Since losing consecutive games to Bayfield on April 8, the Montezuma-Cortez High School baseball team has been on a hot streak, winning five consecutive games by wide margins.
The Panthers latest victim came in the form of Centauri High School, which squared off against M-CHS for a doubleheader in Cortez on April 22 and lost, 6-0 and 10-0.
Spurring the Panthers to victory in the opening game of the two-game slate was pitcher Jasen Engel, who utilized his sizzling fastball to limit Centauri to no runs and three hits over the course of seven innings. M-CHS’s junior hurler also struck out eight batters and walked just one in what may have been his finest performance of the season.
At the plate, the Panthers were led by Caleb Compton, who went 2-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Cutter Matthews also enjoyed a solid day at the plate, going 3-4 with one double and one RBI. Cordell Baer and Alec Trennepohl also drove in runs for the Panthers.
In Game 2 of the doubleheader, M-CHS again benefited from stellar starting pitching as junior Caleb Compton gave up just one hit over five innings and struck out three batters.
The Panthers offense benefited from the work of Matthews, who went 2-3 with one double, one triple and two RBIs. Isiah Pena, Andrew Medina, Coby Baer and Compton also drove in runs for the M-CHS squad, which scored 10 runs over the game’s final three innings.
Now 8-7 overall and 6-2 in the Intermountain League, M-CHS will play a home doubleheader against Alamosa on April 29 before closing out its regular season at home against Ignacio on May 6.