Piedra Vista's Bayless Delivers Complete Game, Two-Run Single in 4-0 Win Over Cibola

JW Bayless needed to be two players at once Friday at Ricketts Park, and he delivered on both fronts. The Piedra Vista senior held Cibola scoreless through a complete game while breaking open a tight pitching duel with a two-out, two-run single in the fifth inning, lifting the Panthers to a 4-0 victory and stretching their record to 17-1 overall.

Through four innings at the Farmington venue, Bayless and Cibola starter Beau Segotta matched each other pitch for pitch. Segotta punched out five batters and allowed just two hits, though his four walks would prove costly. The game remained scoreless until the fifth.

The decisive sequence began when Mason Courtney was hit by a pitch and Kade Aragon drew a walk. With two on, Cibola opted to intentionally walk Kyle Murphy and load the bases for Bayless. A wild pitch scored Courtney from third, and Bayless lined a two-run single to the outfield, plating Aragon and Murphy and giving Piedra Vista a 3-0 lead. Elijas Barton followed with a triple to right center, driving home Bayless and extending the advantage to 4-0.

Piedra Vista coach Jeff Kiraly pointed to Barton as a player who consistently rises when it matters. "He's been coming up big for all us all season," Kiraly said. "He's willing to do whatever it takes for us to win and he did that again in that situation."

Bayless finished what he started on the mound, going the distance with seven strikeouts and no walks on eight hits. The outing held Cibola scoreless despite the visitors generating baserunners across multiple innings.

The win moved Piedra Vista to 2-0 in District 1-5A play. The Panthers entered the week ranked No. 2 in Class 5A on MaxPreps, with district rival Cleveland sitting at No. 1 and carrying an 18-0 record into their scheduled matchup against Piedra Vista. How the Panthers handle that road trip will go a long way toward shaping both district standings and postseason seeding.