Ponderosa High School Mustangs: Welcome

Ponderosa's costly 2-1 loss to Legend on Saturday morning may come back to haunt the Mustangs when tournament time rolls around.  The Mustangs were flat throughout the game, let the Titans hang around, then lost the game in the bottom of the seventh.  Ponderosa started out fine scoring a run in the top of the 1st inning on a single and a double, but that would be the last time a Ponderosa player got past second base for the rest of the game.  Even though the Mustangs weren't doing much offensively, the Titams were following suit, as they failed to score any runs through the first 5 innings as well, so Ponderosa's faint 1-0 lead was standing up.  However, Legend tied the score in the sixth inning on a single, a stolen base and a 2-out hit, evening the score at 1-1, building momentum for the Titans.  As the Mustangs went out 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh, Legend scored the winning run a base hit, a stolen base, and a game winning single to take the game 2-1.  The loss drops the Mustangs to 2-2 in league and 10-3 overall.

The 2012 Mustangs swept through the Don McCall tournament with 5 straight wins, claiming the championship in the Labor Day weekend tournament.  Friday’s games started with a come-from-behind victory for the Mustangs over the Pioneers from Stillwater, Oklahoma.  Down 2-0 in the 4^th inning, the Mustangs exploded for 5 runs, powered by 3 singles, a walk, and a 3-run homer to take a 5-2 lead.  Stillwater added 2 runs in the 5^th inning to close the gap to 5-4.  The Mustangs got that run back in the bottom of the 5^th on two hits and an error to increase the lead to 6-4.  Stillwater scored an unearned run in the 6^th to draw with 6-5, but that ended the scoring, resulting in a Mustang win.  Ponderosa’s second pool game against La Junta started off somewhat similarly, as the Tigers jumped to an early 1-0 with a leadoff homer on the 3^rd pitch of the game.  Ponderosa answered in the bottom of the 1^st with 2 hits, a walk, and a Tiger error to take the lead at 2-1.  The Mustangs poured it on in the 2^nd inning with 7 hits and 4 walks, to add 8 runs to their score, posting g a 10-1 lead.  La Junta added runs in the 3^rd and 5^th inning to close the scoring at 10-3 for the Mustangs 2^nd win.  Game 3 against Lewis-Palmer gave the Mustangs their 3^rd win of the day with a solid 6-0 victory over the Rangers.  As solid pitching and defense kept Lewis-Palmer from ever reaching 2^nd base, the Mustangs put 4 runs on the board in the 2^nd inning on 3 singles and 2-run homer  to post a 4-0 lead.  Ponderosa added solo runs in the 3^rd and 6^th inning to close the scoring at 6-0.  The 3 wins advanced Ponderosa to the “Gold” bracket in the tournament, where they joined the other 3 teams who swept through their brackets with 3 wins on Friday.  Saturday’s Gold bracket play opened with Ponderosa vs Douglas County for the right to advance to the championship game.  The Mustangs jumped on the board early in the 1^st inning with 2 runs on 3 hits to take a 2-0 lead.  In the 3^rd inning, Ponderosa increased the lead to 3-0 on 2 hits and a suicide squeeze bunt.  DC bounced back with 2 unearned runs in the bottom of the 3^rd to close the gap at 3-2.  Neither team scored again, as the game ended on a crucial strikeout with a DC runner on 3^rd base, sending the Mustangs to the Championship game against the Castle View Sabercats.  In a classic pitching duel over the first 4 innings, neither team could get on the board with any offense, mustering just 2 hits apiece over that span.  In the top half of the 5^th inning Ponderosa scored the lone 2 runs of the game on a Sabercat error and 2 hits to jump to a 2-0 lead.  Both pitchers continued their dominance through the rest of the game, and the 2-0 lead stood up for the Mustangs, and they clinched the Don McCall Championship.    The tournament was a great experience for the Mustangs as they worked hard to build and protect leads in tight games, which will prove beneficial in the tough Continental League play which begins in 10 days.  Congratulations Mustangs – well played and well deserved!!

Colorado's 5A reigning State Champion,  Legacy Lightning, visited Sedillo Field on Wednesday afternoon and handed the Mustangs their first loss of the 2012 season.  The game started off well for Ponderosa, as they blanked the Lightning offense in the top of the first and then scored a run in the bottom of the inning on a triple and a sac fly to take a 1-0 lead.  Legacy took the lead in the second inning on 3 unearned runs and added another unearned run in the third inning to post a 4-1 lead.  A solo homer in the 4th inning increased the Legacy lead to 5-1.  The 5th inning was the "final nail in the coffin" as the Mustangs allowed 7 runs as the Legacy built their lead to 12-1, enacting the 10-run rule after 5 innings.  The Mustangs never got on track offensively after the first inning, as they were held to just 3 baserunners over the final 4 innings.  The loss drops the Mustangs record to 2-1 for the season.

Any Ponderosa High School students interested in playing Mustang Fastpitch for the 2012 season are encouraged to attend the Mustang Player Camp to be held at Sedillo Field (located on the east side of PHS) on the afternoons of August 8 and 9, 2012.  The camp will focus on fundamentals and aspects of the Mustang Fastpitch coaching philosophies that will help prospects in tryouts held during August 13th and August 14th.  This camp is a great way for returning and future players to get to know one another as well as have some fun and learn some new skills at the same time. 

All campers need to be cleared by the Athletic Office before attending camp.  In order to be cleared for camp you need to have completed your physical, and you also need to turn your registration packet into the Athletic Office at Ponderosa.  Physical forms are available in the Athletic office and need to be completed by your doctor and turned back in before camp.   In addition, all campers will need to have a permission slip (available in the athletic office - or downloaded from the "handouts" section of this website) for the camp signed by their parents. 

The camp will cost $20.00, which will cover the cost of your 2012 team t-shirt.    Please make sure to bring all of your equipment and plenty of water.   

 Hope to see you there!!!