M-CHS 14, Grand County 7 (Thursday)
M-CHS 9, San Juan 3 (Friday)
American Leadership Acad. 3, M-CHS 2 (Friday)
Beaver 12, M-CHS 2 (Saturday)
Panthers senior Jaris McDonald led the way with seven hits across four games, as the M-CHS bats cooled off after a strong start against the tournament host Red Devils. Junior Jaiden Istenes drove in five runs to pace the Panthers, and senior Bodie Stiegelmeyer reached base safely in eight of his 11 plate appearances as the Panthers scored six runs in the fifth inning against San Juan to break open a tie game.
Senior Kallan Wirth and sophomore Zye Kuenzler combined to limit the Broncos to three hits in M-CHS’ second win of the weekend. Then, Kuenzler, sophomore Brennen Powell, and junior Tegan Mestas combined to one-hit American Leadership Academy, but the Eagles scratched out three runs to claim the win.
The Panthers (2-2) head to Delta this upcoming weekend for more tournament action on March 20-21.
Monticello 12, Dolores 2 (Friday)
The host Bears (0-3) fell behind early at Joe Rowell Park and couldn’t catch up to the Buckaroos on Friday afternoon. Senior Tristan Adie collected the lone RBI of the contest for DHS, as he and freshman Kooper Thomas lead the team in average and hits to kick off the season under first-year head coach Brandon Range.
Dolores has leaned on junior Levi Hampton on the mound with over one-third of the innings pitched thus far this season, and Hampton co-leads the team in strikeouts alongside sophomore Branson Lee.
The Bears head to Pagosa Springs on Thursday, March 19 for a doubleheader against Pagosa Springs, a team that DHS tested in their season opener before falling 11-7 on March 5.
Dove Creek 10, Shiprock 5 (Friday)
Five runs in the second inning lifted the Bulldogs (1-0) to a victory in New Mexico to get the spring season underway. Freshman Kycen Gritz did just about everything for the ‘Dogs, pounding out three hits, four RBIs, and striking out seven Chieftains in three innings of work on the mound. Senior Trevan Ivie closed the door with six additional strikeouts in his four innings.
Junior Konner Spigner drove in three runs and senior Josh Kibel and freshman Braxten Huskey combined to cross home plate five times in the victory.
DC heads to McAndrew Field in Cortez in Tuesday for a 3 p.m. doubleheader against the M-CHS junior varsity team before they kick off district play on the road in Nucla on Saturday, March 21.
Dolores juniors Corvin Smith and Miles Brown led the way for the Bears on Saturday in Ridgway, as Smith took first in the two-mile (12:12) and third in the mile (5:16), while Brown claimed second in the 400 meters (56.73). Sophomore Evan Elder added third place in the shot put (37’ 9 ½”), classmate Bodhi Patillo earned the bronze in the high jump (4’ 10”), and fellow sophomore Levi Rantz took third in both hurdle disciplines (20.02 – 110, 51.10 – 300).
For the girls, sophomore Addy Thompson took third in the 300 hurdles (59.48), while classmate Emilynn Hill finished third in the 400 meters (1:04.93). Junior Eleri Brown led the throwers with a fourth-place mark in the discus (69’ 3”).
In Bayfield on Friday, the M-CHS girls were paced on the track by sophomore Faith Muzzy’s second-place run in the 300 hurdles (53.66), while junior Hayden Matthias added third in the 100 hurdles (18.82). The M-CHS 4 x 400 relay team took first (4:34.15), while the 4 x 200 relay finished runner-up (1:53.19).
The Panthers boys relay teams took second in both the 4 x 200 (1:40.27) and 4 x 400 (3:50.05).
For Mancos, sophomore Tymbri Priestley took second in the long jump (14’ 8 ½”), while sophomore Levi Priestley finished fifth in the 400 (58.20).
Dove Creek joined the Jays and Panthers in Bayfield, and senior Daniel Gray took sixth in the 300 hurdles (50.01), and classmate Mason Forst matched that placement in the 1,600 (5:19).
M-CHS will head to Arizona for the Chandler Rotary this upcoming weekend, while Mancos heads to North Fork, and Dove Creek has the weekend off before returning to Bayfield for the Pine River Invite on March 28.
