If Durango was looking to make some noise at state, it spoke loudly enough in Game 1 to get everyone’s attention.
But in Game 2, top-seeded Pueblo West turned down the Demons’ volume.
The fifth-seeded Durango High School baseball team routed fourth-seeded Cañon City for the second time this season – this one a 19-5 victory in five innings in the first round of the CHSAA Class 4A Boys Baseball State Championships in Lakewood, then fell to No. 1 Pueblo West 12-5 in the second round.
Pueblo West (19-4) had a bevy of chances but couldn’t quite pull away from DHS until the latter frames. The Cyclones jumped out 2-0 after one, only for DHS to rally to 2-1. Pueblo West pushed the lead out to as big as 6-1 after three, only to see DHS (12-11) trim the lead to 6-4 in the top of the fourth.
From there, however, the Cyclones finally put more permanent daylight between themselves and the Demons, scoring four times in the fourth and adding single runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
DHS grabbed a run in the top of the sixth.
“We were close. We were right there, but we just weren’t able to square up the ball like we’re capable of,” DHS head coach Rob Coddington said after an injury caused Pueblo West to insert a submarine-style pitcher that baffled the Demons’ bats.
Casey Dunlap capped a breakout day with a 2-for-3, two-RBI game against the Cyclones. Ben Wiley (3-3) took the loss, allowing 10 runs (eight earned) on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. Lawrence Mayberry threw a strong 2 1/3 innings in relief for the Demons.
“They hit the ball on us big time, and we had 11 walks on the day; that’s way too many,” Coddington said.
The Demons, who beat Cañon City 19-6 earlier this year, quickly jumped out and didn’t look back in the first game, scoring five times in the second inning to lead the Tigers 7-2.
The big blow, however, came in the top of the third inning. Durango tallied 10 times in the frame, scoring nine times before recording an out.
Dunlap struck it big for Durango, homering twice and driving in six runs as part of a 4-for-5 effort.
“People were buzzing about him all day up here,” Coddington said. “He hit really well last Saturday. He’s an athlete. He’s an outstanding hitter, and he just came into his own.”
Connor Dugan was 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two driven in, and Jeremy Szura homered and drove in a pair of runs while scoring three times in a 3-for-4 showing.
Ty Elliott (2-1) picked up the victory for DHS, throwing all five innings and allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out four and walking two.
“It’s great to get a win. We were nervous in that first game,” Coddington said.
DHS will face either Montrose or Windsor in an elimination game at 12:30 p.m. today.
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