After weeks of playing only away games, the Summit High School baseball team has finally reached the point in the spring sports season where the prospect of hosting a game in Summit County is becoming more of a possibility.

With temperatures remaining favorable and snow melting quickly, Summit’s chances of hosting its first home games of the season on Saturday, May 4 looks promising.

Since recording a win over Basalt High School on April 2, the Summit High School baseball team has split its last four games.

On April 6, the Tigers traveled to Palisade where the team faced 4A Western Slope league opponent Palisade High School for a double-header. 

In the first game, the Palisade Bulldogs got out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Wanting to expand its lead, Palisade put more runners across the plate in the bottom of the third and fourth. Trailing 7-0 to begin the fifth inning, Summit attempted to get on the scoreboard, but the team was once again held scoreless. Summit brought in two runs in the top of the sixth to bite into Palisade’s lead, however those runs were quickly matched in the Bulldogs’ side of the inning. The Tigers scored a final run in the top of the seventh before the game was retired by the Bulldogs. Summit fell to Palisade, 9-3 in the first game of the double header. In the loss, Summit senior Carter Luetkens recorded one hit and one run brought in (RBI) while sophomore Sam Eldredge had two hits. 

Summit tried to tighten up its play in the second game, but the team was once again thwarted by Palisade. The Bulldogs got out to a hot start, scoring four runs in the bottom of the third. Summit immediately responded by scoring runs of its own in the fourth inning. Luetkens and junior Justin Nadler both recorded RBIs to bring the score to 4-2 before Palisade successfully sealed the two-game series in the final three innings. Palisade defeated Summit, 8-2.

After two tough losses, it can be easy to get discouraged and continue to slip in terms of performance, but the Tigers quickly took control of their situation and soon enough were back in the win column.

Following a couple weeks off, Summit traveled to Northfield High School on Wednesday, April 24. Northfield began the game with two quick runs in the first inning, which forced Summit to once again play catchup.

Halfway through the game, the Northfield Nighthawks led 3-0, but the Tigers surged back to take control. In the top of the sixth, Summit scored its first run of the game before Summit senior Mason Lukasiewicz tied the game at 3-3 with a two-run home run. With the game on the line, Eldredge and the Summit fielding unit prevented Northfield from scoring another run while the game-winning run was scored by the Tigers. Summit defeated Northfield, 4-3, with Eldredge recording 10 strikeouts.  

Two days later on Friday, April 26, Summit made the trip to Lakewood where the team took on Kennedy High School. Following a series of challenging games over the last few weeks, Summit rolled past the Kennedy Commanders with an 11-0 win in the weather-shortened, two-inning game.

Leading the Tigers in the huge win was Lukasiewicz who went two for two from the plate and had three RBIs. Additionally, Luetkens and junior Lucas Comcowich hit home runs while senior Tanner Gray had two strikeouts.

Summit improves its record to 5-8 overall with a 0-4 league record.

Summit will now prepare for a league game against Battle Mountain High School on Wednesday, May 1, before turning its focus to a home double header against league opponent Eagle Valley High School on Saturday, May 4. Baring weather and field conditions, Summit will play Eagle Valley at 2 and 4 p.m. at the Frisco Peninsula baseball field.