Durango baseball saw a one-run lead in the bottom of the seventh inning slip away Saturday. In the Demons’ next game, they made sure it wouldn’t happen again.
Durango High School (2-2) picked up a 6-5 win Tuesday at Aztec (1-6). The Demons jumped out to a 5-0 lead and held on down the stretch to secure the win.
“A win is always a nice thing and makes the kids feel good about what they’re doing,” DHS head coach Eric Baker said. “I think we’re playing well, and of course it was a close game. Not much difference in the way we played this time, but things went our way this time.”
DHS took a one-run lead in the top of the first and made it 3-0 with a pair of runs in the third. DHS tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning before the Tigers answered back with two.
Durango senior Kegan D’Aleo came through with a big hit in the top of the sixth inning to give the Demons an insurance run they would need after the Tigers scored two more times in the bottom of the sixth.
D’Aleo came on to relieve Gavin Mestas on the pitcher’s mound with two outs in the sixth. He slammed the door on the Tigers for the final four outs to earn a save. Mestas picked up the win in 5 2/3 innings pitched.
Baker said Max Hyson had a big triple in the game, while Mestas added a pair of doubles.
“Aztec has some hitters and is a scrappy team,” Baker said. “I know they don’t have a bunch of wins, but they are a very solid team. It was a good win.
“Hyson is a big strong dude. When he gets into a ball, he can really put a drive on it. Mestas, he’s just a tough, competitive kid.”
DHS opened the season with a 5-2 loss to Uintah of Vernal, Utah. The team rallied back hours later to beat Los Lunas, New Mexico, 4-2. The opening Farmington High tournament ended with the 4-3 walk-off loss to the host Scorpions.
Baker has been pleased with the early pitching performances from Mestas, Fynn Hyson and Al Hurworth, and is looking forward to getting a few more pitchers some time on the mound in upcoming games before league will begin April 6 against Grand Junction.
Now, DHS will have 16 days off to prepare for a doubleheader March 31 at Battle Mountain in Edwards.
“Scheduling is always tough with 19 games spread over two months,” Baker said. “We try to take advantage of the Farmington tournament and play three games early, but we wind up with a bit of a break. This year, it’s even a little longer.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
