With less than a month remaining in the 2024–25 baseball season, the postseason picture is starting to take shape. Montezuma-Cortez now leads their division, while Dove Creek has ended its season with a tough loss to Nucla.
Here is a recap of the weekend’s baseball action.
The Panthers (15-4 overall, 4-0 3A IML) took control of North Fork on Saturday, holding off a three-run rally in the sixth inning of Game 1 to secure a 9-4 win, then shutting them out 10-0 in Game 2 for a dominant sweep.
Montezuma-Cortez holds the No. 7 spot in CHSAA’s latest 3A rankings, just behind Brush who holds a 11-6 record. University (17-3 overall) leads the rankings, with Colorado Academy (15-3) in second and Coal Ridge (17-2-1) in third.
The Panthers were led in Game 1 by sophomore Jaiden Istenes, who went 3-4 with two RBIs, a double, and one run. Senior Samson Lein and sophomore Easton Pixler each added two hits, and Pixler added a triple.
Montezuma-Cortez came out strong, scoring in each of the first five innings, including a pair of runs in each of the first three innings to an 8-0 lead. Senior Seth Oakes was strong on the mound, throwing across five innings and giving up three hits while striking out seven batters.
The Miners mounted a late comeback, scoring three runs in the sixth and another in the seventh because of the Panthers’ miscues on defense. Mario Gama stood out for North Fork, finishing with a perfect 3-3 at the plate with a double and a run.
On the basepaths, Montezuma-Cortez showed aggression as they swiped seven bases, with three coming from junior Cory Carver.
Defensively, the Panthers were cleaner in the field, committing two errors to North Fork’s four.
The Panthers regrouped in Game 2, where they closed the contest in five innings with a 10-0 score.
They opened the scoring with two runs at the bottom of the first and continued to apply pressure, plating three more in the second, two in the third and fourth, and one in the fifth. Montezuma-Cortez totaled nine hits, including four doubles and two home runs.
Carver paced the offense for the Panthers, going 2-3 with a home run and three RBIs. Lein also homered, finishing 1-3 with two RBIs, and Pixler added a 2-3 showing with a double.
On the mound, junior Jaris McDonald delivered a light-out performance, tossing five scoreless innings, giving up three hits, walking none, and struck out five.
The Miners struggled to get the production going on offense. No North Fork player reached third base and committed four errors in the field, contributing to the Panthers’ ability to extend innings and pile on runs.
The wins keep Montezuma-Cortez climbing in the 3A rankings as they face IML rival Centauri on Thursday at the Falcons’ field and will end the regular season with a home game against Bayfield on Saturday before they head into regionals.
The Bulldogs opened the first round of their regional bracket against Nucla following a pair of narrow losses in a recent doubleheader, but fell once again to the Mustangs, 13-2, last Friday at Ignacio High School.
After a scoreless first two innings, Nucla broke through with one run in the third, then erupted for 10 runs in the fourth to take over. The Mustangs added two more in the fifth to cap a 13-run, 15-hit offensive showcase, while committing no errors in the field.
Dove Creek managed to score a single run in both the fourth and fifth innings. The Bulldogs were held to five this overall and struggled on defense, giving up eight errors across five innings.
Nucla’s offense was led by junior Coulter Shumway’s 3-4 batting performance, two RBIs, and two runs. Freshman Jace Bonacquista went 1-1, three RBIs, and two runs. Junior Brycen Rummel pitched a complete game, striking out eight and allowed one earned run.
Dove Creek’s highlights included doubles from sophomore Konner Spigner, senior Sheldon Gardner, and classmate Frankey Montoya. Gardner recorded an RBI and stole a base. Sophomore Cael Beanland and Gardner combined on the mound for five innings, giving up 13 runs on 15 hits, with five strikeouts.
With the loss, Dove Creek was eliminated from postseason play. The Bulldogs end their season with 9-10 overall and 6-3 in their District 1-1A league.
