Broncos claim the Quarterfinal Championship

By Sandy Anderberg

The Broncos were able to run over the Abernathy Antelopes in two games in their three-game series at Randall High School last weekend for the Quarterfinal Championship.

The Broncos annihilated the Lopes in the first game Friday night defeating them 17-6 with Kade Hunsaker on the mound. He is 11-4 for the year. There were as many as six lead changes in the game, but the Broncos took the lead for good in the fourth inning. The Broncos trailed after three innings but used a rally in the fourth and fifth to jump start their big win. Josh Cobb was three for six with two doubles and four runs scored, while big brother Caleb had four runs batted in including a two run double to left field.

Senior Bryce Hatley was on fire at the plate as well. In his six times at bat, Hatley walked four times, was hit by a pitch, and hit a single. Head coach Brad Elam felt after his team settled down, they began to play ball like they were capable.

“We just settled down,” Elam said. “I thought our offense was good all game long, and then Kade settled down there after the third inning as was his old self.”

The Antelopes bounced back, however, in the second game of the series and the first on Saturday defeating the Broncos 4-2.

Abernathy took the early lead, but the Broncos came back when Damarjae Cortez stole home. The two teams traded runs from there until the sixth inning when the Lopes took the lead by two and held it. Chance Lockhart did a good job on the mound striking out eight batters, allowing one earned run on five hits, with one walk. The Broncos were not going to be denied and stormed back in the third game of the series winning it 8-2. Senior slugger Caleb Cobb got things going on the mound and on the plate, which spurred the Broncos on to the win.

Cobb racked up four RBIs on two hits and he hit a three-run homerun in the opening inning. He pitched seven innings and allowed only two earned runs, while giving up five hits and one walk and striking out two.

The third inning went to the Broncos as well as Preston Elam doubled, bringing home Nathan Shadle and Hunsaker. Lockhart then slammed a double, which brought home Elam.

Hatley also had a stellar series as he went to the plate 13 times and reached base 12 consecutive times. He racked up eight walks and three hits.

“Very proud of how this team battled on Saturday,” Elam said. “We cruised after the first three innings on Friday, but Saturday, we had to fight. Our pitchers and defense had a very good series and our hitters had some big at bats. At one point, Bryce Hatley had reached base 12 straight times; that is incredible. Caleb had two big hits in game three including his sixth homerun. Kade, Chance, and Caleb were fantastic on the mound.”

The Broncos will take on Stamford at Lubbock Cooper on Thursday, May 26, at 5:00 p.m. with games two on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Game three, if needed, will be 30 minutes after game two.