The 2025 baseball season is quickly approaching. Montezuma-Cortez returns all of its all-state honorable mentions from last year, while Dove Creek aims to build on last season’s success despite losing seven seniors who led the Bulldogs. Meanwhile, Dolores seeks to build confidence in its first year competing full-time at the varsity level.
The Panthers had a successful season last year, securing a spot in regionals after winning the Intermountain League title. They were ultimately eliminated by Coal Ridge just one game shy of the Class 3A/2A championship game. The team finished the 2024 season with a 16-9 overall record and a 7-1 league record.
The program made its first state appearance in 2023 and returned last year. With key leaders like all-state players juniors Cory Garver and Darren Daves, and senior Seth Oakes returning, they have the right ingredients to make another successful run.
Garver and Daves led the team in nearly all offensive categories, with Carver leading in batting average and hits. Daves topped the team with four home runs and 28 stolen bases, while Oakes made a significant impact on the mound.
In his second year as head coach, Jake Huff leads the Panthers with a young yet talented roster, aiming for a return to state and a spot in the championship game.
The Panthers will complete in the Luke Oeltjenbruns Memorial Tournament on March 21 against Coal Ridge. On March 22, they will face Rifle at 12:30 p.m., followed by a game against Montrose at 3 p.m. On March 25, they will play Montrose. They will compete at the Aztec Tournament beginning on March 27. Regionals begin on May 16 and state on May 23.
Dove Creek had a strong season under head coach Trent Daves, reaching the Class 1A state tournament semifinals before falling to No. 1 seed Merino with a 9-12 overall record and a 2-4 league record. Key contributors to this success were Jonathan Purkat, Aiden Chadd, and Gage Buffington, all of whom earned honorable mentions last year.
This year, the Bulldogs are looking for seniors Sheldon Gardener and Liam Hassell to lead their rebuilding efforts and help return Dove Creek to the state championship tournament in 2025.
Gardener led the team in fielding percentage last year, while Hassell made his mark with notable appearances in the double and triple categories. Both will leverage their skills to lead a team of both underclassmen and upperclassmen this season.
The Bulldogs open their season with away games at Shiprock on March 14, Montezuma-Cortez on March 18, and Nucla on March 25. District play begins on May 2, followed by Regionals on May 11 and state on May 16.
Last season, the Bears experienced growth as they navigated the sub-varsity level in Class 2A under head coach Curtis Garver. Their progress was evident in the statistics as the season continued.
The young roster gained valuable playing time, which improved their game awareness and boosted their confidence. This growth was evident when they scored 26 runs in a doubleheader against Nucla and showed resilience in close losses to Dove Creek, 10-8 and 8-4.
Coach Garver plans to build on last year's progress as the Bears will field both varsity and JV teams this season. The squad will lean on returning sophomores Declan Warren and Waylon Kiddoo, with additional contributions from Gus Vaughn, Orin Samulski, TJ Adie, Tucker Crites, and Levi Hampton. Seniors Wyatt Kiddoo and Jacob Stepp will take on leadership roles to set the tone for Dolores.
The Bears kick off their schedule with home games against Pagosa on March 6 and Monticello on March 10, followed by games at Shiprock on March 12 and Ignacio on March 25. They will close out March with a tournament in Aztec from March 27-29. Regionals begin on May 16, and state starts on May 30.
