Rifle is 0-9 against Delta since April of 2016 but things could change on Thursday. The Bears will host the Panthers at 6:00 p.m. The two teams are sauntering into the matchup backed by comfortable wins in their prior games.
Rifle is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. They were the clear victors by a 17-4 margin over Basalt on Tuesday. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the team's high-flying offense, the game also marked the team's biggest victory of the season.
Remington Decrow made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out eight batters over five innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off five hits (and only one walk). Those eight strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was also stellar in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with four RBI, two runs, and two doubles.
Baden Phillips
| 04/21/26 @ Basalt | 4 |
| 04/18/26 @ Summit | 2 |
| 04/15/26 @ Glenwood Springs | 2 |
| 03/21/26 @ Montrose | 2 |
| 04/19/25 vs Summit | 2 |
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Baden Phillips, who went 3-for-4 with four runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. Those four runs gave him a new career-high. Tyler Arnold was another key player, going 1-for-3 with three RBI, one stolen base, and one run.
Rifle was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .424. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .318 or higher in four consecutive matchups.
Ten must be Delta's lucky number: they beat Gunnison with that score not once but twice on Saturday. The Panthers didn't even let the Cowboys on the board, marking the Panthers' second-straight 10-0 shutout. Considering the Panthers have won seven games by more than five runs this season, Saturday's blowout was nothing new.
Like Rifle, Delta also got a great game from a two-way player: Landon Kennell. He kept things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out 13 over five innings pitched. Kennell has been consistent recently: he hasn't tossed less than eight strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs. Delta is 6-1 when Kennell posts two or more runs, but 5-6 otherwise.
Kennell wasn't the only one making solid contact as six players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Deacon Shean, who went 2-for-4 with two runs. Shean is becoming a predictor of Delta's success: when he posts at least two runs the team is undefeated (and 5-7 when he doesn't). Another was Jhett Ryan, who went 2-for-4 with one run and one double.
Delta pushed their record up to 11-7 with the win, which was their fourth straight at home. Those home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 0.8 runs on average over those games. As for Rifle, their win bumped their record up to 3-11.
Rifle couldn't quite get it done against Delta in their previous matchup back in April of 2025 as they fell 7-4. Will the Bears have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
