Hayden Morford, Micah Sheats guide Cougars on the hill

Led by senior pitchers Hayden Morford and Micah Sheats, the 2-7 Niwot baseball team kept its opponents quiet during a 1-2 week on the diamond.

Following a 10-4 loss at Fort Morgan on May 19, Niwot returned home to face Severance on May 20. Morford, making his first start of the season, allowed two runs in six and one-third innings against the Silver Knights. His brilliant effort wasn't enough, however, as the Cougars couldn't get any offense going behind their southpaw starter and lost, 4-0.

The runs returned for Niwot on May 22 at Thompson Valley. Niwot scored 12 times to support Sheats and his six innings of shutout baseball. The 12-0 win snapped a four-game losing streak.

The Cougars have had to adjust to losing three seniors to injury this season. As of May 23, Niwot sits in ninth place with seven games remaining in the 4A/3A Longs Peak League. But if Niwot's pitching continues to excel, the Cougars could make up some ground down the stretch. Morford's outing set the tone as he allowed just one walk to the last batter he faced.

"I felt like I had good control," Morford said. "I was really getting it to the spots that I wanted it to go to. I pounded the zone pretty well and they were struggling putting the bat on the ball."

Head Coach Adam Strah said that Morford was primed for a big role as a junior before COVID-19 cut the season short.

"I'm super proud of him," Strah said. "That is definitely one of his best varsity performances. Just super, super happy for him."

Severance had just four hits until the seventh inning when its cleanup hitter knocked a triple into the left-centerfield gap and scored on a throwing error. Morford said the breakout hit caused him to lose focus and he was pulled two batters later.

Sophomore Jed Kilpatrick came on in relief and surrendered two unearned runs with the help of another infield throwing error. The costly errors came at the wrong time for the Cougars.

"We talk about playing catch all the way through," Strah said. "Whether you don't play catch in the seventh (inning) or you don't play catch in the first, it's all going to beat you."

Although the final inning was difficult, Niwot's defense, particularly in the outfield, was a black hole for the Severance offense. Sheats and senior Ben Williams each caught four fly balls in center and right field, respectively.

A 45-minute lightning delay prior to first pitch took any electricity out of the Cougars' bats. Freshman Brooks Barber had the only extra-base hit while senior Mason Nieberger and junior Walt Van Riper each had a single.

The Cougars' best offensive opportunity came in the fourth inning when they loaded the bases but failed to score. Strah believed Niwot had a strong approach at the plate but simply couldn't secure the final 90 feet.

After the game, the Cougars initiated a player-only meeting in the outfield. Morford said the team discussed how the slim loss was a step in the right direction.

"These past few games we've been struggling with coming together as a team and playing to our full capacity," Morford said. "The talk there was just about how we stepped it up today and we played well, we played like a good solid team that coach knows that we can be."

Niwot's newfound confidence proved large against Thompson Valley. Sheats, who struck out seven in his previous start against Frederick on May 15, fanned a career-high 11 Eagles and allowed just one hit.

With a bat in his hand, Sheats supported himself with a two-run home run. Three total Cougars had three RBIs while Sheats and senior Dylan Olson led Niwot with two hits each.

Niwot will see Roosevelt at home on May 25 before travelling to face Berthoud on May 27.