The Bayfield High School baseball team put on a hit parade against the Monte Vista Pirates in Saturday’s doubleheader.
The Class 3A fourth-ranked Wolverines won 11-0 and 12-2 via mercy rule in the fifth inning of both home games.
Senior Zane Phelps led Bayfield (11-4, 4-0 3A Intermountain League) in Game 1 with a 3-for-3 performance that included a home run, five runs batted in and three runs scored. He was a single away from hitting for the cycle.
Lefty Carlos Parra got the start on the mound for Monte Vista (4-13, 2-6 IML). Parra had movement on his curveball, but the Wolverines were able to adjust quickly to put up three runs in the first inning.
“We struggle sometimes when the pitcher throws a little softer, but we made some adjustments, which was good,” said Phelps, son of Dion and Koel Phelps. “For the most part, I would say everyone hit the ball pretty well (Saturday).”
Bayfield totaled 26 hits in the two games, including 11 for extra bases.
Phelps also excelled on the mound, as he came on in relief and pitched two innings with four strikeouts.
Fellow senior Brody McGhehey earned the win on the mound in Game 1. He pitched four innings and struck out seven Monte Vista batters and didn’t allow a run.
Bayfield’s pitching was just as dominant as its hitting, as the Wolverines allowed only four Monte Vista hits all day.
Austin Baughman had a nice day at the plate. He went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base.
Bayfield started early when senior Taed Heydinger opened the game with a single. McGhehey then got on base from a fielding error, and Phelps cleared the bases with his three-run home run.
The Wolverines broke the game open in the second inning when the first seven batters to the plate came around to score.
“We haven’t hit the ball like we did (Saturday) all year,” said Bayfield senior Kelton McCoy, son of Derek and Loresa McCoy. “If we get hot at the right time, there’s nobody who can stop us. It felt good to break the ice because we’ve been struggling a little bit offensively to get it going.”
Between games, Bayfield’s seniors were honored for one last time at Wolverine Stadium. Baughman, Heydinger, Noah Loutherback, McCoy, McGhehey, Logan Sabinski and Cameron Seivert all took a bow.
“This place has been good to us,” said Loutherback, son of Brad and Jennifer Loutherback. “It’s good to get a couple of wins for the fans here. It’s good to end it out strong.”
Bayfield followed up its performance with another strong showing in Game 2. McCoy picked up where Phelps left off. He, too, was only one hit shy from hitting for the cycle, as he went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and a single.
“I was just trying to hit the ball in the gap to get a triple, but I’ll take 3-for-4 with a win any day,” McCoy said.
In Phelps’ first at-bat in Game 2, he got his single he needed to hit for the cycle from Game 1. The hit drove in McGhehey from second base.
McCoy got the call on the mound in Game 2 and gave himself early run support by driving a two-run home run in the first inning. He pitched three innings with six strikeouts and only one earned run.
Monte Vista’s bats were more eager in Game 2 and attacked McCoy early, as the Pirates scored two runs in the first inning. After the Pirates got on the board for the first time of the day, McCoy adjusted.
“We had an error, then I walked a guy, then I left a change up at the batter’s chest,” McCoy said. “That kind of stuff causes runs, so I just worked down my fastball a lot better and it worked out.”
Bayfield had three errors on the day, two of which came from Phelps at shortstop.
“Lately we’ve been doing a lot better than the beginning of the season,” Phelps said. “(Saturday), not so much, for me at least. Defense and bunting is what we’ve always struggled with, so that’s what we’re working on.”
Heydinger came in for relief for McCoy in the fourth inning. He didn’t allow any hits and struck out one batter. Hayden Farmer then closed the game in the fifth inning.
Bayfield’s season is coming to a close with a make-up doubleheader against Centauri (5-7, 2-0 IML) that is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Wolverine Stadium in Bayfield.
“We feel like we’re starting to get hot now,” Loutherback said. “We are peaking at the right time, but we have to just win out. It doesn’t matter where we go, it doesn’t matter who we play, we just have to win.”
Bayfield is currently ranked No. 8 in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 3A RPI rankings but stands at No. 4 in the coaches poll.
jmentzer@durangoherald.com
