micah Sheats 2-2-1-1, Aidan Galloway 2-3-1-1, Jaryd Meek 1-0-0-0, Mason Kunkel 0-0-0-0, Zane Sniffin 0-2-0-1, Will Smith 3-2-3-4, Cameron Hassert 5-3-5-8, Will Douthit 2-0-0-0, Colton Goldfarb 5-2-4-4, Caleb Martinez 1-2-1-1, Felipe Castro 4-2-2-2, Ben Goss 4-2-1-0.

Desenfants (W) 5-1-0-0-2-7.

Grant 1 5 2 3 0 - 11 9 X

Niwot 0 0 1 0 0 - 1 3 2

Niwot: Joey Desenfants 2-0-0-0 , Dylan Ferrero 1-0-0-0, Micah Sheats 1-1-0-0, Aidan Galloway 2-0-0-0, , Mason Kunkel 1-0-1-0, Will Smith 2-0-1-0, Cameron Hassert 2-0-1-1, Colton Goldfarb 2-0-0-0, Caleb Martinez 1-0-0-0, Felipe Castro 2-0-0-0, Ben Goss 2-0-0-0.

Ferrero (L) 2-4-5-3-3-2, Sheats 2-5-6-4-1-2.