Eaton baseball starts play with familiar foe

State championship tournaments have a knack for bringing together two unfamiliar opponents.

First-time meetings are often the norm as players and coaches scramble to prepare for an opponent they've seen very little of.

Today is no different for Eaton's baseball team. At least figuratively it isn't.

In actuality, the Reds (21-3) have played Brush (13-11) twice this season, defeating them 4-1 on March 15 and 17-1 on April 24.

Eaton coach Jim Danley and his players expect a completely different Beetdiggers team when the two squads meet in the Class 3A Baseball Championship Series state tournament final four at noon today at Butch Butler Field in Greeley.

"They're very dangerous," Danley said of a Brush team that has been on a postseason tear. "We talked about how the last time we played them it was 17-1 and it was just one of those games that got completely away. That was then and this is now; that team is no longer around. These guys right now are hot, confident and playing well."

Brush is 4-1 in the postseason. Eaton is 5-0.

The Reds coasted into this weekend's final four after being the only team to go 3-0 in the first two rounds last weekend. Eaton is guaranteed to be playing in the state title game on Saturday.

If Eaton wins today, it will play the winner of Erie's game with Lamar at 10 a.m. Saturday in the first of what could be two chances for the Reds to win a state title in the double-elimination tournament. Eaton would have to lose two of three games to not win a state title.

With the Reds within reach of their eighth state title, sophomore right fielder Adam Geisick said the team remains just as hungry this weekend as it was last weekend when it was battling to emerge from a talented eight-team field.

"Same focus, same goal," Geisick said. "We have one goal, and we're just trying to stay focused on that."

Practices this week haven't be too taxing for Eaton. The team has little to work on as its offense has hit its stride the last few weeks, backing up the Reds' normally potent pitching and defense.

"We're just working on the little fundamentals and then trying to have a good time at the same time," Eaton junior left fielder Bryce Ruff said. "We're still focused on the whole tournament this weekend. ... We all have a fair chance; everything is equal to everybody. It's a whole new weekend."

Danley said he has confidence his team will continue to play with concentration and energy, even with the notable advantage it has created over the rest of the four-team field.

"They're at the point now where I think they understand what it takes, the kind of focus and intensity it takes to win a championship," Danley said.

NOTEBOOK

Familiar faces: The final four of this year's Class 3A tournament is nearly identical to last year's final four, with one noticeable exception. Last year's final four consisted of Eaton, Erie, Lamar -- all returnees this year -- and Faith Christian. Faith Christian went on to win the state title last year. This year the Eagles will not have the chance to repeat. Faith Christian was knocked out of the tournament with back-to-back losses to Eaton and Lamar, with Brush taking its place.

Sweet revenge: Last year, Faith Christian ended Lamar's season with a 7-5 nine-inning win in the final four. This past weekend, the Savages earned some payback. Lamar eliminated the Eagles with a 9-8 win in nine innings.

Last season, Faith Christian also handed Eaton its first of two losses in the double-elimination tournament, defeating the Reds 5-4. This past Friday, Eaton returned the favor, defeating the Eagles 11-3 in the second round to hand Faith Christian its initial loss of the tournament.

It's a virtue: Even though pitches hit off the end of Eaton bats have been quick to drop into a gap or fly over the fence this season, Reds batters have not been in nearly as much of a hurry at the plate. Above all others, one thing in particular has led to Eaton's offensive explosion this offseason.

"Patience," Eaton junior left-fielder Bryce Ruff said. "I just think we're finding the right pitch to hit."

Beeting an ace: Eaton arguably has the two best pitchers left in the tournament, with ace left-hander Kyle Ottoson and sidearm-throwing Bo McLavey, both seniors.

However, Brush junior ace Arturo Maltos (7-4, 3.03 ERA, 103 SO) belongs in the discussion. "He's been throwing very well," Eaton coach Jim Danley said. "His curveball is good, and he has good velocity. We have the greatest respect for him. I think he's certainly one of the state's very top guys."

Anybody's game: Danley said beginning 3-0 in the tournament doesn't guarantee his team anything when the state title is handed out on Saturday. "In truth, the danger of playing real well one weekend is that you tend to feel like you don't have to work quite as hard," he said. "The biggest challenge is to try to come out with the same amount of hunger that we did last week."