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Hungry Bulldogs looking to feast at the plate

Dove Creek baseball eyes return to 1A state tournament
Dove Creek's Hunter Daves (3) pitches during the Bulldogs' Class 1A State Tournament Round-of-16 against Simla in May 2023. Daves is among the key returners for the Bulldogs. (Journal file)

DOVE CREEK – When filling out his lineup card during the 2023 season, Dove Creek baseball coach Trent Daves had to be excited for his returning squad in 2024.

The future is now for a Bulldog baseball program, which has produce four straight winning seasons. In each of those seasons, the Bulldogs made the field in the 1A state tournament.

A wealth of talent and experience looks to lead the Bulldogs back to the top tier yet again, with seven seniors looking to put a final stamp on their careers in blue and yellow.

Infield tandem Taber Dejane and Gage Buffington lead the star-studded Class of 2024, bringing back two of the most potent bats on the Western Slope. The duo led the team in extra-base hits and finished in the top three in RBIs.

Classmates Hunter Daves and Aiden Chadd anchor the Bulldogs’ rotation, while Buffington and junior Sheldon Gardner both gobbled up innings a season ago.

Senior Mike Coffey ranked among the team leaders in batting average and RBIs a season ago, while seniors Jonathan Purkat rejoins the fold after missing last year due to injury. Jarrett Cressler also looks to make an impact.

Junior Liam Hassell and sophomore Trevan Ivie saw significant action last year, and sophomore Josh Kibel also looks to see an increased role after a productive basketball season.

Dove Creek tallied over 100 stolen bases last season, and the team possesses plenty of speed again this year. The Bulldogs look to keep growing, particularly with the challenges they’ll face against District 1-1A rival Nucla, along with another loaded nonleague schedule.

The Bulldogs made up for a 1-6 start in 2023 season by rattling off nine straight wins to climb back into the state qualification conversations. This time, they’re eyeing a quicker start to open 2024.

After playing their first three games on the road – facing Shiprock, Ignacio and Rehoboth Christian – the Bulldogs open their home slate with a second meeting against the Chieftains at 2 p.m. March 26.

A trip to Rangely on Mar. 29-30 precedes a nine-game home stand in April.

Dove Creek will also travel to Montezuma-Cortez M-CHS on April 23, before wrapping up the regular season in Monticello two days later.

District 1 action will take place on May 3 in Ignacio, followed by 1A regional and state tournament play on May 11 and May 16, respectively.



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