BAYFIELD
It was not a perfect game and a no-hitter back to back.
But a pair of one-hit shutouts and 36 total runs scored will have to suffice.
The Bayfield High School baseball team got matching pitching performances from Clay Miller and the combo of Hunter Funkhouser and Darren Hoselton along with offense up and down the lineup to sweep Pagosa Springs 15-0 and 21-0 in two five-inning affairs Saturday at Bayfield Middle School.
The song “Wild Thing” blared over the speakers as Miller warmed up before Game 1, but the senior lefty was anything but, throwing only 14 pitches that weren’t strikes and walking just one hitter. Miller (8-0) allowed just a double to Kennan Goebel and struck out 10 in five innings of work.
Funkhouser (3-0) was every bit as good in his four innings in Game 2. He allowed just a first-inning single to Luke DeVooght, a hit-by-pitch and a walk while striking out nine. Hoselton threw a spotless fifth inning in relief for the Wolverines, ranked No. 4 in Class 3A by The Denver Post.
In total, Bayfield’s pitchers allowed just 11 balls to be put in play in two games, overpowering the Pirates (3-13, 2-6 Intermountain League) for shutouts No. 7 and 8 this season.
“They’re just trying to not let anybody off the hook,” BHS head coach Tom Horton said. “The team attitude of our pitchers, they’re trying to come up with zeros every game. ... They have every intention every time they go to the mound of shutting everybody down.”
Miller said a huge key was the early run support he was provided. He and the rest of the Wolverines’ lineup plated five runs in the first inning and three more in the second to stake him to an 8-0 lead. Miller himself was 2-for-3 with a home run, a triple, four runs batted in and three runs scored in Game 1.
“We’ve gotten used to just scoring a bunch. ... Just let them hit the ball if you have to. Our defense is going to make the plays,” said Miller, son of Mitzi and Robert Miller.
“With any of our good pitchers, you spot them five runs in the first inning, and there’s a real good chance we’re going to win that one,” Horton said.
Matthew Knickerbocker was 3-for-3 in the opener with a double, a triple, two RBIs and three runs scored, and Hoselton was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Funkhouser received support in Game 2 as well. BHS (15-2, 6-0 IML) led 15-0 after three innings and batted around three times in four innings. Miller was 3-for-3 in the finale, homering for the seventh time this season, driving in three runs and scoring three times. Hoselton was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, and Trey Lange was 3-for-3 with a homer, a triple, a double, two RBIs and three runs scored.
“We just had a lot of reps in practice and seeing all the different pitches this year. We’re just sitting back and driving the ball,” Miller said.
BHS will try and cap a perfect IML season with a doubleheader Saturday against Centauri in La Jara.
rowens@durangoherald.com
BHS Baseball
Senior Day
Hunter Funkhouser
Darren Hoselton
Tyler Kerr
Nevin Lister
Austin McMenimen
Clay Miller
Drake Rhodes
Allec Rodriguez
Joey Webb
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