Friday, March 29, 2024

Kirtland Central splits doubleheader with Taos

Kirtland Central splits doubleheader with Taos
Navajo Times | Adron Gardner Kirtland Central Bronco Cadan Flack (17), center, celebrates with his teammates after batting in the winning run against the Taos Tigers with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning at Kirtland Central High School Tuesday.

Navajo Times | Adron Gardner
Kirtland Central Bronco Cadan Flack (17), center, celebrates with his teammates after batting in the winning run against the Taos Tigers with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning at Kirtland Central High School Tuesday.

KIRTLAND, N.M.

The Kirtland Central baseball team proved their capability when they split a double-header with Taos High School on Tuesday. KC won the first game 6-5 before losing 6-4 in the second.

The second game came to a close after only five innings because of darkness but the first was one the team took pride in.

Taos and Kirtland Central (5-6) were tied 3-3 for eight innings in the first game before Taos brought in two runners in the ninth and Kirtland Central followed up with three runs at the bottom of the inning to clinch the win.

Kirtland Central head coach Bryan Wardroup said it was a game that showed the heart of his team.

“To get down two runs there in the ninth and fight back, with not even the meat of our order up to bat and to string those hits together… it’s an incredible win for the team, its an incredible win for the program,” he said. “It’s just turning the page in the program, beating a good quality team.”

Wardroup said Taos was seeded No. 6 in Class 4A and his team was No. 12. Last season, when the two met they also split.

But Wardroup said leading into the games he was confident that his team would push for two wins instead of the one.

“What I talked to them about is how we’ve improved as a team this year and how we need to have confidence in ourselves that we can beat these good team,” he said. “And we proved that today.”

One of the players who did show improvement was sophomore Bryson Dowdy who had the game-winning RBI in the first game.

Wardroup said it was a positive step forward for Dowdy and the team.

“He struggled at the plate this year. We’ve made huge mechanic changes to his swing,” he said. “For him to come in and get the game-winning RBI…I think that’s huge for him and his confidence as well.”

While the Broncos weren’t able to see if they could pull off another late win in the second game, Wardroup said he was excited about the progress his team has made.

“With the things that we focus so hard on at practice, to finally see them transfer it into a game situation; that’s huge,” he said. “As a coach there’s nothing that will make you more proud.”


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About The Author

Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi

Sunnie Clahchischiligi has been the sports writer for the Navajo Times since 2008. She has a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the University of New Mexico. Before joining the Times, she worked at the St. Cloud Times (Minn.), the Albuquerque Journal, the Santa Fe New Mexican, Sports Illustrated Magazine in New York City and the Salt Lake Tribune. She can be reached at sunnie@navajotimes.com or via cell at (505) 686-0769.

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