All it took was one misstep from Prairie View for Grandview to open the flood gates.

With the score knotted up at four, Grandview designated hitter Easton Flores hit a screaming fly ball to left field. Prairie View outfielder Favi Gaeta tried to make the catch, but he stumbled on his feet, while the ball went over his head, landing in the warning track as the go-ahead runner slid into home plate.

Flores’ go-ahead single jump started a nine-run inning as Grandview pulled away for a 13-5 win over Prairie View in the first round of the Class 5A state baseball tournament at All-Star Park in Lakewood on Friday afternoon.

“We just kept doing the right things (at the plate) so everything went well for us in that inning,” junior pitcher Jax Pfister.

Grandview’s emphasis on the little things paid off in a big way. The Wolves recorded four straight bunts during their scoring outburst that served as a difference-maker. After Flores’ go-ahead single, junior infielder Chase Chapman drove in a run on a bunt single. A throwing error from Prairie View resulted in two more runs for Grandview.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Pfister completely sucked the life out of the Thunderhawks by smashing a grand slam to left field.

“(Prairie View reliever Travis Teague) had to come at me eventually. I was sitting on a fastball and he gave it to me,” Pfister said.

Before Grandview’s onslaught, the third inning featured theatrics fitting for a state tournament. Trailing 2-0 against Prairie View pitcher Jerry Stone, shortstop Tony Crow hit a two-run single up the middle. Later in the inning, Chapman drove in two more runs after belting a triple to left-center, giving the Wolves a 4-2 lead.

Prairie View immediately responded in the bottom half: Stone recorded an RBI double before senior right fielder Javi Gaeta singled in the game-tying run.

Pfister gave up four runs on six hits and struck out six batters in five innings of work.

“I got rattled at times, and that affected my strike throwing,” Pfister said. “But overall, I kept my composure and threw enough strikes to help get my team the win.”

After an eventful third, both teams were held scoreless for three innings. However, there were plenty of opportunities. Grandview loaded the bases in the fifth before Stone struck out two batters and forced senior outfielder Tucker Smock to ground into a fielder’s choice. Prairie also had the bases loaded in the sixth, but couldn’t capitalize.

“We weren’t disheartened or anything,” Grandview coach Scott Henry said after leaving runners on base in the fifth. “We knew we were gonna break through.”

Wyatt Rudden was in control from the jump.

Cherry Creek’s junior pitcher struck out two batters on 13 pitches in the first inning. And he didn’t stop there.

With strong command of his fastball, Rudden recorded nine strikeouts in seven innings to lead the Bruins to an 8-0 victory over Chaparral in the first round of the 5A tournament.

“(Rudden) was throwing (his) fastball for strikes and (used) his curveball when he needed it,” Cherry Creek coach Marc Johnson said. “He was dominant.”

Cherry Creek was up 5-0 in the top half of the fourth when Rudden ran into a bit of adversity. After he struck out the first two batters, he hit senior designated hitter Derrick Ball with a pitch before walking third baseman Jordin Albertson. With runners on the corners, Rudden recorded his eighth strikeout to get out of the jam.

“I told him before the game that the one thing he has to do is respond when something goes wrong. I was very pleased,” Johnson said.

Said Rudden: “You have to trust your stuff and stay composed. That’s what I did.”

Rudden’s performance highlighted an all-around effort from the Bruins, who scored in four consecutive innings and smashed three home runs. Senior designated hitter Will Taylor belted a two-run home run in the first inning. Junior first baseman Connor Larkin hit a solo home run in the third. In the fourth, sophomore outfielder Tryce Smith blasted a homer over the right field wall before Larkin drove in another run with a triple.

“As a pitcher, there’s no better feeling than your offense hitting the ball for you,” Rudden said. “We were smashing the ball everywhere.”

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