Dove Creek entered the spring season with plenty to learn, but most of the roster will have four years to put it all together.
Second-year head coach Chris Beanland welcomed a fresh crop of players this season, many of whom are returning to baseball after more than a year away from the diamond.
“Most of our freshmen didn’t get a season last year because the club program was U13, and they were 14, but they’ve come out ready to play,” Beanland said.
The trial by fire is well underway. With more than half of the roster made up of players from the Class of 2029, Beanland is optimistic about the months ahead while acknowledging there is plenty of work to do.
“We want our kids to get down the fundamentals, just knowing what they’re supposed to do and thinking before each pitch,” Beanland said of the learning curve. “We want to start with the mental side and then let the experience develop everything else.”
In their final season in 1A District 1 before another CHSAA realignment reshapes the landscape, the Bulldogs will face all six district opponents. That marks a significant departure from recent years, when Dove Creek played only a handful of district games, often meeting unfamiliar teams in the district tournament.
The variety of district play, composed mostly of schools from the San Luis Valley, gives the youth movement plenty of new pitchers to face as they hone their game.
The Bulldogs (1-2) feature five upperclassmen, including seniors Josh Kibel and Trevan Ivie, to usher in the next era of Dove Creek baseball. Juniors Konner Spigner, Clayton Smith and Cael Beanland were all regular contributors for a team that finished 9-10 last spring. Both Spigner and Beanland batted over .400 while finishing second and third on the team in hits. Ivie and Kibel also reached base at a better-than-.500 clip, giving the Bulldogs plenty of pop to challenge opposing defenses.
Freshman Kycen Gritz adds to the mix, leading the team in RBIs and starring on the mound through the early stages of the 2026 spring. Braxten Huskey and Destry Blair are among the many Bulldog freshmen looking to make their mark.
“We recognize that there’s going to be mistakes – this is baseball – but we’re wanting our guys to pick each other up,” Beanland said.
The Bulldogs showed no signs of intimidation in their season opener, defeating Shiprock 10-5. Gritz led the way with three hits from the top of the order, while he, Smith and Spigner all collected multiple RBIs.
“We want our kids to be ready to hit the first pitch that they like,” Beanland said. “The kids showed that in our first game.”
Dove Creek opens its home schedule Tuesday, March 31, when Ignacio visits the Soper Sports Complex. A home doubleheader against Monticello follows four days later. The Bulldogs face Dolores on April 7 before district play ramps up April 10 with games against Sierra Grande and Sargent. Dove Creek also meets Centennial and Center on April 24 before closing the regular season with a home doubleheader against Nucla on April 27.
