\u201cThat home run would have been out of any park,\u201d DHS head coach John Bernazzani said.<\/p>\n
After the big Flores homer, Wilson would settle in and strike out the next three Durango hitters to end the inning. It was a key momentum shift.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not good when someone hits like that, and she hit it far, too,\u201d Frost said of Flores\u2019 homer. \u201cI tell you, I think if the other fence was there, it would have probably went well over 280 (feet). And there\u2019s like three girls on their team that could get a hold of the ball really good, but once you do something like that \u2013 let a girl hit it over \u2013 then come right back and strike three out, her confidence level was there. It\u2019s a plus, and it picks up your team when a pitcher does that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wilson also was a force at the plate for the Panthers. She had a pair of doubles and two RBIs in addition to being hit by a pitch and one walk.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike I told Taiah, I just needed one girl to start it off, and it just so happened to be Taiah,\u201d Frost said. \u201cThat\u2019s why she\u2019s in that spot \u2013 the No. 4 or No. 5 batter \u2013 and it was just contagious; everyone started rolling.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wilson pitched a complete seven-inning game for the Panthers. She allowed nine hits and five runs \u2013 four earned \u2013 and didn\u2019t walk a batter while she struck out six.<\/p>\n
Allie Kibel of Cortez played a key role in the fifth-inning rally for the Panthers, as she came through with a one-out double to spark a rally.<\/p>\n Durango catcher Alaysia Kremer, a Bayfield High School sophomore who plays for the Demons, went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Teagan Kehm also had a triple and a run scored for the Demons.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a lot more opportunities. I think it was first-game jitters,\u201d Bernazzani said. \u201cWe just didn\u2019t hit like we could. The Cortez pitcher did a good job working around the plate, and we just didn\u2019t execute with base runners on. We should have done more.\u201d<\/p>\n Coaches wore face coverings in the dugouts, as did players after warmups. When Flores hit her homer, there was no team celebration near home plate. It was part of the new-look game during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the Colorado High School Activities Association has limited teams to no more than 12 players per game with other health protocols in place during a shortened season. Only cross-country, boys golf, boys tennis and softball are being played in Colorado this fall, and all other high school sports will start after the calendar turns to 2021.<\/p>\n \u201cThings went well with the COVID-19 regulations,\u201d Bernazzani said. \u201cIt\u2019s a little different with no high-fives, but we are accepting the differences well and are happy to be out playing in this environment. Cortez did a nice job of hosting us. I saw a lot of fans and players happy to be outside and experiencing the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Bernazzani\u2019s Demons will now prepare for their home opener, a doubleheader set to begin at noon Saturday against 5A\/4A Southwestern League foe Fruita Monument (1-0). Bernazzani said the team will get in the batting cage Friday and try to mentally reset before squaring off with the 5A opponent.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first game is behind us now,\u201d he said. \u201cWe know we can be much better at the plate.\u201d<\/p>\n The Panthers will try to keep the winning streak going in a doubleheader Tuesday against Rifle. Those games will begin at 2 p.m. at Delta High School.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re looking forward to it,\u201d Frost said of his team. \u201cI don\u2019t know how Rifle is. I know they lost a lot of players, but they have a good third baseman, and their whole infield, they\u2019re solid. So, it\u2019s going to be another battle.\u201d<\/p>\n