PAGOSA SPRINGS – The Montezuma-Cortez girls soccer and baseball teams took to the field ready for big tests Saturday at Pagosa Springs, as both teams look to defend their 2023 league titles.
For the Montezuma-Cortez soccer squad, an unbeaten weekend put the Panthers right back in the thick of the action for the Southwest League title, with a 1-1 draw against Alamosa on Friday afternoon. The Panther responded the next day with a 2-1 win at Pagosa Springs.
Meanwhile, the Panther baseball team needed less nail-biting drama in their perfect Saturday, belting the Pirates 12-3 and 19-7 in a doubleheader, improving to 2-0 in league play.
]Under first-year coach Melody Harris, the Panthers rallied back on their home pitch to salvage the match against the Mean Moose. Senior Anna Jensen scored the equalizer in the 44th minute from the penalty spot.
Jensen nearly scored the winner 10 minutes later, but her 25-yard shot rattled off the outside of the post.
Meanwhile, after conceding midway through the first half, the Panther defense stiffened, with senior Grace Darrin leading the way.
Alamosa’s best opportunity in the second half saw Panther goalkeeper Aubrey Rutherford retreat to snatch a looping shot before it crossed the line 10 minutes from full time.
A day later, Montezuma-Cortez (2-3-1) extended its unbeaten streak to three straight matches, scoring an important win to improve to 1-1-1 in the Southwest League ahead of a pivotal road clash against Bayfield on Tuesday, starting at 4 p.m.
The Wolverines clipped the Panthers 1-0 in the opening match of 2024.
Right as the Montezuma-Cortez baseball team put the finishing touches on their crucial victory, it was in the midst of making light work of Pagosa Springs.
Junior Seth Oakes and freshman Connor Rosenbaugh enjoyed strong starts in their respective outings on the mound, while the offense did more than enough to support the cause.
Freshman Easton Pixler and sophomore Darren Daves each posted four-hit days in the second half of the double dip, with Daves driving in seven runs in game two alone – finishing with 11 for the day.
Sophomores Parker Conrad and Cory Carver scored a combined 11 runs, and the Panthers tallied 29 hits between the two contests.
Junior Kolby Wirth and freshman Michael Krupa collected three hits apiece in the opener, as the Panthers rallied from an early 2-1 deficit and pulled ahead in the fourth and sixth innings.
The Panthers (7-7) return home this upcoming Saturday for their next league encounter versus Alamosa.
