<\/p>\n
The streak is dead.<\/p>\n
The Montezuma-Cortez Panthers (4-13, 1-7 5A\/4A Southwestern League) entered Friday\u2019s home contest against the Montrose Indians (8-7, 2-6 5A\/4A Southwestern League) winless in their last 50 Southwestern League games.<\/p>\n
The streak dated to April 22, 2011, when the Panthers beat Montrose 2-1. Since then, they\u2019ve been oh-fer against league foes.<\/p>\n
But at McAndrews Field in Cortez on Friday, the Panthers rallied together to get their first league win since their group of seniors was in seventh grade.<\/p>\n
Those seniors were largely responsible for the Panthers\u2019 11 hits and 10 runs in the 10-9 win.<\/p>\n
Ian Roberson was 3-for-4, with two runs and an RBI, Andrew Laymon was 2-for-3 with two runs, and Aron Engel went 1-for-2 with a run and two RBIs.<\/p>\n
Junior Coby Baer tripled and finished 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs, and freshman Kale Hale chipped in with a hit and RBI in his only at-bat.<\/p>\n
But the Panthers didn\u2019t win by overpowering the visitors.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe played some small ball in the middle of the game, stole some bases, put some bunts down and moved guys around,\u201d said head coach Travis Greenlee. \u201cAnd we just kept fighting.\u201d<\/p>\n
And when it came down to it \u2013 tied entering the bottom of the seventh inning \u2013 the Panthers found success by following the strategy that Greenlee has preached all season: Taking quality at-bats.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t a walk-off homer or multiple lined shots to the outfield that sent M-CHS out with a win.<\/p>\n
The Panthers plated the winning run after Jason Engel, Cutter Mathews, Laymon and Baer drew four consecutive walks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a big difference,\u201d Greenlee said of his team\u2019s discipline at the dish. \u201cOur quality at-bats were above fifty percent, and when we have that, we win games. They were patient and took great at-bats yesterday and made it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although the Panthers may not have known the exact length of their losing streak in the Southwestern League, they were aware that it had been awhile and were ecstatic with the win.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the boys said it was like we had just won a playoff game or something,\u201d Greenlee said smiling. \u201cIt was a big win for them and we all got excited. They worked and worked and worked, and they saw it pay off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, the Panthers could not complete the sweep of Montrose on Saturday, as the Indians took game two, 14-5.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday errors ate us up early,\u201d Greenlee said after the loss. \u201cWe gave them two runs in the first inning off of an error and we were just fighting to get back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the loss Saturday, there was optimism from the Panthers\u2019 dugout after splitting games with Montrose.<\/p>\n
The Panthers end their regular season with home games against Grand Junction Central (8-8, 3-4 5A\/4A Southwestern League) on Friday and Saturday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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