Blake Dunlap didn’t need many pitches in seven innings of work.
Durango High School’s 6-0 senior pitcher pitched a complete game Saturday against New Mexico’s Los Alamos in the third-place game of the Piedra Vista Invitational at Ricketts Park in Farmington. He allowed one run on three hits while striking out four as the DHS Demons defeated the Hilltoppers 2-1.
“Blake throwing strikes and committing zero errors defensively is what won the game,” DHS head coach Rob Coddington. “Blake pitched a great game, and every ball they put in play we picked up and made the play on.”
Dunlap drove in the first run of the game for the Demons (4-2) in the bottom of the fourth inning. He singled to score Jeremy Szura, who tripled earlier in the inning.
Sitting in a 1-1 tie with Los Alamos (6-6), the Demons scored a go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Isiah Mayberry hit a fly ball to right-center field, and the Los Alamos center fielder and right fielder collided while trying to make the play, allowing Mayberry to advance to third base. Zac Gasaway delivered a single to bring Mayberry home, and the Demons were just three outs away from closing out a 2-1 weekend in the wood-bat tournament in Farmington.
“We had a good feeling in the dugout all day. We talked about picking up the tempo, and we did that,” Coddington said. “We only had six hits, but we hit a lot of balls hard all day and never let up. The overall intensity was where it needs to be with us going into league games next week.”
The Demons open their Southwestern League schedule at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Fruita Monument. DHS will turn around to face rival Montrose at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
“We are real happy with the kids and where we are going into a week of practice before league,” Coddington said. “To go to Farmington and win two games in these wood-bat tournaments is always big. We saw good stuff from our pitchers, and having three or four solid guys ready to pitch in those Friday and Saturday league games is a recipe for success. We should make a decent run at it this year.”
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