Wherever Aubrey Rutherford wasn’t, that was pretty much where Durango’s players looked to – and did – hit.
Overcoming a slow start against Montezuma-Cortez senior right-hander Devyn Cornett, DHS came alive with six game-altering runs in the bottom of the third inning – gaining the gang a sudden 7-5 lead, which grew to 9-5 through five and ultimately stood 11-8 after the Panthers’ seventh-inning rally Tuesday afternoon was stopped short.
“I just took a breath, kind of kicked the dirt around a little bit just to … gather myself,” said Durango junior pitcher Jenna Glueck, recalling her final delivery to M-CHS’ Annalisa Abeyta, who lined out to senior second baseman Ellie Casias with runners at first and second. “That’s really what I do every game when I need to … be, like, ‘I got this!’ I felt I had good defense behind me, felt I could pitch and, like, let them do their stuff.”
Casias said she felt some pressure with it being the Demons’ first home game. But she knew if Glueck was pitching well, Durango had a good shot. Senior third baseman Mya Trujillo said the team left it all out there and didn’t shut down like in previous games.
Highlighted by Cornett’s two-out, two-RBI double, plating Rutherford and Reagan Veach, M-CHS blasted out to a 3-0 lead in just half an inning. Durango managed to get one run back in the bottom of the second – Molly Best plated Megan Downey with a bases-loaded groundout to M-CHS third baseman Nevaeh Istenes – but the guests turned up the heat in the top of the third and increased their lead to 5-1.
Montezuma-Cortez failed to respond against Glueck (W, CG; 7 IP, 12 H, 0 BB, HB, 7 K) in the top of the fourth, but almost willed themselves back into contention after shortstop Rutherford dove left to stab a Mazenko liner for the first out in Durango’s fourth. While still on her stomach she alertly flipped the ball to nearby Carver, who then threw to Ruiz to double off Clair. Downey then lined to Rutherford, who totaled five unassisted outs during M-CHS’ final three defensive stands.
Best bashed an RBI double to left-center in the bottom of the fifth inning, and Clair (4-4, 2 R, RBI) lashed a ground-rule double down the left-field line in DHS’ sixth, soon scoring via a Wood groundout to Rutherford. Scooting to third on the play, Downey (0-1, 3 BB, 3 R) then logged Durango’s last run when Mya Trujillo (2-3, BB, R, RBI) reached on a Carver error.
M-CHS (2-3 overall, 2-2 3A Western Slope) quickly loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, thanks to Rutherford wearing a Glueck pitch and back-to-back singles by Veach and Carver. But after Casias fielded a Cornett grounder and tossed home to retire Rutherford, only Veach (3-4, 3 R) and Carver would score before the final out was recorded.
“Every single time, there’d be two outs and … we’d leave girls on base, you know?” Carver (2-4, 2 R) said. “Basically, we need to get it together mentally so that we can start winning games. We have hits and … we’re doing great defensively, but in games it’s like we lose it.”
Cornett (2-4, 3 RBI; 6 IP, 12 H, 5 BB, K) took a complete-game loss in the circle.
Durango (3-4, 1-1 4A/5A Southwestern), will travel Friday to face 3A Cedaredge (3-2, 3-1 WSL) in Orchard City. First pitch at Field of Dreams is slated for 3 p.m.
