Few batteries in baseball have the rapport of Durango High School’s top duo.
With older brother Isiah Mayberry catching, DHS sophomore pitcher Lawrence Mayberry has emerged as a dominant force in the Demons’ starting rotation.
“It is pretty cool having him throw to me,” Isiah said of catching Lawrence. “I love playing with this guy. Being out here with my whole group of friends and my brother, I just hope we can have fun and come out victorious.”
The sons of George and Tonya Mayberry have a great chance to help the Demons reach a state championship. Lawrence would be given the ball as the starting pitcher if the team gets past Green Mountain in a final four elimination game at the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 4A State Championships at noon Friday at All-Star Park in Lakewood.
Lawrence Mayberry made just three appearances on the mound for the DHS varsity team in his freshman season. In 5 1/3 innings of work, he had an earned run average of just 1.31 with a 1-0 record.
“After last year, I feel like I had a lot of confidence in him to come in and throw strikes,” Isiah said. “I was expecting it, honestly.”
If Isiah wasn’t surprised, others surely were. It took until the second half of the season for Lawrence to begin starting games after a few successful relief appearances. He now has the best record on the team at 5-1 in four starts. He has pitched three complete games and boasts a 3.36 earned-run average.
Isiah, who will play football at Fort Lewis College, wears the battle scars of being a catcher with plenty of bruises from blocking pitches in the dirt. He gives the team a warrior mentality from behind the plate and never is afraid to fire a throw down to one of the bases trying to pick a runner off.
Lawrence admitted having Isiah catching is a perfect situation.
“It definitely helps a lot having Isiah behind the plate,” said Lawrence, whose oldest brother George Mayberry also was a DHS catcher. “I’ve been throwing to him my whole life; he is a great target.”
The two also provide potent bats at the plate. Lawrence has moved up to the leadoff spot and is batting for a .362 average with 17 runs scored, 10 runs batted in and one homer.
“I will do anything at the leadoff spot that I can. I just come with all I can and all I have to get on base for the big hitters behind me,” Lawrence said. “I gotta perform in that spot.”
Isiah is batting a staggering .417 with 25 RBIs, five doubles, three triples and one homer of his own.
Isiah knows what it is like to be in Lawrence’s shoes. In 2012, Isiah was the sophomore playing alongside older brother, George.
The Mayberry brothers have yet to win a state championship ring despite being three-sport athletes at DHS. The youngest Mayberry hopes to change that while helping Isiah finish his DHS career on top.
“It would be huge to bring back a state title to the family, gotta get a ring,” Lawrence said.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
Durango Demons vs. Green Mountain Rams
Durango High School
Colors: Red and white.
Enrollment: 1,089.
Head Coach: Rob Coddington, eight years.
League: Southwestern (15-9, 5-5 SWL).
Location: Durango.
Roster: Trevor Bogus, senior, IF; Blake Dunlap, senior, OF/P; Casey Dunlap, junior, IF/OF; Kyle Duran, sophomore, OF; Zac Gasaway, junior, 1B/P/OF; Riley Jaye, senior, OF; Chris Jaworsky, 1B/P/OF; Isiah Mayberry, senior, C; Lawrence Mayberry, sophomore, IF/P/OF; Dayne Rowley, junior, 1B/P; Hayden Sill, junior, IF/P; Jeremy Szura, senior, IF/P; Zach Szura, sophomore, C; Bryce VonTersch, senior, OF; Ben Wiley, senior, P; Tyler Worley, senior, OF; Wyatt Wymore, senior, IF/P.
Green Mountain High School
Colors: Black and gold.
Enrollment: 1,105.
Head Coach: Brad Madden, five years.
League: Jefferson County (17-7, 9-5 JeffCo).
Location: Lakewood.
Roster: Andrew Abercrombie, senior, 1B/P; Justin Akiyama, senior, catcher; Roy Anderson, sophomore, OF; Reid Effrein, junior, 2B/SS; Colton Faubion, sophomore, P; Wyatt Featherston, sophomore, P/OF; Dylan Jacob, freshman, P/OF; Luke Kuberski, freshman, P/OF; Anthony Martinez, junior, P/OF; Trace Mulberry, junior, DH/P; Josh Ramirez, junior, 1B/P/OF; Josh Rogers, senior, C; Talon Schaller, junior, 3B/P; Cole Shetterly, junior, SS/P; Harrison Trafas, junior, C; Chase Upson, junior, 3B/OF; Jeremy Whorton, sophomore, C/OF.
Durango Herald
CHSAA Class 4A Boys Baseball State Championships
Final Four
May 23-24
All-Star Park, Lakewood
x-if necessary
Semifinals
Friday, May 23
Durango vs. Green Mountain, noon
Longmont vs. Niwot, 2:30 p.m.
Championship
Saturday, May 24
Teams TBD, 10 a.m.
x-Teams TBD, 12:30 p.m.
Durango Herald
