Whenever two high school baseball teams combine to score 65 runs over the course of three games, fans cannot help but get excited.
Thus, cheers were not in short supply during three consecutive games between Dolores and Dove Creek, which featured plenty of offensive fireworks and two Dolores wins.
In the opening game of the series between the Bears and the Bulldogs on April 16, Dolores hammered its way to a 15-14 home victory.
Highlighting the contest was a 10-run 4th inning from the Bears, which featured a two-run single by Guy Wallace, a two-run double by Dalton Madden and numerous Dove Creek errors.
"Our bats really came alive today," said Madden. "On my double in the fourth inning, I read the starting pitcher, got a fastball over the plate and drove the ball to center field. I'm seeing the ball well right now."
Madden started the game on the mound for Dolores and allowed four runs in 3 1/3 innings. Kellen Gatzke relieved Maddon on the mound with one out in the top of the 4th inning and helped Dolores escape a jam before being ejected in the top of the 5th inning for arguing a call.
After Gatzke departed the field, Madden returned to the mound and Dove Creek scored five runs in the top of the 5th inning to cut the Bears lead to 12-11.
The Bulldogs then tied the game, 12-12, in the top of the 6th inning, but RBI singles by Stetson Hamilton, Tel Hamilton and Brandon Ward allowed Dolores to plate three runs in the bottom of the 6th inning and pull away for good.
Playing the second game of the three-game series in Dove Creek on April 20, the Bears fell behind early before catching up late to record an 8-5 victory.
Stetson Hamilton started on the mound for the Bears and pitched all seven innings to secure the victory, which was marred by a scary moment in the 1st inning that came after Justin Purkat fouled a ball off his face.
"Justin is out indefinitely right now with a lot of fractures," said Bears manager Rusty Hamilton. "It was a big deal and it was pretty traumatic. I'm really proud of my guys for rallying up and staying in the game."
Among the key hits for Dolores in the victory was a two-run double by Madden with the bases loaded in the 5th inning that allowed Dolores to score two runs.
Playing the final game of their three-game set in Dolores on April 20, Dolores carried a 10-8 lead into the 7th inning before allowing Dove Creek to score four late runs to lock up a 12-11 victory.
"We had way too many errors," said Rusty Hamilton, when asked about the loss. "Instead of playing aggressively and playing for the win, we started playing on our heels and making poor plays."
Gatzke pitched all seven innings of the loss, which dropped the Bears record to 6-5 on the season.
After playing a doubleheader against Nucla in Dolores on April 22, Dolores will close out its regular season with a doubleheader in Igancio on May 2.
