Cougar baseball breaks 7-game skid with 2 wins

The Niwot High School baseball team showed tremendous grit this past week, rebounding from a tough loss to claim back-to-back victories, ending a 7-game losing streak in the process.

The Cougars faced a challenging matchup Tuesday, April 29, at Holy Family High School, falling 9-2 despite some bright moments at the plate. Arlo Richards, Drew Stapp, Charlie Shaw, and Kaige Kennedy each collected one hit for Niwot in the game.

Kennedy, Haden Shaw, Matis Castro, and Nico Castro showed patience at the plate, as each drew walks against Holy Family pitching. Charlie Shaw and Stapp both drove in runs, accounting for the Cougars' only scoring plays of the game.

Niwot returned to its home field Thursday, May 1, dominating Frederick High School 13-3 behind strong offensive production throughout the lineup.

Henry Noblin got the start on the mound for the Cougars, who wasted no time going on the attack. Richards led off the bottom of the first with a single, followed by Kilpatrick who was awarded first base after being hit by a pitch. Jack O'Hara then doubled, driving in both runners. Frederick responded with two runs of their own to tie the score at 2-2 in the third inning.

The Cougars broke the game open in the bottom of the third when Richards got on base and Kennedy was hit by a pitch. Haden Shaw walked to load the bases before Richards scored on a wild pitch. O'Hara's timely single drove in two more runs, giving Niwot a 5-2 advantage.

The offense continued to click in the fourth inning after Matis Castro was hit by a pitch and Richards blasted a triple, though Matis Castro was then tagged out attempting to score. Kilpatrick followed with an inside-the-park home run, adding two more runs to the lead. After walks to Haden Shaw, O'Hara, and Charlie Shaw loaded the bases, Frederick escaped further damage when Stapp flew out to end the threat.

Frederick managed one more run in the fifth, but the Cougars responded with three more, extending their lead to 10-3. Niwot tacked on three additional runs in the sixth to secure the convincing 13-3 victory. Noblin got the victory, allowing only one earned run, while Richards came in to record the final two outs.

Carrying momentum into Friday's away game at Thompson Valley High School, May 2, the Cougars' bats stayed hot in a high-scoring affair that showcased their offensive firepower.

Stapp had a career day, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs to lead Niwot's attack. Kilpatrick added a hit and three RBIs, while Haden Shaw went 1-for-4 with two runs batted in.

The Cougars jumped ahead early when Haden Shaw doubled in the first inning to drive in a run, followed by Stapp's single that plated two more. Thompson Valley countered with two home runs in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 4-3 lead.

Niwot responded immediately, reclaiming the lead 7-4 in the second inning thanks to triples from Charlie Shaw and Stapp. On the mound, Kilpatrick delivered a solid performance, allowing six hits and five runs over six innings while striking out nine and walking just two. Kennedy retired the side in the seventh inning.

The Cougars also displayed aggressive baserunning, with O'Hara swiping two bags as the team totaled four stolen bases.

After finishing the week with consecutive victories, the Cougars will look to build on this momentum as they face their next three games on the road. Niwot will play at Silver Creek High School on May 6 at 4:00 p.m. They will then play at Legacy High School on May 8 at 4:00 p.m, and at Fort Morgan on Saturday May 10 at 1:00 p.m.