It was closer Tuesday, but for the second time in eight days, the Durango High School baseball team earned a win against the Pagosa Springs Pirates.
DHS (6-9, 0-2 5A/4A Southwestern League) pounded Pagosa 17-3 a week earlier in Pagosa Springs. On Tuesday, the Demons hosted the Pirates (5-11, 0-4 3A Intermountain League) and played to an 8-3 victory behind a big three-run third inning and a two-run fifth.
Durango freshman Jordan Stanley accounted for the big third inning, as he hit a three-run home run to give the Demons a 5-1 lead. Stanley finished 2-for-3 with a double, the homer and two runs scored to go with three runs batted in. Cal Walsh also had another nice day at the plate, as the sophomore was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Dawson Marcum was 1-for-2 with a triple and two runs scored.
Al Hurworth pitched six innings for Durango. He allowed six hits and one run while he struck out six and walked one. Niko Mestas pitched the seventh and gave up three hits and two runs – one earned – and he struck out one batter.
The Demons will host a fourth and fifth consecutive game this week with a pair of league games against Montrose (15-3, 3-1 SWL) at 3 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday. The Indians are ranked fourth in the latest CHSAANow.com Class 4A poll.
The first win of the season was a big one for the Ignacio High School baseball team.
The Bobcats (1-10, 1-6 2A District 3/5) played past the Dove Creek Bulldogs (11-5, 2-3 1A District 1) for a 4-3 win Tuesday afternoon. Dove Creek entered the game ranked fifth in the latest CHSAANow.com Class 1A poll.
“Feels really good,’ IHS head coach Don Hayes said of his first win leading the Bobcats’ varsity squad. “Been preaching fundamentals in the field, and I feel today it came together, and we’ll just keep working at pitching, which was there today. Hopefully we can carry it over and have a couple good days of practice before we head off, so I’m very pleased with today.”
Cesar Pedregon was the winning pitcher for IHS, as he didn’t give up a hit in four innings. He walked four and hit a batter with a pitch but struck out five to work around trouble.
“Like, they told me today that I was going to start, and I just got so much intensity; I was ready,” Pedregon said. “My mind was all about pitching today.”
Gabriel Tucson was a force at the plate for Ignacio. He was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs. Lawrence Toledo was 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored, by Pedregon was 1-for-2 and scored twice. Rendon Mestas also was 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Holland Roukema relieved Pedregon and pitched three innings. He allowed two hits and two runs. He struck out five and hit a batter.
For Dove Creek, Hayden Gray took the loss on the mound. He gave up seven hits and four runs – three earned – in three innings. He struck out four and walked one. Ryan Delano-Martinez scored twice, while Gauge Thompson was 1-for-3 with An RBI.
IHS is off for a week before it will face Dolores at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Durango High School kept its state tournament hopes alive with its first win against Telluride since 2017 on Tuesday afternoon, as the Demons used a second-half rally to earn a 9-7 win over the Miners at Telluride High School.
“First of all, I am super proud for our seniors. We wanted this one really bad for them, and it was a gutsy win today,” said DHS head coach John Robinette. “Our defense stepped up down the stretch, and it was a great day from our offense as five players scored.”
DHS senior goalie Dylan Gaver made his 400th career save in a Demons uniform, as he tallied 14 stops, including 10 in the first half.
Durango (6-4, 2-4 5A/4A Mountain League) was down 5-3 at halftime but got a big boost from its extra-man-opportunity chances, as it scored back-to-back goals with a man-up to open the third quarter. The Demons would score twice more to take a 7-5 lead into the final frame.
In the fourth, Telluride (5-5, 2-5 ML) cut it to a one-goal game and had a chance to tie, but after a long offensive possession that lasted 2 minutes, 25 seconds, the Durango defense held firm and Gaver made another timely save to keep the Demons in front with 2:23 remaining.
After a timeout, Durango’s Cullen Robinette scored his third goal of the afternoon to make it 9-7 and clinch the win.
The Demons moved into the 16th and final spot in the latest CHSAANow.com Class 4A RPI standings, which determines the playoff teams.
Durango will have its final two home games of the season this weekend when it hosts Fruita Monument at 4 p.m. Friday before a 10 a.m. Saturday game against Grand Junction.
One stroke kept the Durango High School girls golf team away from a third team victory this season.
Behind a career-low round from Lilly Tichi, who finished tied for third with a 15-over-par 87, the Demons shot 278 as a team Tuesday at Conquistador Golf Course in Cortez. Madalen Meier shot 93 and Quinn Griswold came in with a 98 to round out the three DHS scorers.
Piedra Vista won the tournament with a 277 led by Shandiin Harper’s medalist score of 10-over 82. Anna Grace Bourgeois shot 93, and Gracie Bessey added a 102.
“We brought 10 girls over today. That in itself is very healthy for our program,” DHS head coach Kirk Rawles said. “With Lilly, she stayed away from any blowup holes. When I was around and saw her play, she was having more birdies and pars than bigger numbers, and that added up to a good score.”
Aztec’s Isabelle Peralta was the second individual with an 86. Tichi’s scored tied Kylie Begay of Navajo Prep for third place.
Also for the Demons, Grace Meyer shot 110 and Faith Mewmaw shot 113. Claudia Luthy had a solid round for a 102.
The tournament came one day after Durango’s home tournament was canceled because of a lack of visiting teams. DHS has one more tournament April 29 at Piñon Hills Golf Club in Farmington before the regional tournament May 6 at Adobe Creek Golf Club in Fruita. Durango can take four players to regionals, and that fourth position is up for grabs. Mewmaw is a three-time state qualifier, but Luthy and Meyer are giving her a run for that final position.
“They’re all working toward all playing their best on that same day at regionals,” Rawles said. “As for my fourth, Luthy shot well today, so we’re going to look at the next tournament to determine who our fourth person will be. We are giving everyone an opportunity.”
