How The Reds Won It
Background: Longtime assistant coach Martin Hernandez passed away earlier in 2003 and was buried in his Reds' uniform; the Reds' players dedicated their season to Coach H.
Regional Semifinals:
Eaton 12, Pagosa Springs 11
1st Inning: After recording a flyout, the Reds make a couple errors, allow a couple infield singles and walks, and get behind Pagosa by 5 runs before Noblitt strikes out the final two outs of the inning, the Reds then go down in order, Reds trail 0-5
2nd Inning: Following a one-pitch groundout and a 10-pitch strikeout, 3 straight hits (including another infield hit) provide Pagosa with two more runs, after two quick outs, Barrios, Kelly and Noblitt single to bring in the Reds' first run of the game, Reds trail 1-7
3rd Inning: Hungenberg takes the mound in relief and gets out of the inning without any damage despite two errors as catcher Swain backed up an overthrow at first to get the runner thrown out heading to second, and also threw out a runner attempting to steal third before Hungenberg struck out the final batter of the inning, Garretson walked but was left at first base as the inning ended, Reds trail 1-7
4th Inning: After another error and another infield base hit, Pagosa increased their lead to 7 runs on a sacrifice fly before Hungenberg induced a double play ball that first baseman Kelly grabbed and recorded the out at first and then threw home to cut down the runner to end the inning, Swain walks and advances to 2nd base but is left stranded, Reds trail 1-8
5th Inning: Hungenberg retires the side in order, Noblitt and Anderson lead off with doubles and Dominguez then doubles them both in and scores on a ball hit by Swain after Trujillo had singled, Reds trail 4-8
6th Inning: Hungenberg gets two quick groundouts, but then after some walks and another infield hit, Dominguez takes the mound to strike out the final batter with the bases loaded on just 3 pitches to limit the damage as Pagosa again takes a 7-run lead on the Reds, Kelly hits a one-out solo home run, then Noblitt gets hit by a pitch, Anderson walks, Garretson reaches on an error, Dominguez knocks in a run, and Trujillo singles in a run, Reds trail 7-11
7th Inning: Dominguez allows a one-out single, but then gets a groundout and strikeout to strand that runner at third base after a stolen base, Walker leads off with a two-strike single, then Barrios singles, then Noblitt draws a full-count walk with one out, Anderson doubles to reduce the deficit to 2 runs, then Garretson singles to tie up the game and send it into extra innings, Reds tied 11-11
8th Inning: After allowing yet another infield single, Swain throws out the runner trying to steal, and Dominguez then strikes out the next two batters, after one out is recorded against the Reds, Barrios walks, and then after another out, Noblitt singles and Anderson delivers a game-winning two-strike hit to bring in Barrios and end one of the stranger days in Eaton history with one of its greatest comebacks, Reds win 12-11
Game Highlights: The Reds had done almost nothing all day at the plate until the 5th inning when a great team effort with disciplined at-bats and clutch hitting scored 3 runs in the 5th inning, 3 runs in the 6th inning, 4 runs in the 7th inning, and then the game-winning run in the 8th inning. Anderson led the charge with two doubles, a single, a walk, 3 RBI and 3 runs scored during this stretch, and Dominguez also knocked in 3 runs, Garretson knocked in two runs, and Swain, Kelly, and Trujillo knocked in a run as well. 10 of the runs scored on the day came from the Reds hitters #6-9 in the lineup as Dominguez slammed the door on Pagosa Springs after Hungenberg had limited the damage early in the game.
Regional Championship:
Eaton 16, Colo. Springs Christian 0
1st Inning: Dominguez is hit by a pitch, but the Reds fail to advance him, Hungenberg then gets two quick outs and after a walk, induces a flyout to centerfielder Garretson, Reds tied 0-0
2nd Inning: Walker, Barrios, and Kelly single to knock in a run, Hungenberg then retires the side in order on just 7 pitches, Reds lead 1-0
3rd Inning: Dominguez singles, Trujillo doubles, Swain doubles, Walker singles, Barrios singles, Noblitt doubles, and Anderson takes the relief pitcher brought in for him deep on the third pitch of the at-bat for a 3-run home run to effectively clinch the game, after allowing a leadoff walk, Hungenberg strikes out the next batter and then induces two groundouts, Reds lead 8-0
4th Inning: Trujillo leads off with a double, Walker draws a base on balls, and Kelly hits a 3-run home run with two outs, Juda takes the mound to close out the game and after allowing a single and the runner to advance to 2nd base, Juda records an unusual double play as Noblitt is undeterred by a fielder illegally waving at the ball in front of him and makes the out at first regardless, the runner's interference turned it into a double play, and then Juda struck out the final batter of the inning, Reds lead 11-0
5th Inning: Anderson leads off with a single, and then with two outs, Trujillo gets hit by a pitch, Swain singles, Walker singles, Barrios walks, and Juda hits a bases-loaded double, Juda then induces a groundout, an infield popout, and finally a 3-pitch strikeout to end the abbreviated game via the 10-run rule, Reds win 16-0
Game Highlights: Hungenberg had a dominant outing before the Reds offense took control of the game with 7 runs in the 3rd inning and allowed Juda to step in and finish out the game on the mound, which he did well to maintain the shutout. Anderson's 3-run home run put the game out of reach, and Kelly's 3-run home run gave the Reds a chance to end the game via the 10-run mercy rule and save back innings for a few days later as the rainouts the previous weekend forced the Reds to play again in the State Semifinals just 3 days later.
