A close game got away from the Durango Juniors Little League All-Star team Friday in the opening round of the Southwest Regional Tournament in New Mexico.
The team of 12- to 14-year-old Durango boys fell 12-5 to East Texas in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The loss sent them into the loser’s bracket, and they will play again in an elimination game at noon Saturday against New Mexico, which lost its opener 16-11 to Oklahoma.
Durango advanced to the regional tournament after winning the Colorado state tournament in late July.
East Texas took an early 3-0 lead Friday in the bottom of the first inning. Durango rallied to tie the game at 3 with one run in the second and two in the top of the third.
But East Texas scored four runs in the bottom of the third, forcing Durango to once again dig out of a hole.
Durango scored twice in the top of the fifth to cut East Texas’ lead to 7-5, but Durango never got any closer. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, East Texas rallied to score five more runs to put the game away.
Durango was held to four hits, with Aleksander Hurworth, Joe Pope, Roland Madrid and Dylan Ridgeway all recording one. Hurworth’s was a double.
Hurworth, Ridgeway and Andrew Morgan each had one run batted in. Peter Oles, Hurworth and Dawson Marcum each scored once, and Madrid scored twice.
Roland Madrid and Peter Oles each stole a base for Durango. East Texas stole seven bases in the game.
Durango left five runners on base, and East Texas left seven.
Griffin Hyson started the game on the mound for Durango before being relieved by Madrid. Hurworth and Andrew Morgan also pitched.
Durango committed only four fielding errors to eight by East Texas.
The winner of the tournament, which is scheduled to finish Tuesday, will advance to the Junior League Baseball World Series in Taylor, Michigan.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
