The Montezuma-Cortex baseball team (5-10-1, 0-7 Southwestern League) lost 14-8 to rival Durango High School Demons (8-6, 3-4 SWL) on Thursday night.
It was the third consecutive win for the streaking Demons, and the first earned by pitcher Chris Jaworsky.
Durango pounded out 14 hits, including three triples and a double.
Jaworsky pitched 5 1/3 innings in relief of starter Ben Wiley. Jaworsky gave up just three hits, while hitting two batters with pitches.
Montezuma-Cortez did most of its damage in the third inning when the Panthers scored four runs on zero hits, five walks or hit batters and one DHS error.
The Panthers never went away and wouldn't allow the Demons to reach the 10-run rule margin.
“We expected that our of Cortez. Coach (Matthew) Betts is a good coach, and they never lay down,” DHS head coach Rob Coddington said.
DHS again will play the Panthers at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Cortez.
“We know Cortez will bring it to us again Saturday; we just need to stay in our game, and we will definitely do our job,” Jaworsky said.