With a brisk breeze blowing on April 14, the Montezuma-Cortez High School baseball team fell to Durango High School, 12-1.
After the game, M-CHS manager Travis Greenlee and Panthers first-baseman Bridger Brenner did little to hide their frustration.
“I don’t feel that we played very well today,” said Greenlee. “We had some errors that we shouldn’t have had. We’ve got to be willing to get a little bit tough and make the plays that we’re supposed to make.”
“We have our tail between our legs like we’re ready for the butt whipping to come,” added M-CHS first baseman Bridger Brenner. “That has been Cortez’s mentality during the last couple of years.”
Keying the M-CHS loss was a difficult first-two innings that saw Durango score five runs off of Panthers’ starting pitcher Andrew Laymon.
Two of those runs came in the first inning when Kyle Duran drove a two-run double over the head of M-CHS right-fielder Randy Haley. Two more runs were scored when Casey Dunlap delivered a clutch two-out single in the 2nd inning.
The Panthers offense was shut down by Durango starting pitcher Lawrence Mayberry, who allowed just one earned run thanks to his hard sinking fastball and pinpoint control.
“We’ve been struggling to hit the ball all season,” said Brenner. “We’re not making any adjustments, and we’ve been watching pitches go by. We’re not forcing (opposing teams) to make a play.”
One of the few highlights for M-CHS was pitcher Dayne Black, who relieved Laymon after the second inning and allowed just one earned run in three innings.
“I was just relaxed out there today,” said Black. “I knew I wasn’t going to pitch the whole game since I pitched the other day. I just wanted to come in and throw strikes.”
M-CHS scored its only run of the game in the bottom of the third inning when Durango’s right-fielder misplayed a line drive by Brenner and Kevin Morales scored.
With the exception of a third-inning triple by Haley, the Panthers failed to hit the ball hard throughout the day.
“Our pitchers are coming out and doing their job, but we’ve got to put some pressure on (our opponents’) defense,” Greenlee said. “Nobody is going to give us anything. ”
With their record now at 6-6, M-CHS plays Fruita Monument on April 17, and Grand Junction Central on April 18.