Granger Takes Two From Wolverines In Season Finale

By Greg James | [email protected]

The sweep was imminent, two straight wins over their rival and the Granger Lancer baseball team had  hopes of pocketing a third to claim bragging rights over it’s west side opponent the Hunter Wolverines.

“There were smiles all around. We feel good about those wins, but we have really tried to focus on staying in the moment. We want to even out the highs and lows and focus on the task at hand. I have really liked the three game series we play now. They are exciting,” Granger head baseball coach Geno Jaramillo said.

The Lancers faced the Wolverines in their yearly three game series May 10-12. They played two games at Granger and one at Hunter. The state tournament hopes of both teams had long since passed, but the importance of these games still illuminated from the players faces.

In game one the score was tied at one headed into the Lancer half of the fourth inning. They scored three runs to break it open and went on the win the game 8-1. Senior Kobe Chase notched his second victory of the season and lowered his earned run average to 2.16, second best in Region 3.

“Kobe has done a phenomenal job at focusing in on the ideas and training points we have been working on with our pitchers this season. If we had scored more runs for him, his numbers would be different. He has been lights out for us on the bump,” Jaramillo said.

Game number two had a slightly different feel to it. Lancer juniors Mitch Lindsay and Caden Cousins allowed 10 hits, the Lancers trailed 7-4 headed into their final at bat. They rallied for  six runs and held off the Wolverines final inning rally for the 10-9 victory.

Lancer senior Trey Crowther had three hits and scored two runs in the game.

“Our hitting has been sporadic this season. Sophomore Garrett Curtis has stood out as one of our top producers. Trey has gotten hot towards the end of the year too,” Jaramillo said.

Curtis had a .276 batting average with six doubles, two triples and led the team with 18 runs batted in. Junior Matt Clawson slapped three triples and had 12 RBIs this season.

In the final game of the three game series Hunter’s Quade Dunyon and Jake Haram held the Lancers to seven hits. The Wolverines were able to scratch out the game winning run in the top of the seventh for the 6-5 victory.

“We had lots of smiles all around for our kids. Our biggest focus has been on knowing and sticking with the process.  We are trying to work the specific steps to achieve success. We really want the kids to focus on the mental improvement, whether it be confidence or knowledge of the game,” Jaramillo said.

Jaramillo completed his first year as the Lancers head coach. He had been an assistant in the program for four seasons and before that an assistant at Cyprus.

“We have a positive outlook for our team moving forward. Our starting lineup is going to stay pretty much in tack and return next year. I really feel good about the future of Granger baseball. Our mission statement points out the success in the classroom must precede any success on the field. These kids have done really well. We have a team grade point average of 3.7. They are great kids and great student athletes,” Jarmillo said.

The Lancers finished in fifth place in Region 2 with a 6-12 record. The Wolverines finished in seventh at 3-15. Both teams did not qualify for the state playoffs.