The Durango High School baseball team saw a little bit of everything in the first couple days of the season.
After starting the 2016 campaign with a 16-1 manhandling of Eagle Valley on Friday, the Demons dropped two close games Saturday, losing to Fort Morgan 4-3 and Bear Creek 6-5.
“It was nice to win (Friday), but we love these competitive games and they’re important to play in this early in the season,” Durango head coach Eric Baker said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “We were in position to win both games and just couldn’t capitalize.”
Pitching has been a very bright spot for Baker with a plethora of arms emerging from the winter gloom. Andrew Selser was sharp in Friday’s opener, and Dylan Carlson threw a gem in the first game Saturday against Fort Morgan. Unfortunately, the Demons’ early season defense wasn’t as sharp as the young men toeing the rubber.
Carlson went the distance against Fort Morgan (1-1) allowing just three hits and two walks over six innings. The Durango defense made five errors that played a major role in the one-run loss. Senior Lawrence Mayberry has been raking at the plate to start the season and was a perfect 2-for-2 in Saturday’s opener. Max Hyson was 2-for-3, but more timely hits by the Demons’ offense could have made a difference in the outcome.
“It was just one of those games,” Baker said. “We have a bunch of chances to score and couldn’t get the big hit. They had one or two chances and capitalized. That’s the way baseball goes sometimes.”
Mayberry took the bump to start the second game and threw three solid innings before handing the rawhide to Tyler Ruetschle. With the game tied 5-5 in the seventh inning, Bear Creek (3-0) turned a weak single into a manufactured run to win 6-5.
Hyson was 3-for-4 at the plate in the second game, and Mark Lemoreaux was 2-for-4.
“I’m really pleased with the start we’ve had,” Baker said. “Overall, our pitching looks strong enough to give us a chance to win every day. We have four or five guys who can give us reliable innings, and that seems to be our strength.”
Next up for Durango (1-2) is a 9 a.m. Thursday game against Farmington (1-4) at the Piedra Vista Invitational in Farmington.
jfries@durangoherald.com
