The Durango 13/14 Junior Division All-Stars have rolled through the postseason this far, and they hope to keep it going when they begin the next stage of their Little League journey.
The Junior All-Stars will head to Rio Rancho, N.M., to open the Little League Southwest Regional Tournament this weekend, beginning Friday.
Durango will face the host team from Rio Rancho in its opening game. Representatives from Texas East, Texas West, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana also will participate. The winner of the regional tournament will advance to the World Series in Taylor, Mich.
Durango first had to work through the district tournament, sweeping through Cortez and Ignacio on its home turf to advance to the state tournament, which took place from July 18 to 21 in Fraser and Winter Park.
The Durango All-Stars erased an early six-run deficit and benefitted from a Nate Angulo grand slam to top Colorado Springs 13-7 in their opener. Trevor Candelaria went 3-for-5, and Brandon Trujillo picked up the victory in relief.
Durango then toppled defending state champion Shaw Heights 10-9 behind a solid pitching performance from Peyton Woolverton and a 3-for-4 effort from Gavin Mestas. Juanito Medina also went 2-for-3.
Max Hyson pitched six strong innings to lead Durango over Grand Junction 7-3 in the championship game, pushing Durango to this weekend’s regional action. Woolverton was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Mestas was 3-for-4 in the championship contest.
The team is coached by Jim Candelaria, Cole Hyson and Ryan Woolverton. The players are Mestas, Woolverton, Hyson, Medina, Trujillo, Candelaria, Nate Angulo, Ryan Genualdi, Devon Pound, Quelan Mestas, Connor Collins and Tyler Ruetschle.
heraldsports @durangoherald.com
