There was lightning, thunder and lots of rain but nothing could put a damper on the Bulldogs' quest for a State Championship baseball title last week. This year's squad, under the direction of Head Coach Trent Ham, made history as the team clinched Haxtun High School's first ever State Baseball Championship on Friday afternoon at All-Star Park in Lakewood.

The road to the Championship wasn't easy as the Bulldogs battled not only the elements but also a tough Akron team in the first round of final four action on Thursday. A two-hour lightning/rain delay before the start of Haxtun's first game forced Colorado High School Activities Association directors to push the final championship match to the following day due to the lack of field lights at All-Star Park.

For the fourth time this season, the Bulldogs took the field against the Akron Rams. Haxtun swept Akron on the Rams' home field to open the 2023 season but the Rams got revenge in the District Championship just two weeks ago as they took down the Bulldogs 6-1.

The fourth contest between the two Lower Platte League teams would require extra innings as both teams' defenses kept the game scoreless until the top of the fourth when Akron went up one to none over the Bulldogs. Haxtun added a run in the bottom of the sixth with a run batted in from junior Mason Bornhoft to even things up.

Forced into extra innings, in the bottom of the eighth, Bornhoft came up big again with his second RBI to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 win over the Rams, the team's third this season, and a chance at a championship title.

"We had lost to Akron two weeks prior. The team had been focused and determined since finding out we could redeem ourselves playing them in the final four," Ham said. "When it came to the rain and delays, we just tried to have fun and enjoy it. They play their best when they're loose and having fun."

The championship game change required Haxtun administration to scramble to find hotel rooms for the team to stay another night to be able to take the field the following morning in the 1A title match. Those who were already scheduled to stay in Denver to compete at State Track went to their rooms while others found a nearby hotel for the evening.

Despite a delay in the Championship game, an unexpected hotel stay and lots of rain, Ham kept his team focused on the goal.

Rains fell through most of the title game when Haxtun took on Flatirons Academy on Friday morning, causing slick field conditions and mid-game delays to keep track of dry baseballs. Through it all the Bulldogs kept their heads in the game and battled for their chance at history.

Haxtun scored two runs early in the first inning but the Bison answered back with three runs in their first chance at bat to take an advantage early in the game. Third inning action brought three runs across home plate for both teams making the score 6-5 Bison heading into the fourth.

Haxtun came up big, capitalizing on pitching struggles from Flatirons Academy, scoring 10 runs in the fourth inning to take a commanding lead.

The top of the fifth brought on an impressive double-play by Ryland Wolff, Grant Statz and Maclin Tempel to end the game via the 15-run mercy rule with the Bulldogs on top, 19-7. The Bulldogs clinched the Colorado 1A State Baseball Championship, the first in school history since Haxtun added a baseball program in the late 1990s.

Ham said that at the beginning of the season, he knew this team had the potential to be great, and after the final four win against Akron, he said he knew the team could be Champions. "We hadn't been able to get by that game the last few years so we really tried to take it one game at a time," he said.

One thing Ham will always remember about this team was the numbers. This year's roster included 34 players along with Ham and assistant coaches Ryan Nolin and Rob Martinez and Manager Aly Lock.

"I'll always remember not being able to fit our whole team in every dugout and how loud our dugout was during games," Ham said. "The depth on this team is one of a kind. They pushed and supported each other. Everything was a whole team effort."

The 2023 team included seniors Kyle Fryrear, Maclin Tempel, Gerry Buccelli, Jerron Turney and Michael Gerk, all of whom closed out their high school careers at the very top, making their mark in school record books.

PITCHER Jerron Turney turns and makes a throw to Kash Workman at first base in attempt to throw out an Akron Ram runner.

"It was all smiles in that huddle (after winning the championship) and the three of us coaches just wanted them to know how proud we were. They deserved every bit of that," Ham said. "To me, the Championship means that it's well worth the time sacrificed. It also signifies the kind of potential we have in years to come. This team is loaded with talent at all ages."