The Bayfield High School baseball team had to wait a few extra days, but it was worth it, as the Wolverines finished off an undefeated Class 3A Intermountain League season after it took down Monte Vista in Monday’s doubleheader. BHS won Game 1, 11-1, in five innings, and also took Game 2, 5-4.
In Game 1, Bayfield (14-8, 10-0 3A Intermountain League) did everything well. Andrew Morgan pitched a complete game, gave up one earned run on three hits, walked three and struck out three. At the plate, BHS got off to a fast start when it put up six runs in the top of the first inning, one in the second and two in both the fourth and fifth innings.
Dillon Vroman went 2-for-3 with four runs batted in, two hits and two runs scored, while Hub Brandon also did damage and went 1-for-2 with a hit, a run scored and three RBIs. Hayden Farmer went 2-for-3 with two hits, two runs scored and added an RBI.
Monte Vista (7-15, 2-8 IML) was led by Jarren Chavez, the only Pirate who had multiple hits and went 2-for-3. Brycen Holtz picked up the loss and gave up 11 runs on seven hits, walked six and struck out seven.
In Game 2, the teams went back-and-forth, but Bayfield got on the board first in the top of the second, when Brandon singled and drove home Vroman, and the Wolverines would add one more to go up 2-0. Monte Vista responded through the bat of Tucker Jones, as he hit a two-run home run to tie the game at two. In the third, Bayfield added two more runs after Ethan Morris drove in one and they scored again to go up 4-2. Monte Vista’s Tristen Holder answered with a clutch two-run RBI double, and the teams were knotted at four a piece heading into the fourth.
After a lightning delay, Bayfield took lead for good in the top of the sixth when Vroman led off the inning with a double to left-center field and advanced to third on heads-up base running one batter later. Max McGhehey popped out to the first baseman, but the Pirates didn’t realize the play was still live, and Vroman bolted to third. He scored the go-ahead run when Brandon delivered an RBI single to center field, which put BHS up 5-4.
The Brandon brothers did it all on the mound, as well. Hub pitched the first six innings, allowed four runs on four hits, two of which were earned, walked four and struck out 10. Jake Brandon came on in the seventh and closed the game as the Pirates were retired in order.
The Wolverines will look to end the regular season on a high note, as they’ve has won 10 of their last 11 games. The lone loss came against Durango (9-13, 2-6 5A/4A Southwestern League), who won the first game between the two teams last Tuesday, 9-4. The two teams are set to face-off once again Tuesday.
First pitch between the La Plata County foes is scheduled for 2 p.m. at DHS.
The Durango High School boys swimming team qualified two relay teams for the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Class 4A boys swim and dive state championships, and all four swimmers are first-time qualifiers.
The Demons qualified for the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays late in the season. The qualifiers include juniors Aaron Clark and Max Thillow and sophomores Ben Aupperle and Michael McCoory. The quad did enough at its home meet May 3 to lock up a spot in the 200-freestyle relay, when it finished in 1 minute, 41.85 seconds. Last Saturday at the District Championships, the foursome swam the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:49.77 seconds, just under the qualifying time limit of 3:50.
When seedings were announced Monday, the Demons were 28th in the 200 and 29th in the 400.
Coach Tom Joyner said that while he knows it might be an uphill battle to advance to the final heat of the state meet, he believes the boys could pull it off.
“It was already a huge year for us, as we had 13 kids in the pool and four divers, and it was our biggest team in years,” Joyner said. “All four qualifiers were great for us this year, and I think we’ll show well at state. They are excited about it, and I think that while it will be challenge to get into the finals, they boys are hungry enough and want it.”
The preliminaries for the state meet will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton.
bploen@durangoherald.com
