Kent Denver stops Basalt baseball, 9-2

The season ended in extra-inning frustration for the Basalt Longhorns.

The Basalt High School baseball team, seeded No. 9 for the Class 3A state playoffs after dominating the Western Slope League, lost a 9-2 heartbreaker to No. 24 Kent Denver in eight innings Saturday in Bennett.

Kent Denver broke open the close game in the top of the eighth. And the Sun Devils continued their torrid hitting when they defeated No. 8 seed and host Bennett, 15-8, in Saturday afternoon’s championship game. Bennett had eliminated Olathe, 8-1, on Saturday morning.

Kent Denver (7-12) will advance to the double-elimination Class 3A State Tournament in Greeley next week.

The Longhorns, stung by the No. 9 seeding and the long trip to Bennett for Saturday’s district tournament, end the year 15-3 — the best record in program history.