Dolores has played from behind this season, but finally came out on top in a game.
The Bears varsity opened the Four Corners Classic junior varsity tournament on Friday. Dolores lost 12-9 at Engelhart Field to host Montezuma-Cortez High School.
Freshman shortstop Raudy Castillo had a good day for the Panthers with three hits and three RBIs. M-CHS built a 10-1 lead, before the Bears clawed back.
Trailing 12-7 in the top of the seventh, Dolores third baseman Tyler Weir slammed a two-run, home run to left center to get the Bears within three late. Unfortunately, that was as close as Dolores got.
We did things that we needed to. We jumped on them early, Panthers JV coach Matthew Betts said. We were able to get some runs, got some momentum. Dolores, you know, they came back. They played very hard, until the last out was made. They made it an interesting game. I think our guys got a little bit relaxed and then they had to pick it back up. We put a few more runs on and we were able to maintain the lead.
M-CHS went 2-1 in its tournament to place second. The Panthers lost 11-4 to Bayfield and defeated San Juan (Blanding, Utah), 8-5.
On Saturday, the Bears battled from behind in two games. Dolores earned its first win, 17-12, over San Juan, and lost 9-6 to tournament champion Bayfield.
Its still early in the year and were still having problems with getting the ball over the plate, Dolores coach Jim Everin said. We are scoring runs, but were having to score a lot of runs because were giving up a lot of runs with errors and walks.
The Bears (1-4) came out swinging Saturday morning against the San Juan Broncos to build a 9-5 lead in the second inning. San Juan chipped away at Bears starter Kellen Gatzke with four hits and three runs in the third. Dolores lead was cut to 9-8.
The Bears offense went into hibernation in the fourth inning and the Broncos took advantage with two more runs to take a 10-9 lead.
In the top of the fifth, the Bears awoke. Dolores scored eight runs off five hits, highlighted by Weirs bases loaded RBI-triple to give the Bears a 14-10 lead. Weir later scored on an error and Nic Hassinger smacked a two-run double to up the Bears advantage to 17-10.
San Juan scored twice in the bottom of the fifth for the final margin. Games only went five innings on Saturday due to time constraints.
Gatzke got the win on the mound and hit 2-for-4 with an RBI. Hassinger hit 2-for-2.
Dolores turned around and played the next game against Bayfield.
It was a defensive struggle the first two innings. But in the top of the third, Dolores starting pitcher Dey Campuzeno started to fatigue, and the Wolverines fed off of it. Campuzeno pitched two and 1/3 innings before being replaced by Cody Carroll. But Bayfield combined for six hits in the third inning, which resulted in eight runs. The offensive outburst by the Wolverines was enough to hold off Dolores, who countered in the bottom of the third.
The Bears scored four times in the third inning, three runs came from RBI-walks against Bayfield starter Dillon Hoselten. Dolores sent two more home in the fourth, but could get no closer.
Were just not competing right now, Everin said. I just wish theyd have that attitude when they step on the field, were ready to play ball. Were just not there yet.
Bears shortstop Kolton Shull batted 2-for-3 with a double. Carroll struck out five in relief. Campuzeno took the loss.
Were a really young team. Weve never played with each other, said Carroll, a junior, who is pitching for the first time at the varsity level. Were trying to get used to playing with other guys. I feel thats a really big reason why were not getting everything together. Its a learning experience. Its still early.
Dolores continues nonleague play today at Durango against the Demons JV at 3 p.m.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.