Encountering relatively minimal resistance Monday afternoon out in Rio Grande County, Bayfield clinched yet another 3A Intermountain League championship with a two-day-delayed 11-0, 7-0 sweep of Monte Vista.
Breaking Game 1 open with six runs in the top of the fourth inning, the Wolverines got 3-for-4 hitting from Jake Brandon and 2-for-2 from Rhett Hoover to lead the way offensively. Hoover's knocks were both doubles, while Brandon also doubled twice and scored three times (Hoover did so twice).
Brandon, Hoover, Austin Bushnell, and Hub Brandon each collected two RBIs - more than enough support for winning pitcher Fred Edwards, who allowed only four Pirate hits in tossing a five-inning complete game.
Hayden Farmer pitched two innings more in Game 2, but also won a complete-game shutout with his 11 strikeouts, helping offset seven MVHS hits and one walk. He also went 1-for-4 in his own defense with two runs and one batted in.
Edwards plated two on 1-for-2 stickwork and scored once, Bushnell was 1-3 with two ribbies, and Hub Brandon 1-4 with a double, run and RBI. Jake Brandon drew three walks in going 0-for-1 with a run and an RBI.
Now 12-5 overall, 9-1 in the IML, BHS will close out its regular-season slate Saturday with what should have started it off back on March 11, had it also not been for interfering weather: a non-league doubleheader at home versus 2A Sargent, beginning at 11 a.m.
The Farmers, who had their Southern Peaks League twinbill last Saturday at Fairplay South Park also scratched, will host non-league Hotchkiss (12-4, 4-2 2A Western Slope) for a pair Thursday afternoon in preparation for the long trip west over Wolf Creek Pass.
Currently sitting fourth in the IML standings, Monte Vista (5-13, 3-7) is slated to wrap up regular-season work with a tough trip Tuesday to non-league Gunnison (12-3, 6-1 3A Western Slope).
In other IML action, Montezuma-Cortez rise to a second-place 7-3 finish in league play.
They had a 4-1, 3-9 split at home with Alamosa last Saturday, as some games actually weren't skunked by the snowstorm. Though losing the head-to-head scoring race with the Panthers, AHS (11-5 overall) could also finish 7-3 with a sweep at home Sataurday of Pagosa Springs.
PSHS, meanwhile, was to host Centauri on Tuesday for a doubleheader, with CHS facing a sixth- and last-place 1-9 finish if the Falcons fell twice to the Pirates.
