The Durango High School softball team got off to a rough start on Saturday, but showed its true colors in Game 2 of its season opening doubleheader to earn a split with the visiting Montrose Red Hawks.
Montrose exploded for 10 runs in the fifth inning of Game 1 to score a 15-0 victory.
In Game 2, however, DHS jumped out to a 6-0 lead and won the 8-7 game with a play a the plate at the end.
“In the first game we were really timid, but we came back and really showed some grit,” said DHS head coach Sara Clair.
Pitcher Jenna Glueck started both games for DHS. After struggling a bit in the first game, she came back and threw a complete game to earn the win in Game 2.
“She looked really good in the second game,” Clair said. “She threw strikes and trusted her defense.”
Glueck and the Demons kept the Red Hawks scoreless in the first two innings.
Mya Trujillo then came up big in the bottom of the second with a pair of runners in scoring position, smacking a double.
“Mya had a clutch hit with runners on second and third that started a six-run rally,” Clair said.
Montrose responded with five runs of its own in top of the fifth and the teams traded runs after that.
DHS led 8-6 with two outs in the top of the seventh, but Montrose had two runners in scoring position. Montrose hit a line drive base hit into the outfield and one run scored. The runner who was on second also came around and tried to tie the game, but DHS center fielder Alexa Bedonie threw her out at the plate.
“Alexa threw a rocket home to (catcher) Karina (Trujillo) to get the out and end the game,” Clair said. “That was awesome to see and so cool for her to win the game for us.”
Seven Demons scored and six players drove in runs in the win. Mya Trujillo had two RBIs and one run. Marcela Jimenez doubled twice and drove in two runs. Karina Trujillo had two hits and scored twice. Molly Best, Sophia Barnett, Alexis Wood, Ellie Casias and Cori Davis also scored. Best, Barnett, Casias and Avery Clair drove in one run apiece.
Glueck struck out four and gave up three earned runs to get the win.
“That was a huge confidence boost for our kids, and our staff too,” Clair said about the split. “The first game caught us off guard, but the second game is what I was expecting us to look like.”
DHS was also scheduled to host Montezuma-Cortez on Tuesday. On Thursday, the team will head to Front Range to compete in Ponderosa High School’s tournament.
