Baseball: Cougars split with Centaurus

With a young team, you never know when things might start coming together.

After winning two out of three in Arizona to get in the win column, albeit against some weaker competition, the Niwot Cougars returned home and picked up a victory in the first of two games against Centaurus, Niwot’s first Northern League Conference win of the season.

Each team scored a run in the first inning of the April 5 game at Niwot, but the Warriors added three runs in the third inning to take a 4-1 lead. Niwot picked up a run in the fifth inning, but it took a five-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Cougars the winning margin.

Starting pitcher Caleb Martinez, a senior, did not allow a run over the last three innings he pitched, and sophomore Cam Hassert came on to pick up the save, allowing one run in the top of the seventh to seal the 7-5 win.

Senior catcher Colton Goldfarb led the offense with two triples, scoring one run and adding two RBI. Junior centerfielder Aidan Galloway also added two hits, with a run and an RBI. Freshman Will Smith, and Hassert drove in a run each, while freshman Micah Sheats scored twice.

“Caleb did a nice job on the mound for six innings,” Coach Adam Strah said. “Cam came in and closed it out for us.” Only one of the runs allowed by Martinez was earned. He posted seven strikeouts while walking only two.

Niwot traveled to Centaurus on April 7 for the second game of the series, but a Warrior seven-run second inning proved to be too much to overcome as the Cougars fell 11-6.

Junior Joey Desenfants started on the mound and Centaurus scored once in the first inning. The Cougars came back to score two runs, one on a single to rightfield by sophomore third baseman Felipe Castro, to take a 2-1 lead.

Desenfants struggled with his control in the second inning and was relieved after getting two outs in the second inning. Relievers Dylan Ferrero, a junior, Galloway and Sheats allowed three more runs, but all were unearned. Ten walks by Cougar pitchers and five errors in the field contributed to the scoring.

After starting on the mound, Desenfants had to go behind the plate when starting catcher Colton Goldfarb was ejected for what the home plate umpire deemed to be a malicious tag, according to Strah. “We let our emotions and composure get away from us, and that’s a tough way to play this game,” the coach said. “I look forward to seeing how we respond this week.”

Desenfants had a better day at the plate, leading the offense with two hits, including a homerun, scoring twice and picking up two RBI. Martinez added a double with an RBI. Sheats and Hassert drove in the other two runs.

Of the players who saw significant playing time in the two contests, four are seniors, three are juniors, two are sophomores and three are freshmen.

Niwot returns with a home and away series against Mountain View April 12 and 14, with games starting at 4 p.m. 

Niwot 7, Centaurus 5 (April 5)

Niwot 0 2 2 0 0 2 0 – 6 7 5

Centaurus 1 7 1 0 0 2 x – 11 8 1

Niwot: (AB-R-H-RBI) Micah Sheats 1-1-1-1, Aidan Galloway 4-0-0-0, Zane Sniffin 0-1-0-0, Will Smith 4-1-1-1, Cam Hassert 3-0-1-1, Colton Goldfarb 3-1-2-2, Caleb Martinez 3-1-1-1, Joey Desenfants 2-0-1-0, Felipe Castro 2-0-0-0, Ben Goss 3-0-0-0.

Martinez (IP-H-R-ER-BB-K) 6-6-4-1-2-7, Hassert 1-1-1-1-1-0.

Centaurus 11, Niwot 7 (April 7)

Niwot 0 2 2 0 0 2 0 – 6 7 5

Centaurus 1 7 1 0 0 2 x – 11 8 1

Niwot: Micah Sheats 1-2-1-0, Aidan Galloway 3-1-2-1, Taylor Goldfarb 2-0-1-0, Mason Kunkel 2-0-0-0, Dylan Ferrero 1-0-0-0, Will Smith 2-1-0-0, Cam Hassert 3-1-1-1, Colton Goldfarb 1-0-0-0, Caleb Martinez 2-0-1-1, Joey Desenfants 3-2-2-2, Felipe Castro 2-1-1-1, Ben Goss 4-0-0-0.

Desenfants 1.2-5-8-8-4-3, Ferrero .1-0-0-0-0-1, Galloway 2.2-0-1-0-5-1, Sheats 1.1-1-2-0-1-0.