A pair of Durango High School senior baseball players were recently honored after solid seasons this spring for the Demons.
Tanner Coddington was named First Team All-League and AJ Folk was named Second Team All League by the 4A/5A Southwestern League.
Coddington, a pitcher and infielder, also scored an All State Honorable Mention in Class 4A for the Demons.
“The thing about Tanner that has been fun to watch the last couple of years is nothing ever rattles him,” said DHS head coach Rob Coddington. “To get voted in as an honorable mention All-State, I think coaches took notice of his work ethic and style of play. He’s always out there trying to do whatever it takes. He doesn’t play for himself. He does what he can to give is team the best chance.”
Coddington, a pitcher and infielder, hit .302 for the Demons, scoring 22 runs and driving in 14 more. He also blasted a pair of home runs, two triples and three doubles. On the mound, Coddington finished 2-6 with an 8.08 ERA. He struck out a team-high 43 batters,
Folk was also a key weapon on Durango’s offense. He hit .339 for the Demons this spring, driving in a team-high 24 runs while scoring 13 more. Folk also hit two home runs, two triples and a pair of doubles.
“He really swung the bat well,” coach Coddington said. “He had some clutch hits for us and lots of productive at bats. He was tough at the plate, but also good on the mound and he always had a positive attitude for us.”
League champion Fruita Monument led the SWL teams with seven players honored, including four landing on the First Team. Wildcat Hunter Smolinski was named the league’s Player of the Year while his coach, Casey Sullivan, was tabbed as the Coach of the Year.
The Wildcats went 8-0 in the league, and 19-3 overall. Grand Junction (16-9, 5-3) finished as the league runner-up, followed by Montrose (10-13, 4-4), Grand Junction Central (11-13, 2-2) and Durango (9-14, 1-7).
“It’s a cool recognition for (Tanner) and AJ,” coach Coddington said. “I’m really proud of those guys; I’ve coached the two of them a long time. It’s a solid honor when coaches around the league and state recognize you. Hopefully some younger guys will take note on how they played the game.”
Southwestern Colorado was also well represented on the All-State baseball lists with players from Bayfield, Ignacio and Cortez also receiving honors.
Bayfield had three players honored in Class 3A. Lance Mazur received All-State First Team nods while Jackson Queen and Noah Chamblee both landed on the Second Team.
Mazur had a 1.91 ERA on the mound, striking out 90 batters and finishing 5-2 overall. He also hit .408, scored 30 runs and drove in 22 more.
Queen’s ERA was 1.17, helping him go 9-2 overall with 89 strikeouts.
Chamblee led the Wolverines in several offensive categories including batting average (.509), on base percentage (.622), RBIs (31) and home runs (2).
See Wednesday’s edition of the Durango Herald for more on the Wolverines.
In Class 2A, Phillip Quintana of Ignacio was awarded an All State Honorable Mention. Quintana led the Bobcats in several categories including hits (40), batting average (.548), on base percentage (.598), fielding percentage (.985) and home runs (3). Ignacio finished 14-9 overall and league champs in the 2A/1Z San Juan with a 4-2 mark.
Montezuma-Cortez also had several athletes honored in Class 3A, including First Team selections Miles Frost and Evan LaMunyon and honorable mention Corey Carver.
