When the Dolores Youth Baseball program was reintroduced in 2020, it planted seeds for a revival that flourished two years ago when the high school reinstated its own baseball team. The return sparked excitement with students, parents, and coaches.
As the Bears wrapped up their season on a high note with games against Bayfield, while celebrating their seniors and Mother’s Day, they are already focused on putting in the work for next season.
Dolores completed its second season - its first was in 2024 - after not having a full-time program for a few years, when COVID disrupted in-person activities. This year marked the team’s first time competing at the varsity level, which gave them more playing time compared to the 2023 season, when they played just 14 games and finished 1-12-1. This season, they gained more experience and exposure, finishing with a 3-18 record.
Head coach Brandon Range took the reins nearly two-thirds into the season but said he had seen improvement across the boards from the squad since he stepped into a bigger role.
“They were a lot more relaxed, working together, and challenging. Their baseball improved ten-fold.”
The Bears’ first win came early in the season against Shiprock where they won 12-3 and sealed the game with a strong finish coming from a 6-run scoring sixth inning.
Their next wins came in late April during a dominant weekend of play. Dolores rolled past Center with a 23-8 victory, sparked by a 10-run second inning that set the tone for the rest of the weekend. The following day, they faced Sargent, who edged out a close 5-4 win in Game 1, but Dolores bounced back in Game 2 with an 11-3 win, finding their rhythm.
Despite the losses between the first win and the last two, Range said he enjoys seeing the team endure all the highs and lows together throughout the season.
“When you look back at some of the games we had - the positivity and excitement came after some of the troubles and defeats. Watching that transition, whether it was on the bus ride back or at practice, you could see them come back together,” he said. “These boys want to chase championships together but also work through losses together.”
At their last game against Bayfield, Dolores decided to co-join two events. A Mother’s Day and senior recognition of Wyatt Kiddoo, Michael Nielson, and team manager Isla Vaughn. Spectators, parents, and both teams enjoyed a barbeque to close out the 2025 baseball season.
Rogers said he enjoys seeing the baseball community begin to take more shape as the season closes.
“Having it (baseball) becomes a community where our high school players are intermingling with the youth players and mentoring… to where we also have some of those (youth) players coming up to be involved in some of our games,” he said. “Whether it’s to chase foul balls or anything else, it’s been really nice watching everyone work together.”
Range said the season’s success was not his alone. He credited his coaching staff that involved assistant coach Kevin Vaughn and Isla, who have been with him through a second straight season and coaching changes.
With the local youth program that helps players transition into the high school team, Range said he plans to possibly host a two-week-long skills camp that is available to both boys and girls in the sport. Open gyms and optional practices will also be available throughout the summer.
He also said there have been discussions of establishing an American Legion team with other nearby communities if schedules align since the players additional obligations.
“I think right now with the community we live in, these high school boys are getting jobs and working on farms and ranches during the summer, so we’ll likely bring in players from places like Cortez, Mancos, and Dove Creek. It depends on scheduling, how many players we have, and their willingness to travel.”
Range said he hopes to stay involved in the growing sport and would like to see more fans at games and supporting fundraisers to help make Dolores baseball thrive.
“We’d like to see the fanbase grow at our home games and this is where it all starts. From our little leagues to our high school, we really want to put Dolores back on the map as a big red dot that people know we’re going to be very competitive and we’re just going to keep growing as the years go on.”