How The Reds Won It
State Semifinals:
Eaton 7, University 6
1st Inning: Hungenberg strands a runner at first base after a walk by inducing a flyout to right fielder Barrios to end the top of the inning, Garretson then singles, Trujillo walks, and Swain doubles them home, Reds lead 2-0
2nd Inning: Hungenberg retires the side in order, Noblitt draws a walk but the Reds don't advance him any further, Reds lead 2-0
3rd Inning: After a leadoff walk, Hungenberg strikes out the next batter on a 2-strike bunt attempt but then allows a sacrifice fly to score the leadoff runner after a couple wild pitches, Trujillo singles and advances to 2nd base on a wild pitch and then scores after moving to third base on a fielder's choice and then advancing on a passed ball, Reds lead 3-1
4th Inning: University adds one more run on a double and single before Hungenberg gets a comebacker and then a flyout to end the threat, Kelly reaches on an error and advances to third base after walks by Anderson and Garretson, but the Reds leave the bases loaded, Reds lead 3-2
5th Inning: Hungenberg records another strikeout but then after an infield error, Dominguez comes in to pitch and gets a flyout and comebacker groundball to strand the runner at first base, Swain singles and reaches 2nd base but advances no further, Reds lead 3-2
6th Inning: After allowing a hit, Dominguez records two quick outs, but then two more hits knock in 2 runs to give University the lead, the Reds come back to tie it though as Anderson beats out an infield hit, Garretson singles and Anderson induces a balk to score the tying run, Reds tied 4-4
7th Inning: With the bases loaded, Trujillo makes a great play to throw the runner out at the plate but then a single scores 2 runs for University, then with the bases loaded again with two outs, third baseman Noblitt makes a great play on a line drive that would have otherwise knocked in 2 more runs, Walker leads off the inning with a double, and then with two outs, Noblitt doubles to bring in Walker and Anderson fouls off a 1-2 pitch and then singles to tie up the game and advances to 2nd base on the fielding error to put himself in scoring position for Garretson, who then hit the first pitch he saw into leftfield for the game-winning hit, Reds win 7-6
Game Highlights: The Reds were down to one out left in their season when Noblitt hit a big double, and were still down to one strike left in their season when Anderson fouled off a tough pitch and then singled to tie up the game. Once that occurred, the University fans that had lined up along the fence to rush the field barely had time to sit back down before Garretson singled to score the winning run, marking one of the great last-inning comebacks in Eaton history. Hungenberg and Dominguez pitched well and the Reds made plays when it was needed to keep the game close and give themselves a chance at the heroics that would then follow.
State Championship Game:
Eaton 17, La Junta 10
1st Inning: Garretson draws a 7-pitch walk, Dominguez walks and Swain reaches on an error that scores Garretson, Hungenberg then strikes out the first two batters before a single and double from La Junta tie up the game, Reds tied 1-1
2nd Inning: Hungenberg, Noblitt, and Anderson walk to load up the bases for Garretson who triples, then Dominguez is hit by a pitch, Trujillo knocks in a run, Swain is hit by a pitch, and Walker singles, Dominguez then enters the game in relief with runners on base and limits the damage with two groundouts and a strikeout though a single and an error allow 3 runs in, Reds lead 6-4
3rd Inning: Hungenberg singles but is forced out on a double play, so with 2 outs and no one on base, Anderson walks, then Garretson triples, Dominguez is hit by a pitch, Trujillo singles, Swain walks, and Walker singles to score 4 2-out runs for the Reds, Dominguez then retires the side in order on just 9 pitches, Reds lead 10-4
4th Inning: Noblitt hits a 1-out single, and then with two outs, Garretson walks, Dominguez doubles, Trujillo singles, and Swain doubles to put another 4-run inning together with two outs and give the Reds a 10-run lead, but La Junta comes back with 5 runs of their own before Dominguez strikes out the final batter with runners on 1st and 3rd base, Reds lead 14-9
5th Inning: Kelly walks but is left stranded at first base, after a double and a walk, Juda takes the mound and induces a lineout to leftfielder Walker that turns it into a double play as Walker guns down the runner at 2nd base that thought the ball would land, Juda then induces a flyout to Walker to end the inning, Reds lead 14-9
6th Inning: Garretson singles, Dominguez doubles, Swain and Walker draw walks, and Kelly reaches on an error to knock in the 17th run of the game, Juda allows a leadoff triple and then a single, but then after a strikeout, gets a comebacker and turns the double play with second baseman Nation to end the inning, Reds lead 17-9
7th Inning: The Reds go down in order offensively, and then following an error and a single, Juda strikes out the #2 and #3 batters and induces a groundout to second baseman Nation to end the game, Reds win 17-10
Game Highlights: Bad weather the previous weekend pushed Eaton to have to pitch guys on short rest, and while the pitching performances weren't stellar, they were certainly hard-fought appearances from guys using the last of what they had in them to win another State Championship, and the Reds' batters knew this coming in and worked to quickly put runs on the board to help the pitching staff, and with 5 runs in the 2nd inning, 4 runs in the 3rd inning, and another 4 runs in the 4th inning, provided the Reds with a commanding lead that Juda then pitched well with to wrap up the game. Garretson reached base and scored 5 times with 2 triples, Dominguez and Trujillo scored 3 times with two hits apiece, and Noblitt and Anderson both scored twice.
Three-Peat
Reds Become First Class 3A Team to Ever Win Three Straight State Titles
Game Winning Pitcher:
Dusty Dominguez
Tournament MVP:
Dusty Dominguez
Last Out:
Groundout to Second Base
