Photo by Will Cornelius
Sophomore Elisha Mosher of BHS sprints home from second base to score a run in BHS’s 8-4 win over Greeley West High School on April 28.

By Will Cornelius                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               The Surveyor

Freshman baseball star Wyatt Barmes ran across home plate to give the Spartans their 15th run of the game last Saturday. It also ended the game in the bottom of the fourth inning as Berthoud High School (BHS) mercy-ruled visiting Highland High School 15-0. It was the ninth game the Spartans have won by mercy rule this season and the team’s 12th consecutive win — leaving them undefeated in the month of April.

The game started with a scoreless first inning before BHS began to pile on the runs. After adding two runs in the second inning, the Spartans exploded with 10 runs in the third inning. And three more runs in the fourth inning ended the game early.

Outfielder Toby Fraley led BHS in batting, going 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Kaeden Kettle chipped in with two hits and two RBIs too.
The game against Highland was never in doubt with Spartan ace Adam Hayes pitching. Hayes threw a no-hitter across four innings, facing 13 batters and collecting eight strikeouts. He also delivered a huge three-RBI double in the third inning that had BHS head coach Buddy Kouns dancing to Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA” in celebration near the dugout.

“He is turning into a — pitcher — now. He had command of this game. And the last four starts, he has just — commanded — the game. I can’t say enough about it. We’ve got him for a couple more years, that’s a good thing, it’s a good problem to have,” Kouns said about Hayes’ growth this year.

Only a sophomore, Hayes has elevated his game this year. In six appearances pitching, Hayes has an 0.80 ERA with four wins and one loss. “During the game, my focus was to keep tempo high and stay efficient. Try and get through innings with 15 pitches or less and it worked out pretty well,” Hayes said about his approach from the mound.

“I can’t complain. We’re rolling right now,” a cheerful Kouns said after the game against Highland. Last season the team struggled to close out close games, something the coaching staff has focused on this year. “I’m super proud of them. They’re buying into what we’re trying to teach,” he added.

The dominating win against Highland came on the heels of another impressive performance the day prior. On Friday, BHS made the trip east to face Greeley West High School. The game was scoreless through the first two innings before the Spartans took control.

A sacrifice fly from Hayes allowed senior Brandon Wageman to reach home plate for the first run of the game. Fraley then delivered a timely two-RBI single to extend the lead. Another single and RBI, this time from Kettle, made it 4-0 as the Spartans finished batting in the third inning. Outstanding fielding from Elisha Mosher and first baseman Trent Jacobs kept Greeley West off the scoreboard heading into the fourth inning.

The Spartans scored another run at the start of the fourth inning, but a fielding error from BHS allowed Greeley West to score two runs to close out the inning 5-2. Thankfully starting BHS pitcher Jack McCrea kept the game under control throughout, finishing with 10 strikeouts and only giving up two hits over six innings.

Entering the bottom of the seventh inning, BHS led Greeley West 8-2 as Barmes relived McCrea on the mound. Greeley West gave the Spartans a scare by adding two more runs, but BHS held firm and closed out the game behind two Barmes strikeouts and a final flyout caught by Fraley in center field.
“Jack was in command all game … then there at the end, Wyatt came in, and he did a job,” said Kouns after the game. Senior catcher Landon Kuntz led the batting against Greeley West, going 3-of-5 with an RBI.

With so much success for Spartan baseball, the challenge has been to not grow complacent. “We just gotta keep challenging ourselves to be better every game. Try and grow and be better every game. Because we got some good competition coming,” Kouns explained.

After a loss on Tuesday night in Sterling, the Spartans’ record is 13-5 and 7-1 in league play. But BHS will face its toughest opponents of the season over the next two weeks. This Friday, BHS will host Resurrection Christian School at 4 p.m. at Jack Sommers Field. Then they travel to University High School in Greeley on May 10 before hosting undefeated powerhouse Eaton High School at home on May 12.

Asked how the team is approaching the end of the season, Kouns said it was straightforward. “Keep it simple. Get through the baseball at the plate. Make our outs. Throw strikes and it will take care of itself. This is a super good group.”