Benn Farrell
DENVER - For some, it could be a nightmare turned reality and for others, it could be a dream come true.
For Ryan Burr, pitching his final inning of high school baseball was no different then playing whiffle ball in the back yard with the neighborhood friends.
Bottom of the seventh inning against Cherry Creek May 25 at All-City Field in the fourth round of the Class 5A state championship series, Burr, a Highlands Ranch senior, was on the mound and coming up on 130-plus pitches. Bases were loaded, and the Falcons had two outs.
If that wasn’t enough pressure, Burr was at full count. Falcons catcher Adam Gauthier was about to head to the bump to talk about the situation, but Burr waved him off, ensuring his team he had the situation in hand.
“I just felt my stuff was better than (the batter’s) stuff,” Burr said. “That’s the mentality I’ll have no matter who I’m facing at any level. You have to pitch with a confidence that says, `I’m the better guy right now.’”
Fans behind both dugouts were on their feet to see the outcome of the make-or-break moment few high school ball players get to experience.
It was that moment which defined not only the game but the entire state championship final four series, Falcons coach John Cackowski said. No one would have blamed the coach for pulling Burr out in the sixth inning, having booked over a hundred throws by then, many of which were 90 miles per hour or more, but instead Cackowski wanted to see the senior finish what he started.
“He was on a quick hook,” Cackowski said. “And the reality of it was, it was his last game of high school and he’s thrown 125 pitches before, and that was it.
“That was Ryan’s game. He wanted it, and wasn’t going to come out. I trust Ryan, and he trusts me.”
Cherry Creek got a piece of Burr’s final pitch, but a routine grounder was nothing for the Falcons’ fielding and the third out was made at first.
Burr said he loves situations like bottom of the seventh, two outs and full count.
“That’s why I play the game, for those situations,” Burr said.
“It went our way, and we ended up losing, but I couldn’t be more proud of my team.”
Highlands Ranch lost to Cherry Creek, which went on to win the state title the following day, by a 3-2 final the following inning. Tony Audino relieved Burr in the eighth.
Burr finished the season 5-4 and a combined ERA of 3.09. He struck out 75 batters this season while only surrendering 20 earned runs.
