Lamar, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team dropped a heartbreaking contest to Lamar Community College 8-6 in the first game of the Region IX playoffs Saturday in Lamar, Colo.
The Cougars held a 6-5 lead heading into the ninth inning only to watch the Lopes score three times in the final inning, including a walk-off 2-run home run.
The Cougars will need to win twice on Sunday to advance into the Region IX championship series.
WNCC coach Mike Jones said it was a tough game to lose, but he was proud of how his team played.
“We played really well. It is not very fun to come out of there with a loss,” he said. “We played extremely well today. [Carlos] Palomo pitched a really good game and Jeff Schmitt was very good out of the bullpen. We found ways to score some runs. Camilo hits a home run to put us on the board early. We played really good defense. Unfortunately, Lamar was able to get to us in the ninth inning.”
WNCC played well for the majority of the contest. The Cougars opened up the scoring on the fourth as Camilo Baldelomar unleashed a home run to right field for 1-0 lead. Lamar came right back to grab a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth on three hits and a costly throwing error.
The Cougars kept battling, tying the game at 4-4 in the fifth. WNCC loaded the bases as Reimer Alamberry reached on a fielder’s choice and then Baldelomar and Kevin Sanford earned walks with just one out. Jake Montoya came through with a single down the left field line that scored two runners and then a third coming in on an overthrow into the Lamar dugout. WNCC took the lead with two more runs in the sixth. Nelson Quintero walked followed Paul Singh singling on a muscle hit to right field that scored Quintero. Singh came in to score on a throwing error.
The lead didn’t last as Lamar got a solo home run in the sixth to cut the lead to 6-5 before the game winning shot in the ninth.
WNCC pounded out eight hits in the contest and sent Lamar’s No. 1 pitcher to the showers after six innings. Alliance’s Jake Peltz paced the team with a 3-for-5 game, followed by Montoya going 2-for-3. Baldelomar went 1-for-4 with two runs scores and a RBI. Montoya had two RBIs, two walks and a double. Gering’s Carlos Palomo started the game and went six strong innings despite scattering six hits and giving up five runs. Palomo struck out six in the 26 batters he finished. Jeff Schmitt picked up the loss, going 2 1/3 innings. Schmitt allowed three runs on two hits and one walk. The Cheyenne, Wyo., native also struck out four.
Jones said that that way his team battled back is the sign of a good ball club.
“There is no doubt that we have been looking forward to the playoffs for a while now,” he said. “There was a question there if we would make the playoffs. But, I think we are a team that plays better when something is on the line, and we will see how we bounce back and play tomorrow.”
WNCC 000 132 000 – 6 8 2
Lamar 000 401 003 – 8 8 3
LP – Jeff Schmitt; 2B – Jake Montoya; HR – Camilo Baldelomar.
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