By Greg Perkins Nine days between games wasn’t enough for the Lobos to stop their late season slide. The Lobos played just once last week losing a 7-6 decision to visiting Payson on Friday afternoon. The loss was their third straight setback and they have just two wins in their last seven games. Overall Snowflake’s record sits at 11-6 as they headed into their regular season finale on Tuesday. Despite the losing skid, it appears the Lobos will still make the 3A state playoffs, albeit as a lower seeded team, as they enter this week ranked 13th. With the top 16 making the final state bracket, they should still be ok. A road win on Tuesday over the Longhorns would certainly preserve a state tournament bid. A loss could make things interesting in terms of finishing inside the top 16. The state tournament gets underway on Saturday with the top eight seeds all hosting first round games. The second round is slated for Tuesday, May 11. Friday’s game played in Payson went down to the wire. Payson jumped out to a 4-0 lead after scoring twice in each of the first two frames. Snowflake pulled to within one run with three in the third. Payson made it a 5-3 game with one in the fifth only to see the Lobos battle back and tie the game at 5-5 heading into the seventh. Payson scored twice in the top of the seventh and the Lobos scored just once losing the game 6-7. The Lobos scattered six hits. Bradon Frost went 2 for 4 with a double; Ryan Caskey, 1 for 3, Caden Cantrell, 1 for 2; Tristan Cluff, 1 for 2; and Garret Rapier was 1 for 3. Caskey worked six innings on the hill giving up five runs on four hits, with three walks and struck out 10. Jace LeSueur pitched the final inning allowing two runs on two hits, with a pair of strikeouts. After playing in Payson on Tuesday the Lobos will have to await the final bracket release before they know if they will be in the post season and who their opponent will be on Saturday if they make it.
