Smoky Hill 7 - Cherry Creek 5
In the year 2001, an intense 7-inning match took place between two highly respected Centennial League teams, competing for the prestigious title. It is crucial to note that both Smoky Hill and Cherry Creek High School are proud members of the renowned Cherry Creek School District. This marked a significant milestone for Coach Steven Cavnar and the Smoky Hill Buffaloes, as they secured their first-ever 5A State Baseball Championship. The Buffaloes demonstrated their prowess by defeating the Bruins with a resounding 7-5 victory, cementing their claim to the 2001 5A State Championship.
Early in the 2001 season the two teams squared off with Smoky Hill getting the best of the Bruins.
Buffaloes get better of Bruins
By Jeff Hamrick Special to The Denver Post
April 6, 2001 - GREENWOOD VILLAGE - If double-play ground balls are a pitcher's best friend, first-pitch strikes rank a close second.
In a matchup between the state's top two teams Thursday, Smoky Hill's Ken Anderson had both going for him as the top-ranked Buffaloes took advantage of three errors by Cherry Creek while rolling to a 6-2 victory over the second-ranked Bruins.
The victory brought Smoky Hill (4-4 overall, 4-0 Centennial League) back to .500, offsetting an 0-4 trip last week to Arizona.
"It's taken us some time to get together and get used to doing things (as a team)," said Smoky Hill coach Steve Cavnar, whose roster features seven players - including Anderson - who transferred to the school in the offseason. "I think the Phoenix trip was big for us in terms of realizing what we have to do."
While dominating Class 5A the past decade, Cherry Creek (6-3, 3-1) has won six state titles by taking advantage of opponents' mistakes. Thursday, it was the Bruins who hurt themselves early with two errors in the first inning and another in the third that led to three unearned runs.
Smoky Hill jumped out to a 4-0 lead, highlighted by Calvin Beamon's two-run triple.
"When we went down to Arizona, our team came together, we molded together as a team," Beamon said. "We're starting to work together and becoming a better team."
Anderson, who threw a first-pitch strike to 22 of the 29 batters he faced while allowing eight hits, induced four double plays.
The senior right-hander, who consistently threw his fastball 85-86 mph, struck out eight and walked one. The only earned run Cherry Creek scored came in the fifth inning when Scott Epperson, who was 3 for 3, hit a one-out double and Aaron Rosdal followed with an RBI single.
"I try to dominate, usually with fastballs," said Anderson, who was at Rangeview last season. "I also throw a slider-curve I call a slurve and I tried throwing a changeup, but I didn't have very good location on a couple of them. Just working ahead of hitters is big. It was huge. You'd rather be 0-1 than 1-0 anytime."
Cherry Creek starter Joe Andrews threw well in the loss, retiring the final 12 batters he faced. He struck out seven while allowing seven hits and two walks.
"I had my stuff, but they had two big innings by capitalizing on mistakes," Andrews said. "You have to give them credit for that.
"We're all right. It's not bad if we make mistakes as long as we get over those mistakes. This was just one game."
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