It was a tough day around the state for La Plata County baseball teams Saturday.
Durango fell 8-7 at home to Grand Junction Central, Bayfield was swept by Alamosa in a road doubleheader, and the Dolores Bears were a walk-off winner against the Ignacio Bobcats.
Here’s a closer look at Saturday’s prep sports action:
Two strong innings to open the game sent the Warriors past the Demons.
Grand Junction Central (6-11, 2-4 5A/4A Southwestern League) scored two runs in the first and fourth in the second to build a strong 6-3 lead. With two more runs in the fourth inning, the Warriors wouldn’t be toppled by a late Durango (9-5, 3-3 SWL) charge in an 8-7 road win in Durango.
“We got close, but we couldn’t make that comeback,” DHS head coach Eric Baker said. “We had the tying run on second base but couldn’t get him pushed across there.”
Durango’s hot hitting continued, as the Demons had 11 hits in the game. Kegan D’Aleo was 2-for-3 with a double, triple, two runs batted in and a run scored. Gavin Mestas went 3-for-3 with a run scored. Dawsom Marcum had a triple and two RBIs, as he went 1-for-2 at the plate with a run scored. Max Hyson and Gus Kidd also had one RBI each for the Demons.
Seth Barker and Ryan Weller of Central couldn’t be slowed down at the plate, as Weller went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Barker was 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored. Paul Salazar was 0-for-2 officially but drove in two runs on a couple of walks. Three erros also cost the Demons defensively.
D’Aleo and Fynn Hyson each pitched three innings for DHS. Hyson gave up six hits and six runs – four earned – while he issued two walks. D’Aleo allowed two hits and two runs – one earned – and issued three walks.
Caleb Dwyer was the winning pitcher for Central. He pitched 3 1/3 innings and allowed six hits and didn’t walk a batter while he struck out two. Three of his four runs were earned.
DHS will play a rare 2 p.m. Monday non-league home game against Fountain-Fort Carson (7-5).
“Our guys are competing terrific,” Baker said. “We’re gelling really well together with all the guys kind of pulling for each other.”
Bayfield (8-7, 5-3 IML) has now lost three of its last four games in the 3A Intermountain League.
Alamosa (10-4, 8-0 IML) picked up wins of 6-4 and 3-2 on Saturday in Alamosa to remain perfect in league play.
In Game 1, Bayfield scored three runs in the top of the seventh but fell two runs shy of extending the game. Alamosa’s Tyler Zimmerman hurt the Wolverines at the plate, as he was 3-for-4 with two doubles, one RBI and three runs scored. Caden Alonzo was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and Chance Strand was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Bayfield’s offense was led by Michael Gettman and Max McGhehey. Gettman was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored, while McGhehey was 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.
Hayden Farmer pitched 4 2/3 innings for BHS. He allowed nine hits and one walk and struck out five. He was charged with four of the six runs he allowed. Andrew Morgan pitched 1/3 innings of relief. John Lujan was the winning pitcher for BHS in a complete-game effort. He allowed nine hits and two walks and struck out four. He was charged with three of Bayfield’s four runs.
In Game 2, Stand pitched a complete game for the Mean Moose. He allowed only two hits, while he struck out nine and walked three. He earned one of the two Bayfield runs.
Morgan pitched five innings for BHS. He struck out one and walked four in the loss. He allowd four hits and two earned runs. Hub Brandon pitched one inning of relief and gave up three hits and one run. He struck out one batter.
McGhehey had two of the Wolverines’ three hits, as he went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Brandon and Alec Demko had the Wolverines’ two RBIS, though neither had a hit.
Alonzo, Jared Carson and Zimmerman all went 1-for-2 with one RBI for Alamosa.
BHS will return home Saturday for a doubleheader with league foe Monte Vista.
A Cameron Chavez walk-off single to score Kevin Purkat sent the Dolores Bears (6-10, 4-4 2A District 3/5) to a 10-9 home win past the Ignacio Bobcats (4-11, 2-5) on Saturday.
Purkat had walked, stole second and advanced to third when the throw went into center field with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Chavez, who was also the winning pitcher, did the rest to drive him home.
Chavez pitched three innings and allowed four Ignacio hits and two earned runs. He struck out four and walked one. Marcus Chapman was the losing pitcher on record for IHS after coming on in the seventh inning. Kruz Pardo took a no decision after throwing 5 1/3 innings. He allowed 11 hits, seven runs – five earned – while he issued two walks, hit one batter and struck out six.
Dakota Smith was 4-for-4 with a double, two runs and two RBIS for the Bears. Pardo led the Bobcats, as he went 2-for-4 with a double, triple, six RBIs and one run. Kai Roubideaux went 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run.
Ignacio will play a road game at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Dove Creek.
Girls Soccer
Girls SoccerThe Mean Moose (9-1, 4-0 3A Intermountain League) ended up on the right side of a 2-1 match with the Wolverines (3-6, 1-3 IML) for the second time in as many Saturdays.
Alamosa scored one goal in each half and led 1-0 at halftime.
Bayfield will host the Pine River Rivalry game at 7 p.m. Tuesday against Ignacio (0-11).
Boys Lacrosse:
Boys Lacrosse:After taking an early 1-0 lead against the Aspen Skiers, it was all downhill for the Durango High School boys lacrosse team.
Aspen scored 20 unanswered goals to secure a 20-1 win. DHS lead 1-0 early but quickly went down 5-1 after one quarter, and the Skiers never slowed down.
Tyler Ward, a freshman, led Aspen with seven goals and four assists. Aspen seniors Jordan Homburg and RJ Peshek each had four goals. Aspen goalie Logan Soderburg wasn’t tested much, as he made three saves and allowed one goal.
Durango will play a non-league game at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Santa Fe Prep.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
