Cougar baseball splits two games

The Niwot High School baseball team dominated The Academy at home March 12, posting a 12-2 victory in six innings, then traveled to Lewis-Palmer the next day, where they suffered a hard-fought 10-9 loss, their first of the season.

Senior Kaige Kennedy and junior Henry Noblin led the Cougar offense against The Academy, garnering three hits each. Kennedy had a single, double and homerun, while Noblin added two singles and a double. Senior Haden Shaw added two hits, including a triple,

Ten Cougars scored at least one run on the day, including seniors Arlo Richards, Jagger Kilpatrick, Drew Stapp and Charlie Shaw, who scored twice. Juniors Jack Schrock and Nico Castro also scored, as did sophomore Soren Crisco. Kilpatrick, Schrock, Castro and Charlie Shaw also had hits for the Cougars.

On the mound, Kilpatrick went four innings, giving up only one run on two hits, while striking out five against two bases on balls. Richards made his debut on the mound with a scoreless inning, and Crisco finished up, allowing one run on one hit.

Against Lewis-Palmer, the Cougars rallied from a 6-0 deficit after two innings and a 9-4 deficit after three, but fell just short of a comeback after scoring once in the final frame. Three errors hurt Niwot, leading to two unearned runs.

Noblin started on the mound, giving up seven earned runs before sophomore Jack O'Hara came on in the third inning. Noblin gave up seven earned runs on eight hits, striking out four with two walks, while O'Hara gave up one earned run on three hits, striking out six and walking one.

Charlie Shaw had a big day at the plate with a homer and a single, driving in three runs while scoring twice. Kilpatrick had two hits, including a double, with two RBIs and a run scored, while Kennedy added a homerun, driving in two runs. Richards walked twice and scored two runs. Castro had the only other hit for the Cougars and scored a run. Stapp also drove in a run.

The Cougars, now 2-1 on the season, travel to Arizona for three games over spring break, taking on Forest Grove and Arizona College Prep at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively, on March 20, followed by a 12 p.m. game against Higley on March 21.