What started out as a dominating display of power finished as a disappointing blow for the Bayfield High School boys baseball team, losing to the Aztec Tigers on Tuesday afternoon in the bottom of the seventh inning, 13-12.
“We started out really well with the bats,” said Bayfield head coach Jonathon Qualls in a phone interview with The Durango Herald.
Bayfield scored the game’s first 10 runs in the first inning.
“We had their pitcher where we wanted him, but he made some adjustments and he shut us down after a while,” Qualls said. “We didn’t adjust at the plate and made some mental errors. We let them creep back in.”
Up 12-10 and heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, Bayfield (4-3) let the game slip away by giving up a two-run triple to Aztec’s leadoff batter ,Jake Taylor, who scored the winning run from third base on a wild throw to home. Taylor finished the game by going 2-for-5 with three runs scored and two runs batted in.
Aztec’s Cody Smith started the final inning by hitting a single up the middle. Spencer Heyden then reached on a fielding error by Kelton McCoy who was playing second base. The next batter, Taylor, finished the game with his triple.
Smith went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs, and Heyden went 0-for-2.
Aztec’s Bradley Maestes pitched a complete game and received the win for the Tigers. He allowed 10 hits and three walks and struck out 12 Bayfield batters.
“(Maestes) started throwing some off-speed stuff and mixed it up more,” said Qualls. “We were hitting his fastball in the first, but once he started throwing his change up, we just didn’t make the adjustment.”
McCoy started the game on the mound for the Wolverines but received a no decision by going only 2 1/3 innings and giving up nine runs, four hits and three walks. McCoy did have five strikeouts, however. At the plate, McCoy went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Brody McGhehey got the loss for the Wolverines when he came in relief. McGhehey went 3 2/3 innings and allowed six hits, four runs and two walks. He struck out five Aztec batters. McGhehey went 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored.
“Brody was the one player who stepped up and threw well on the mound,” said Qualls. “They got some key hits in key situations, but he threw really well on the mound.”
To start the game, the Wolverines were on a tear and could do no wrong in the 10-run first inning. After the second inning, Aztec found itself down 10-2, but started to chip away at Bayfield’s lead.
Down 11-2, Aztec (11-4, 2-0 5A District 1 League) broke the game wide open by scoring seven runs in the third inning including a two-RBI triple by Smith and an RBI-double by Zack Taylor.
McCoy was pulled in favor of McGhehey as McCoy was moved to second base. McGhehey managed to settle the game down a bit for Bayfield, but then so did Maestes, who only allowed one run for the rest of the game.
Bayfield tried to extend its lead heading into the top of the seventh inning when Taed Heydinger led off with a triple. Unfortunately, Heydinger was the only run in the seventh for the Wolverines as Bayfield hung to a slim margin. Heydinger finished the game by going 1-for-4 with two runs and a triple.
Logan Sabinski went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Zane Phelps went 1-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI. Austin Baughman went 1-for-3 with a double and a run.
“(Zane) swung at a couple bad pitches and gave them an easy out I’m not sure if he was trying to do too much, but he didn’t have his normal day,” said Qualls.
Up next for Bayfield is a home game at 4 p.m. this Thursday at Bayfield High School against Olathe (5-5, 5-1 3A Western Slope League).
jmentzer@durangoherald.com
