The Durango High School baseball team dropped both games in Saturday’s Class 5A/4A Southwestern League doubleheader against Grand Junction Central at Canyon View Park in Grand Junction after it fell in Game 1, 7-6 in eight innings, and 14-8 in Game 2.
Junior Fynn Hyson got the start in the first game and worked seven innings, and gave up six runs on 11 hits, five of which were earned, struck out four and walked one. In the eighth, Sten Joyner came on in relief and lasted two-thirds of an inning before the Warriors won it.
The Demons (9-13, 2-6 5A/4A Southwestern League) had to come from behind, after the Warriors scored two in both the bottom of the first and second to make it 4-0. In the top of the third, Durango answered with four runs of its own to tie the game, and then followed it up with two runs in the fourth to take a 6-4 lead.
The Warriors (11-12, 3-5 SWL) tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning to even it the score at 6-6. Despite chances, neither team added a run in the seventh and it went into extra innings. In the bottom of the eighth, with one on and a runner on third base, Niko Mestas caught a fly ball and threw home, but it was hit deep enough so the runner tagged up and scored the winning run for the Warriors.
“That one was a tough one to lose on,” said DHS head coach Eric Baker. “We had our chances in that one but we couldn’t get that extra run or two. On the mound, I thought Fynn pitched well today, and they were able to square up a few balls and get some timely hits in the right spots.”
Joyner led Durango after he went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Elias Fiddler and Cal Walsh each added RBIs.
In Game 2, Durango sophomore Gage Mestas was unable to find his groove, after he gave up six hits, six runs, all of which were earned, walked three and struck out one. He surrendered his first home run since March when Central’s senior shortstop Ryan Kirby went deep, and the Demons fell 14-8.
“They jumped on us early there in Game 2, and I think it kind of caught us off guard a bit,” Baker said. “Gage has been unhittable for us in his last few outings. I’d say it was more so that Gage became mortal today after being so on for us lately. They didn’t really hit him hard, but got enough hits to get him out of his rhythm. He’ll bounce back for us.”
After falling behind 3-0 in the top of the first, the Demons put up four in the bottom half of the inning to take its only lead of the game. The Warriors added three more in the third, but again, Durango tied it at six in the bottom of the fourth when it scored twice.
Fiddler came on in relief in the top of the fifth inning, and gave up six hits, seven runs, all of which were earned, walked three and struck out one in two innings of work, while Joyner made his second appearance of the day and pitched the seventh inning. In the final three innings, the Warriors put up eight runs, as they scored four in the fifth, three in the sixth and added one in the seventh to pull away for the win.
DHS recorded seven RBIs, as Walsh went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored, Dawson Marcum went 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Niko Mestas went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Jack Brenner and Joyner also added RBIs.
Durango will play Bayfield at 2 p.m. Tuesday at DHS.
Bayfield High School’s Class 3A Intermountain League doubleheader against Monte Vista was postponed on Saturday because of weather.
The new makeup date will be at 2 and 4 p.m. Monday at Monte Vista High School. The Wolverines will then close out the regular season at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Durango.
bploen@durangoherald.com
