DOLORES – Joe Rowell Park’s baseball diamond enjoys plenty of use throughout the spring and summer. Between youth leagues and festival softball tournaments, the community has made the most of the field.
For the past five years, however, something distinctive has been missing from the ball field: the pinging sound of high school batting practice and the dugout banter on an April afternoon from the Dolores Bears baseball team.
Those sounds are back this year – thanks to a regenerated interest developed by athletic director and head coach Curtis Garver – the Bears have returned to the diamond as a junior varsity program this spring, with the vision of returning the ballclub back to the status as a 2A power that the program enjoyed a couple decades ago.
Garver, who led Dove Creek to the 1A state title a decade ago, prioritized bringing back Bears baseball after accepting the position this past summer.
Although Garver couldn’t guarantee anything from a wins and losses perspective, he sold the program by approaching students in the hallways, encouraging them to join the team that reinvigorated the proud tradition of Dolores baseball.
“It’s been fun,” he said of the early steps. “We’ve had a lot of beginners – we’re working toward a goal of being able to step up to a varsity program next year, so we want to keep these guys moving in the right direction – and we’re hoping to keep the numbers out, developing the interest in the game, along with the fundamentals.”
Garver maximized the number of spring contests available with a primary focus in mind.
“We need the reps, everything from at-bats to baserunning,” he said. “So every chance we get, whether it’s in practice or in a game, gives us precious opportunities to get a little bit better.”
Dolores picked up their first win of their renaissance, an 11-9 subvarsity win over Montezuma-Cortez, posting a season-high run total on the strength of patience at the plate. Twelve walks provided the Bears (1-9) with chances to run on the base paths, where they stole six bases en route to victory.
On a team chock-full of freshmen, the Bears turn to junior Wyatt Kiddoo as one of the leaders of the program, as the Bears catcher boasts some of the most extensive experience with the game. First-year player Gus Vaughn, who collected one of Dolores’ two hits in their win, also anchors the infield for Garver’s squad, along with classmate Levi Hampton, who pitched the team to victory with three strong innings and eight strikeouts.
Hampton and fellow freshman Waylon Kiddoo both scored three runs in the win, as well. Sophomore TJ Adie reached base safely twice in the first game of the doubleheader against the Panthers, and freshman Tucker Crites fired four innings on the mound and added a hit.
“Once each of our guys figures out their role on the team, I think they’re really going to take off with it and be able to take on leadership roles for years to come,” Garver said.
Looking at the larger picture, between track and field, girls soccer, golf and baseball, Dolores has one of the strongest athletic turnouts for the school in years, something that makes the athletic director hopeful.
“Between all the different sports, we have over 50 student-athletes out this spring, which is exciting to see that level of commitment from them – and makes us encouraged about what it means for the future of DHS athletics,” said Garver.
With renovations happening at Joe Rowell Park, including repairs to the outfield fence and pitcher’s mound, the Bears are looking forward to plenty of action in front of their home fans in the coming weeks.
Dolores will host Nucla in a Tuesday doubleheader, starting at 2 p.m.
The Bears will then travel to Aztec for a tournament on April 12. Their final games of the season come at home, with Dove Creek, M-CHS, and Ignacio rounding out the Bears’ first season back to action since 2019.
