The Ignacio High School baseball team went on the road to Dove Creek to take on the defending Colorado High School Activities Association Class 1A state champions for a doubleheader on a cold Saturday afternoon.
The Bobcats didn’t waste the drive, as they swept the Bulldogs 9-8 and 12-6. The games were originally supposed to be in Ignacio, but were moved to Dove Creek in search of better weather. Earlier Saturday morning, a game between Durango High School and Grand Junction Central was called off after being moved to Ignacio’s turf field. Snow accumulation was too much, and the game was cancelled.
Ignacio (8-3, 5-0 2A District 2) got a strong day from Tucker Ward on the mound in Game 1. Despite allowing four earned runs, Ward got the win in four innings pitched. He struck out seven and allowed six hits. Ward also went 2-for-3 with a triple and a double at the plate and two runs batted in. Juanito Medina came in relief for Ward and struck out six batters in three innings. Medina went 3-for-3 at the plate and scored twice.
Anthony Manzanares went 2-for-4 with a home run and a triple. He also finished with four RBIs and two runs scored. Austin McCaw went 2-for-3 with a double.
Kyle Schultz got the loss for Dove Creek (4-10, 1-3 1A District 1). He lasted less than two innings and allowed six earned runs on five hits while striking out two.
Reigning Class 1A player of the year, Jordan Ernst went five innings and struck out 11 Ignacio batters in relief work. Ernst went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.
Colin Hobbs went 1-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.
In Game 2, Ignacio’s Zach Weinrich got the win after striking out six Dove Creek batters. Manzanares went 4-for-4 with two runs. Ward went 2-for-5 with two runs, Madina went 2-for-3 with a home run and Kruz Pardo went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Hobbs got the loss on the mound for Dove Creek in the second game. Beau Hemphill went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Ernst went 1-for-3 with a run.
Ignacio is scheduled to be at home against Centauri at 3 p.m. Thursday.
Bayfield’s doubleheader against Centauri was also postponed Saturday morning because of weather. Those games are tentatively scheduled to be made up May 3.
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