BY NICK ROBINSON
LITTLETON — Despite trailing by a run in the seventh inning, the Colorado Cyclones ripped off six runs to defeat the Colorado Khaos by a final score of 7-2 at Heritage High School.
“It was a fun game,” Cyclones outfielder Matt Burkart said. “It was chippy and got chirpy. But that’s what makes it fun. We had some big swings and really just stuck to what we are good at. Eventually, it paid off for us.”
With the victory, the Cyclones move to 17-5, and have won their last seven games.
“Everyone to start the year was kind of working on their own things,” Burkart explained. “Now we are more focused on winning and doing whatever it takes. The coaches have done a great job getting everyone right mechanically, and now it’s starting to pay off.”
With a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth, Burkart (2-5, 4 RBI’s) drilled a grand slam, which deflated Khaos’ (12-9) chance of a comeback.
“I didn’t want to hit a ground ball,” Burkart said. “Everyone was rolling over today and I didn’t want to hit into a double play. It felt really good on the swing. The confidence is coming and that means I can be more selective.”
JT Mossberg (6 IP, 2 K’s) picked up the victory for the Cyclones, while Colton Chase added three hits offensively.
Burkart, who will be a senior at Northern Colorado, took some time away from the MHCBL, but returned because of the guidance of head coach J.L. Buchanan.
“This is my second total summer playing with the Cyclones,” he explained. “I played after my freshman year. I came back here because of J.L. Buchanan – he’s a great hitting coach. He got me right for my sophomore year, so he’s been helping me work on a lot of things. Hopefully I can have the same kind of year and get drafted.”
The Cyclones will go for their eighth and ninth-straight victories on Tuesday versus the Denver Generals. First pitch is slated for 5pm.
“We just need to keep going and doing things the way we know how to do them,” Burkart said. “We’ve found a formula that works, and we need to stick to it.”
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