After getting a week off, the Manitou Springs baseball team took advantage of an easy slate of games to get back into playing shape with league play kicking off this weekend.
The Mustangs took a 16-6 win over Evangelical Christian Academy on Saturday, April 2 before trouncing Woodland Park 16-1 on Monday.
Getting game reps and rhythm back is crucial as the Mustangs (6-1-1 overall) will see The Classical Academy on Thursday, April 7, before kicking off Tri-Peaks West play with a home double-header against Buena Vista on Saturday.
“A week and a half off from games and you can get pretty rusty,” coach Brandon DeMatto said. “It’s been nice to have two games that we can work some of the rust out and get back to playing baseball the way we know how to play.”
If there’s one thing Manitou knows how to do, it’s score runs without necessarily bashing the ball. The Mustangs recorded just two extra-base hits against ECA, doubles from sophomores Canon Feist and Nate Gentzel, but still put up 16 runs.
Gentzel led the team with three RBIs in the win, while Jake Thomson and Tate Christian each had two.
The win against Woodland Park was another display of offensive dominance. Freshman Hayden Martinez went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and he also scored twice. Christian, senior Raymond McCaskey and junior Andrew Rhodes all scored three runs in that game.
When the entire offense is getting involved, this is becoming a fun team to watch.
“It’s a blast,” senior Davis Mack said. “The dugout gets full of energy and we’ve become a very energized team. It’s a lot of fun.”
The Mustangs hope the fun continues as they begin their quest to win a league title. Buena Vista derailed that attempt last year, so Saturday will be a good chance for some payback.
“We felt like we had a chance to win league last year and didn’t take advantage of it,” DeMatto said. “Buena Vista did a great job of coming out and beating us, so we have to be ready to go.”