To say that the Montezuma-Cortez High School baseball was dominant at home on April 1 would be an understatement.
Opening its doubleheader against Monte Vista with junior ace Jasen Engel on the mound, the Panthers benefited used solid pitching and timely hitting to lock down an 11-1 victory.
Engel, who picked up his second win of the season, was the star of the show, striking out nine batters with just one earned run during a five-inning complete game performance.
“They couldn’t really catch up to my fastball, and we kept going outside on them,” Engel said. “My defense also backed me up, which was nice.”
Also playing a key role in the M-CHS victory was junior first baseman Andrew Medina, whose two-out double down the right field line in the third-inning scored two runners and gave the Panthers a 4-1 lead.
“I was just on it, I guess,” Medina said. “I got some pitches down the middle, and I took advantage.”
Before Medina’s two-run double, the Panthers were stymied by Monte Vista starting pitcher Eloy Martinez, who utilized a slow curveball and several well-timed change-ups to keep hitters off balance.
After Medina’s big hit however, Martinez appeared to tire and was replaced on the mound by Marcus Chavez before the start of the fourth inning.
Taking no time at all to adjust to Monte Vista’s new pitcher, the Panthers scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, which began with a leadoff double by Caleb Compton, an infield single by Coby Baer and an RBI single by Engel.
Two Monte Vista errors later in the inning allowed the Panthers to plate four more runs in the fourth and after Engel pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth, the Panthers closed out the game in the bottom of the fifth when Coby Baer doubled down the third base line and later scored the winning run from third base on a wild pitch.
“It was a good outing for sure,” said M-CHS manager Passell. “We weren’t sure if we were going to get the games in (because of the weather). To be on the other side of a big victory was great.”
After its impressive victory to start the day, M-CHS returned to the field for a second game against Monte Vista and won 13-3.
Earning the victory on the mound for the Panthers was junior Caleb Compton, who allowed one earned run over five innings and struck out three.
“I didn’t have my best game, but I worked through some innings,” Compton said. “I wasn’t locating some pitches like I wanted, but I got through it and located when I needed to.”
In addition to being aided by Compton’s performance on the mound, the Panthers were helped by Engel at the plate as the junior slugged three hits and drove in five runs.
M-CHS was also helped by a highlight-reel play from Baer, who stole home plate in the bottom of the second inning to give the Panthers a 5-0 lead.
“I like to run fast, really,” said Baer. “I like adding some interesting stuff. They weren’t paying attention, and I took advantage. Don’t count me out on anything.”
Holding a 12-3 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Panthers secured the victory when Cordell Baer opened the inning with an infield single and later scored on a single through the right side of the infield by Clayton Yoder.
“We’re really putting it all together here after getting our feet wet in some nonleague games,” said Passell. “We’re really clicking on all cylinders now. Hopefully we can keep it going during league play.”
The Panthers’ victories over Monte Vista followed an 11-1 loss and a 2-0 loss to Kirtland Central on the road on March 30.
Now 3-5 on the season, the Panthers will return to the practice field in preparation for a home doubleheader against league rival Bayfield on April 8.
“In the past, we haven’t been very successful in league,” Engel said. “My freshman and sophomore year, we only had one league win, and we already have two now, so hopefully we can make state.”