Three first inning errors put the Bulldogs behind big.
The Dove Creek baseball team cleaned up its act on the diamond after that.
After trailing Utah rival Monticello 5-0 after two innings, it was all Dove Creek from there.
The Bulldogs hit well and got a complete game on the mound from pitcher Dalton Randolph. Dove Creek scored eight unanswered runs on the way to an 8-6 win in the first game of a doubleheader at McAndrew Field on Wednesday afternoon.
I was proud of them, Bulldogs coach Ken Soper said. I thought we hit the ball good. We hit .321 for a team. That was the least amount of errors we made all year. I was pretty pleased.
The home doubleheader for the Bulldogs was moved to Cortez, because the diamond in Dove Creek was still covered in snow. Monticello won game two, 11-6.
Even though we lost the second game, we faced a much faster pitcher, Soper said. We did make a few more errors. Still, it was less than what we committed at the Farmington (N.M.) tournament (last weekend). Again, we had a slow start. Thats been our problem, getting off to a slow start.
Dove Creek (1-4) trailed 5-3 in game one. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Bulldogs erupted for five runs on three hits. First baseman Klancey Krafka tied the game on a two-run double. Two batters later, catcher Alex Ogas gave the Bulldogs the lead for good on a RBI-single. Senior captain Dalton Davis smacked a two-run single to right that sent two more home for an 8-5 lead.
Overall, I was proud of them, Soper said. Klancey, he really hit the ball good.
The Buckaroos added a run in the top of the seventh, but could get no closer, resulting in the final margin. Randolph pitched a complete game in the win.
Thats what the team needed after a bad last year, Soper said. A win helps their confidence quite a bit.
Davis and Krafka each hit 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Ogas went 2-for-4 with a RBI.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Buckaroos led throughout to earn a split. It was the opening games to Monticellos season.
Dove Creek left fielder Nick Jones hit 2-for-4 and had two RBIs. Davis took the loss on the mound.
The Bulldogs wont play again for two and a half weeks when they open San Juan Basin League play with a doubleheader at Ignacio on April 10.
NOTES: Ogas sprained his ankle in the second game and is out for the season. Smith filled in at catcher.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.