It took five games, but the Durango High School baseball team finally got its first league win of the season Tuesday.
Playing at rival Montezuma-Cortez, the DHS Demons took a 12-1 win behind a solid performance on the mound from junior pitcher Lawrence Mayberry.
Mayberry pitched a complete game and only walked one Panthers (6-7, 0-5 Southwestern League) hitter. He allowed four hits and struck out two.
“That was the big thing for us, not giving up walks,” DHS head coach Eric Baker said. “It was a big plus for Lawrence to let the defense work, and we played good defense behind him. It makes a huge difference when you make them earn their bases.”
The Demons (5-8, 1-4 SWL) spread around their offense, with seven players recording a hit Tuesday. DHS had 10 hits in all.
Mayberry was 2-for-4 with a single and a triple. Hayden Sill added a triple of his own, and slugger Casey Dunlap was 3-for-5 with two singles and a ground-rule double.
“We hit the ball well. I don’t know if it is coming back to us or what, but it was nice to see it come around,” said Baker, whose Demons had scored only 10 runs during a five-game losing streak leading into Tuesday.
Baker said getting the team’s first win in league came as a relief, especially with a tough weekend ahead against the league leaders, Fruita Monument and Grand Junction Central. Both games will be at DHS.
“It’s a big weight off all the kids. They’ve been working hard and playing hard in practice and the games,” Baker said. “When you come close a few times and see good things but the games don’t go your way, it’s tough. This league win is a big one, especially with the big weekend coming up.”
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