Challenging week for Niwot baseball

The Niwot High School varsity baseball team endured a difficult week, dropping consecutive games against Erie High School and Broomfield High School as they head into May and continue through league play.

The Cougars fell 8-1 at Erie on Tuesday in a game that started promising before the host Tigers pulled away.

Niwot showed early offensive potential when Charlie Shaw worked a walk to lead off the game, followed by Arlo Richards' single to center field. However, the Cougars couldn't capitalize on the opportunity. Erie managed a single run in their half of the first inning.

The second frame featured Kaige Kennedy's impressive triple for Niwot, though he was left stranded on base. Both teams went scoreless in the inning.

After Erie extended the lead to 2-0 in the third, the Cougars responded in the fourth when Drew Stapp drew a walk and Jagger Kilpatrick doubled him home. Despite Kilpatrick later being picked off at third base and Kennedy adding another single, Niwot couldn't produce additional runs.

Erie broke the game open with four runs in the fifth inning to make it 6-1. Despite a leadoff walk to Haden Shaw and a single by Henry Noblin in the sixth, Niwot couldn't narrow the gap. Erie added two more runs in their half of the sixth, sealing the 8-1 victory.

Charlie Shaw, Richards, Noblin, Kilpatrick, and Kennedy each recorded hits for the Cougars in the game.

Thursday's home game against Broomfield proved even more challenging as the Eagles soared to a 14-5 victory over the Cougars.

Kilpatrick took the mound for Niwot to start the game, with Broomfield quickly grabbing a 2-0 lead in the first inning. The Cougars responded immediately when Kilpatrick singled to center field and Haden Shaw drew a walk, helping Niwot tie the score at 2-2.

The Eagles' offense erupted in the second inning with six runs, though the Cougars answered with three of their own, making it 8-5 after two complete innings.

Noblin relieved Kilpatrick on the mound in the third inning, but Broomfield continued its offensive onslaught with four more runs. After a scoreless fourth inning for both teams, the Eagles added two final runs in the fifth to reach the eventual 14-5 final score.

The Cougars managed eight hits throughout the contest. Charlie Shaw led the offensive effort with two RBIs, while Noblin, Kennedy, and Haden Shaw each contributed one RBI.

On the pitching side, Kilpatrick and Noblin each surrendered four hits, with Braxton Logue giving up two. Of the fourteen runs scored by Broomfield, only six were earned. Niwot's pitchers combined for five strikeouts while issuing five walks.

The Cougars will look to rebound next week as they continue their conference schedule. Niwot will host Frederick High School at home on Thursday, May 1, at 4 p.m., before going on the road to play Thompson Valley High School on Friday, May 2, at 4 p.m.