LAKEWOOD and PUEBLO, Colo. – Playing in two different cities this weekend, the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys (18-15, 15-8 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) looks to strengthen its RMAC Plains Division lead when it travels to last place Colorado Christian (7-25, 6-16) for a pair of doubleheaders this weekend (April 11-12). While the first game is in Lakewood, Saturday's games will be played in Pueblo, Colo.
"After a successful weekend at home, we need to continue that success on the road," head coach
Steve Jones stated. "Christian is greatly improved over previous years, so it will not be an easy task.
"As always seems to be the case, we need to pitch consistently, shore up defensive miscues and continue to get better offensively," Jones added.
Live stats will be available through Colorado Christian by clicking
here.
Going Streaking Junior
Andrew Ratterman slowly has become one of the most consistent hitters in the conference. Bumping up his average by 30 points with an 8-for-15 weekend against Regis – a Cowboys sweep – Ratterman has moved up to ninth in the conference with a .367 average. Redshirt junior teammate
Matthew Chavez is third in the conference with a .427 average.
For his successes last weekend, Ratterman was named both RMAC and Division II South Central Regional Player of the Week.
However, the duo of Chavez and Ratterman has two things in common: hit streaks. Ratterman has quietly racked up a 20-game hitting streak. In 11-of those-20 games, Ratterman has only one hit. However, he has only waited until the last at-bat once (against Regis, April 5) for the hit.
Ratterman is hitting .405 (32-for-79) during the hit streak.
Meanwhile, Chavez has a pair of seven-plus game hitting streaks this season. He started off the season with a seven-game hitting streak and has hit safely in his last eight games. While Chavez's earlier streak featured only two one-hit games, 6-of-8 games during his current hitting streak features one hit.
And there's Another Three-Bagger Chavez and Ratterman may be on long hit streaks, but it is junior
Colby Wilmer who is on a unique hit streak of his own. Wilmer has hit safely in his last three ballgames… via a triple. Wilmer is now third in the country with seven triples. The Cowboys are fifth in the country in triples with 17 as a team this season.
The most interesting parts with all the triples: he only had two through his first 14 games but has five in the last nine. Also interesting to note is that Wilmer only has one double on the year.
Scouting Colorado Christian The Cougars are last in the conference coming into the weekend and look to put a hitch in Highlands RMAC Tournament plans. While Colorado Christian only posts 4.1 runs per game, the Cougars are one of the top teams in the nation by turning 0.81 double plays per ball game. And also like the Cowboys, they like to take third on balls to the gap. Colorado Christian is 58th in the nation with eight triples, an average of 0.25 per game.
Colorado Christian only hits .276 while opponents are hitting .342. This may bode well for the Cowboys as they are second in the conference and 21st in the nation with a .325 average.
Chisolm Witt leads the team with a .333 batting average and also leads all pitching starters with a 6.25 ERA and a 4-1 record. Scott Brower comes out of the bullpen and has a 2.38 ERA over 11.1 innings pitched in 10 appearances.
Next Up The Cowboys return home to begin their final run through RMAC Plains Division play against Adams State next Thursday (April 17). Highlands took 2-of-3 against the Grizzlies to begin RMAC play Feb. 28-March 1.
