Demons Baseball Sweeps Grand Junction with Defensive Dominance

Durango High School baseball team takes first place in league after 3-1 victory over Tigers

Apr. 4, 2026 at 11:07pm

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Durango High School's baseball team bounced back from an 8-0 deficit on Friday to defeat Grand Junction 12-9, then followed it up with a 3-1 victory on Saturday to sweep the series and take the lead in the 4A/5A Southwestern League. Sophomore pitcher Cole Clark led the Demons' defensive effort, pitching a complete game with 4 strikeouts and allowing just 5 hits and 1 run.

Why it matters

The Demons' ability to win in different ways - through both offensive firepower and stifling defense - shows the team's versatility and resilience. Their sweep of Grand Junction puts them in first place in the league standings, setting them up for a strong postseason push.

The details

In Saturday's 3-1 victory, the Demons' offense was led by senior Austin Romero, who went 2-3 at the plate. Sophomore Cole Clark and senior Dawson McInnes each had 1 hit. Clark pitched the complete game, allowing 5 hits and 1 run while striking out 4 batters. Durango's defense kept Grand Junction's offense in check, with Clark's fastball, knuckleball, and curveball proving effective.

  • On Saturday, Durango High School baseball defeated Grand Junction 3-1.
  • On Friday, Durango came back from an 8-0 deficit to defeat Grand Junction 12-9.

The players

Cole Clark

A sophomore pitcher for Durango High School who pitched a complete game with 4 strikeouts, allowing just 5 hits and 1 run in the 3-1 victory over Grand Junction.

Austin Romero

A senior player for Durango High School who led the team's offense, going 2-3 at the plate in the 3-1 victory over Grand Junction.

Masen Hibbeler

The head coach of the Durango High School baseball team.

Dawson McInnes

A senior player for Durango High School who went 1-2 at the plate in the 3-1 victory over Grand Junction.

Andrew Henderson

The pitcher for Grand Junction who finished with 8 strikeouts and 6 hits allowed in the 3-1 loss to Durango.

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What they’re saying

“It just shows that this team can win in many different fashions. Coming back from a game like yesterday, (today) was low-scoring; handling the ball on the defensive side was really cool to watch. These boys are starting to really catch their stride.”

— Masen Hibbeler, Durango Head Coach

“He's outstanding. His intensity is what sets him apart. When he gets on the mound, we always feel like we have a shot because he's intense and he competes better than anyone on the field.”

— Masen Hibbeler, Durango Head Coach

“I'm just settling down, knowing I can do this and putting all my faith in God. Jesus Christ is my lord and savior. I'm just trusting in him. He's got it no matter what. This is a small game he lets us play.”

— Cole Clark, Durango Pitcher

“The fast ball was definitely working well. The knuckleball looked good, and the curveball was there.”

— Cole Clark, Durango Pitcher

What’s next

Durango will hit the road to play at Montezuma-Cortez on Tuesday at 3 p.m. as they look to extend their lead in the league standings.

The takeaway

Durango's ability to win in different ways - through both offensive firepower and stifling defense - demonstrates the team's versatility and resilience. Their sweep of Grand Junction puts them in first place in the league, setting them up for a strong postseason push.