MONTE VISTA – The seventh-ranked Monte Vista High School baseball team won the Class 2A Region 7 Tournament Saturday at Adrian M. Gutierrez Field.

The Pirates first held off a late Ellicott charge for a 5-4 win, and they then defeated Dawson School 2-1 in nine innings.

With the tournament win, Monte Vista qualifies for this week’s Class 2A State Tournament at the Runyon Sports Complex in Pueblo.

“I’m just proud of these kids,” said Monte Vista coach Luke Bradshaw. “They played their hearts out today. They competed. We had to manufacture some runs in the first game by playing small ball. We just keep finding a way.”

Monte Vista 5, Ellicott 4

The Pirates got on the scoreboard early with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Kaden Madrid and Judah Howe both reached on errors. Deon Baumgardner, who was courtesy running for Madrid, advanced to third on a wild pitch and he scored as Monte Vista successfully executed the double steal.

Howe also advanced to third and scored on a series of Thunderhawk errors.

Domyon Naranjo then got a bunt single and he advanced to third on another error. He scored on a wild pitch for a 3-0 lead.

The Pirates scored another run in the third. Azariah Hurtado was safe on an error and he stole second. He took third on a wild pitch and scored on Madrid’s single.

The Thunderhawks got on the board with a run in the top of the fourth. Jed Howarth led off with a double and scored on Logan Wilson’s single.

The Pirates scored another run in the fifth. Hurtado singled, stole second and came home on a pair of Ellicott errors.

The Thunderhawks scored twice in the sixth. Landon Kuhn led off with a double and scored on Howarth’s single. He took second on the play and scored on an error.

Ellicott made one last charge in the seventh. Diego DeLaRiva had a leadoff single, and Daniel Clough also singled. Kuhn singled home Adam Adame, who was pinch running for DeLaRiva.

The two Ellicott runners were left on base as the game ended.

Kaden Mellott started on the mound for the Pirates and he was the winning pitcher. He allowed four runs and seven hits and he struck out 15 and walked only one batter. Jeremiah Baumgardner relieved Mellott in the seventh and he earned the save be retiring the only batter he faced.

The Pirates managed only four hits and were led by Hurtado who went 1-2, Kaden Mellott who went 1-3 with a double, Madrid who went 1-3, and Naranjo who went 1-3.

Dawson 13, Rangely 1

In the second game, Dawson School defeated Rangely by a score of 13-1.

Both teams scored a run in the first inning, but the Mustangs blew the game wide-open with a 10-run third.

Dawson scored two more runs in the fourth and the game ended on the 10-run rule.

Monte Vista 2, Dawson 1

The game was a pitchers’ duel from the start to finish with no runs being scored in the first seven innings.

Both teams had chances to score in those innings. The Mustangs left runners in scoring position in the first, second, third, fourth and seventh innings, while the Pirates left runners in scoring position in the first, second, third and sixth innings.

The Mustangs got on the board in the top of the eighth. Henry Cox hit a double and he took third on a passed ball He scored on Milo Richter’s single.

The Pirates tied the score in the bottom of the eighth. Kaden Mellott singled and advanced to third on an error in the outfield. He scored on Hurtado’s single.

Dawson loaded the bases with one out in the top of the ninth. But Kaden Mellott fielded a ground ball and threw to Jeremiah Baumgardner to retire Julian Sutton. Sutton was called for rolling into the fielder and a double play was called to end the inning.

Monte Vista won the game in the bottom of the ninth. Howe led off with a single, and Naranjo drew a walk. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Kobe Jiron sent a bloop single into left field to drive home Howe.

Jiron was the Pirates’ starting pitcher and he threw the first five innings. He allowed no runs and four hits and he struck out four, walked three and hit three batters. Jeremiah Baumgardner relieved Jiron in the fifth and gave up one run and three hits with four strikeouts, three walks and one hit batter. Hurtado finished the game and took the win. He allowed no runs and no hits with no strikeouts and one walk.

The Pirates had eight hits and were led by Kaden Mellott who went 3-3, and Hurtado who went 2-3 with one RBI. Naranjo went 1-3, Howe went 1-4, and Jiron went 1-5 with one RBI.

State tournament is next

Monte Vista (19-3) will face second-ranked Denver Christian in the first round of the State Tournament Friday at 9:30 a.m.

“We’re going to state,” Bradshaw said. “If anybody wants to beat us, they’re going to have to put us away. Because we just competing. I think we have as good a shot as anybody.”

Monte Vista 5, Ellicott 4

Ellicott 000 102 1 – 4 7 8

Monte Vista 031 010 x – 5 4 1

L. Wilson (L) and Nikulski. K. Mellott (W), J. Baumgardner (7, S) and Madrid.

Dawson 13, Rangely 1

Rangely 100 00 – 1 4 2

Dawson 10(10) 2x – 13 7 1

Scott (L) Quintana (3), and Quintana, Scott (3). Heathwood (W) and K. Cox. HR – D: Sebek (3rd inn., none on, no outs).

Monte Vista 2, Dawson 1

Dawson 000 000 010 – 1 7 1

Monte Vista 000 000 011 – 2 8 0

Sebek, Leuchten (8, L) and K. Cox. Jiron, J. Baumgardner (6), Hurtado (9, W) and Madrid, Bouet (7).