Durango Fends Off Late Surge from Cortez in Baseball Showdown

Visiting Demons hold on for 10-8 victory over Panthers in high-stakes matchup

Apr. 8, 2026 at 10:10pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, multi-perspective painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant colors representing a high school baseball game, conveying the dynamic energy and competitive nature of the matchup.A fractured, geometric illustration captures the intensity and competitive spirit of a high school baseball showdown between two talented teams vying for postseason positioning.Durango Today

In a battle between two veteran baseball teams with postseason aspirations, the Durango Demons held off a late comeback attempt from the Montezuma-Cortez Panthers to secure a 10-8 victory on April 7. The Demons, ranked in the top 10 of Class 4A, jumped out to an early lead and maintained it throughout the back-and-forth contest, despite a late surge from the Class 3A No. 7 Panthers.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the competitive nature of high school baseball in southwest Colorado, with two talented teams facing off in a high-leverage matchup that could have implications for their respective playoff pushes later in the season. The win keeps Durango undefeated in Southwestern League play, while Montezuma-Cortez's five-game winning streak was snapped.

The details

Durango never trailed in the game, jumping out to a 3-1 lead in the second inning before the Panthers tied it up. The Demons then scored four runs in the third to take a 7-3 advantage, but Montezuma-Cortez chipped away, pulling within two runs in the fifth. Durango added two more insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Panthers mounted one final rally in the sixth, scoring three runs to make it a 10-8 game before the Demons closed it out.

  • The teams met on April 7 in Cortez.
  • Durango entered the game hot off a weekend sweep of Grand Junction.
  • Montezuma-Cortez had won five straight games, including victories over Southwestern League foes Montrose and Grand Junction Central, as well as defending Class 3A state champion Coal Ridge.

The players

Durango Demons

The Durango Demons are a high school baseball team that competes in Class 4A and the Southwestern League. They entered the game ranked in the top 10 of their classification.

Montezuma-Cortez Panthers

The Montezuma-Cortez Panthers are a high school baseball team that competes in Class 3A and the Intermountain League. They were ranked No. 7 in Class 3A and had won five straight games before this matchup.

Jakob Maycock

The starting pitcher for Durango, who was relieved in the second inning.

Austin Romero

The relief pitcher who earned the win for Durango.

Dawson McInnes

The Durango player who delivered a key double in the fifth inning and then recorded the save on the mound.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Durango travels to Grand Junction on Friday and Saturday for a two-game set with GJ Central before returning home on Tuesday, April 14, for a doubleheader against Pagosa Springs. Montezuma-Cortez will next take the field on Saturday, April 18, with a trip to Archuleta County to open Intermountain League play.

The takeaway

This hard-fought battle between two talented baseball teams in southwest Colorado showcased the competitive nature of high school baseball in the region. The win keeps Durango undefeated in league play, while the loss snaps Montezuma-Cortez's five-game winning streak, setting the stage for both teams to make a push for the postseason in the coming weeks.