The Nucla Mustangs will face off against the Flatirons Academy Bison at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Nucla is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Saturday. They came out on top against Peetz by a score of 13-10. The win was familiar territory for the Mustangs, who have now won four matchups in a row.
Jackson McCabe made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he struck out seven batters over 4.2 innings while giving up just one earned (and four unearned) runs off five hits. He is becoming a predictor of Nucla's success: when he allows at most one earned run the team is undefeated (and 6-9 when he doesn't). McCabe was also big at the plate, getting on base in all five of his plate appearances with one stolen base.
Brycen Rummel
| 04/17/26 vs La Veta | 3 |
| 05/09/26 vs Peetz | 2 |
| 05/03/26 vs Dove Creek | 2 |
| 05/03/26 vs Sierra Grande | 2 |
| 04/29/26 vs Dove Creek | 2 |
| + 8 more games |
In other batting news, Cole Bray and Brycen Rummel did most of the damage at the plate: Bray got on base in three of his five plate appearances with one home run, four RBI, and two runs, while Rummel went 2-for-4 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs. Rummel has become a key player for Nucla: the team is 8-2 when he posts at least two runs, but 5-7 otherwise. Jace Bonacquista also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
Nucla lost a few balls and finished the game with two home runs. That's the most home runs they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Flatirons Academy got the win against Eads on Saturday by a conclusive 12-2. Considering the Bison have won 14 contests by more than five runs this season, Saturday's blowout was nothing new.
Like Nucla, Flatirons Academy also got a great game from a two-way player: Mateo Pope. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out eight batters over five innings while giving up just two earned runs off six hits (and not a single walk). Pope has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with one home run and three RBI. That's the most RBI he has posted since back in April.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Braxton Kelley, who got on base in all three of his plate appearances with three stolen bases, three runs, and two RBI. Those three stolen bases gave him a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Dillon Sauer, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with two RBI, one run, and one double.
Nucla's record is now 13-9. As for Flatirons Academy, their record now sits at 17-3.
Thursday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Nucla hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .355. However, it's not like Flatirons Academy struggles in that department as they've averaged .383. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Nucla suffered a grim 9-0 defeat to Flatirons Academy in their previous meeting back in May of 2023. Can the Mustangs avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
