Las Animas had two wins and a loss in its invitational last Friday and Saturday.
    The Trojans out blasted Cripple Creek 17 – 7 in the their opener, then was blanked by Eads in a 10 – 0 loss on Saturday.
    In between, on Friday afternoon, the home team played small ball to edge Elbert County 3 – 1.
    Kyle Eck and Jeff Staley of Elbert both sparkled in a pitcher’s duel that kept the game close and the crowd tense for all seven innings.
    The first Elbert batter got a single off Eck, then stole Eck struck out the second batter up, a fielder’s choice got the second and third outs.  In between the last two outs a walk put another Bulldog on base, but the inning ended with Elbert players on first and third.
    Kyle reached base on an error to start the Trojan offense. An error after Dru Montoya bunted put both on base. They advanced to second and third after a wild Staley pitch.
    Eck scored when Derek Wilson’s popup was dropped, leaving Dru a threat on third base while Derek was on first. But Jeff Gonzales struck out to end the inning.
    Still, the Trojans were one up.
    In the bottom of the second inning Eck took matters into his own hands. Colton Gallegos got on base due to a fielder’s error. Then Eck hit a deep triple to push Gallegos over the plate for a 2 – 0 Trojan lead.
    In the top of the third Eck got two outs before giving up back to back singles that put runners on first and third. But a ground ball got Eck and the Trojans out of trouble.
    Eck sparkled in the fourth inning, getting two strike outs followed by  an easy out after Staley hit a ground ball.
    After the first two Trojans struck out, Gallegos got on base after a miscue. Eck, proving prowess on both sides of the mound, hit a single to advance Gallegos. But Cole Miller hit the ball low and a flawless stop and throw ended the inning.
    Both pitchers kept the game under control until the top of the sixth.
    A Trojan error put the first Bulldog batter on base. He quickly stole second, then advanced to third on a fielder’s choice. The next batter up drove in a run to put the Bulldogs just one run behind.
    The Bulldogs put a pinch runner on second base, but the strategy was stymied when Eck got the next Bulldogs to strike out and pop up, the latter blooper caught by Wick Turner who was playing first base.
    But now it was only a 2 – 1 lead for the Trojans.
    With a slim one run lead, the bottom of the inning started sluggishly. Harley Tenorio fied out, then Wick turner struck out as Staley seemed to have his number.
    Gallegos got a two-out single, often a wasted motion — but not necessarily in small ball.
    Eck slammed a double off Staley, putting two Trojans in scoring position.
    Rattled by the turn of events, Staley’s wild pitch allowed Colton to score.
    Eck calmly got the first two batters out in the top of the final inning, but then disaster struck when a wild throw by a team mate put a Bulldog on second, with the tie run at the plate.
    Disaster began to loom on the horizon as the momentum had clearly shifted. Jeff Gonzales could not find the handle on a ground ball and Bulldogs ended up on first and third with two out.
    But Eck alertly snared a high hopper from a hit ball and threw the runner out at first to win the game.
    Kyle sparkled in his debut, striking out nine.and scattering four hits according to my notes.