The Durango High School spring sports season has largely been a success, with numerous teams with winning records. But as May approaches, the playoffs start creeping into the forefront of every student-athlete and coach’s mind.
Playoffs for each sport start at different times, but the regular season ends for most spring sports in the next two weeks. Therefore, it’s a good time to look at where the Durango High School spring sports teams stand in the playoff picture. Girls soccer, girls lacrosse and baseball could have home playoff games.
Girls soccer:
The Durango girls soccer program has been fantastic recently, finishing with a winning record every season since 2018. The highlight recently was in 2022, when the Demons went 16-3 overall, 6-2 in the 5A/4A Southwestern League and made it to the 4A state final four.
This season, the Demons are on their way to another playoff berth, currently sitting at 7-3 overall and 6-0 in the 4A/5A Southwestern League. Durango has won seven consecutive games.
Durango is sixth in the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Selection & Seeding Index, used to seed the teams in the state playoff bracket. This would give the Demons at least one home playoff game and possibly two if they won the first game.
The Demons did a great job with their nonleague schedule; their three losses came to 5A’s No. 1 team Cherry Creek, 5A’s No. 2 team Ralston Valley and 3A’s No. 4 team Delta.
Looking at the rest of Durango’s schedule, the Demons face 5A’s No. 27 team, Fruita Monument, twice. The outcome of those two games will likely decide the 4A/5A Southwestern League.
Other than Fruita, the Demons shouldn’t have a problem against Telluride and Grand Junction Central and they just beat Palisade 2-0 on Tuesday.
Durango has a good chance of moving up the rankings if it continues to win, especially since 4A’s No. 3 team, Lutheran, and No. 4 team, Palmer Ridge, played each other on Thursday.
Girls golf:
The Durango girls golf team has had an incredible season so far, winning multiple tournaments as a team and individually. The Demons have faced some tough competition in New Mexico and Colorado this season.
Depth has been the key for the Demons with their top four golfers consistently shooting in the low 80s. Depending on the day, senior Ellie White, sophomore Dylan Livingston, junior Jayden Craig and senior Ramiee Brandt can go low to lead Durango.
The Demons are currently ranked first in 4A on iwanamaker.com. Durango has the chance to win a state championship and the journey will begin at regionals at the Olde Course in Loveland on May 12.
If the Demons finish in the top two as a team, they’ll compete at state as a team at The Broadlands Golf Course in Broomfield on May 19-20. Even if the Demons don’t qualify as a team by finishing in the top two, they can qualify as a team if three girls finish inside the top 13 of the individual standings.
Durango has the talent and depth to make it to state and potentially win it all. It might come down to the mental strength of the Demons when it matters most.
Girls lacrosse:
The Demons girls lacrosse program is having one of its more successful seasons in recent memory. Durango is 7-2 overall and is in first in the 4A Mountain West League at 6-1. The Demons are looking to win the league for the first time and host a home playoff game.
Durango has a great mix on offense of size and speed, as well as youth and experience. Senior Fiona Chandler is one of the top goalies in the state and helps keep opposing offenses in check.
CHSAA’s Selection & Seeding Index has the Demons ranked ninth in 4A. Based on last year’s 24-team state playoff bracket, the Demons are in position to host a playoff game.
The Demons don’t play any teams ranked above them in 4A for the rest of the season. Durango plays at Rampart, 4A’s No. 22 team, on Friday and plays No. 15 Telluride again after beating them 8-6 on Wednesday.
Durango’s best test may come from out of state; the Demons play at home against a quality program in Santa Fe Prep on May 2.
With four games left, the Demons are in a great position to win the league and host a playoff game.
Baseball:
First-year Durango baseball head coach Masen Hibbeler has done wonders for the Baseball program. The Demons are 11-4 overall and 3-1 in the 4A/5A Southwestern League. With four games to go, Durango has the most wins in a season since 2021.
Hibbeler’s training expertise has clearly paid off, with a distinguishable aggressive style, depth in the bullpen and consistent hitting.
The Demons are ranked 11th in 4A. Baseball’s playoff picture is a little more murky. Durango is in a great position to make the regionals (the top 32 teams make it), but the Demons have some work to do to host a regional.
A regional in baseball consists of four teams and three games. The top eight teams in the state host a regional. Therefore, the Demons have some work to do in their final four games to host a regional. Each team that wins a regional goes on to the state tournament.
Durango plays two games at 5A’s No. 27 team, Fruita Monument, and two games at 4A’s No. 14 team, Palisade. Durango would probably need to go 3-1 to get into that top eight to host a regional and accomplish the goal Hibbeler set at the beginning of the season.
Boys lacrosse:
The Durango boys lacrosse team has shown signs of improvement this season and it will be a battle for the Demons to get into the playoffs.
At 2-7 overall and 2-5 in the 4A Mountain League, the Demons are ranked No. 23 in 4A. The top 24 teams make it to the state playoffs.
The Demons have a good chance at picking up some wins in the next week against Montrose and Summit. Two wins could help cement a spot in the playoffs, which would be an incredible achievement for Valeria Skarbek in her first season as head coach.
Girls tennis:
The Durango girls tennis team has finished its regular season and has its focus on the 4A Region 8 Regional at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction on May 1. Durango didn’t qualify for the state team playoffs that are going on right now.
Matchups for the 4A Region 8 Regional haven’t been set, but to advance to state, the Demons need to finish top two in their respective position.
Durango girls tennis head coach Darren Tarshis thinks there’s a good chance some Demons will make it to state on May 8 in Pueblo.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
