Mustangs ride Brooks for seven innings

MOUNTAIN RANGE 1, ARAPAHOE 0

Mountain Range’s typically potent offense managed a single run entering the final inning Saturday, and suddenly its 1-0 lead was threatened with Arapahoe base runners on first and second with one out at All-city Stadium in the Class 5A baseball state tournament.

Mountain Range coach D.J. Yeager didn’t panic. He left it up to his senior right-hander to get the job done.

“You have a guy like Brayden Brooks on the mound and you’re pretty confident in what you can do,” Yeager said. “That kid is an animal.”

Brooks proved worthy of that trust, striking out one batter before junior Demarques Ortega ended the game on an impressive diving catch in center field. Brooks, a senior who has signed with Regis University, pitched a onehit complete game to advance Mountain Range to a 10 a.m. Sunday elimination game against Mountain Vista — for a berth in the championship against Heritage at 12:30 p.m.

Mountain Range earned its lone run after loading the bases in the sixth inning, and it was Ortega’s outfield fly that sent one runner home.

“He just found a way,” Yeager said. But it was Brooks’ mastery that propelled Mountain Range to the win. He struck out 10 batters.

“(Brooks) came to us as a freshman as kind of an unnoticed guy,” Yeager said. “His sophomore year, he hit a growth spurt, got in the weight room, made our team … and he’s just been one of the most competitive guys in our program. He just loves it and wants the ball every day.”

Brooks’ seven-inning effort ensures Mountain Range will have several rested arms for potentially two Sunday games. He’s soaking in every moment.

“I tear up every once in a while knowing I’m not going to play with them next year,” Brooks said, “but I’m going for it all.”