DURANGO BASEBALL: Winning when it counts

Trailblazers come up big when facing division opponents

Durango High School lost 17 seniors from last year's baseball team, but it hasn't stopped the young Trailblazers from surging to first place in their Southwest Division this season.

Durango, only 12-16 overall, but 6-2 in its division at press time, could surprise some squads in this week's Sunset Region tournament, scheduled for today through Saturday at Durango High School and another site to be determined.

"We don't have a lot of guys who have been there before and know what it takes, and I don't think our pitching depth is what we need it to be, but we're a pretty decent defensive team and hitting team," first-year Durango head coach Sam Knapp said. "Our goal, going into the season, was to qualify for the playoffs, and anything that happens after that, to us, is a bonus. But, obviously, everything goes off your pitching. If our pitchers come out and compete, anything can happen.

"It's pretty wide open. Any team can go off at any time. It's whoever comes out and gets hot at the time. Our goal is to just come out and play hard in them."

Despite Durango's youth, the Trailblazers have excelled in pressure situations, as evidenced by their record in league play.

"The bottom line is it's all about conference play. The early games don't get you in the playoffs," Knapp said. "All six of our league wins have been huge for us. There's a lot of pressure playing league games, with what's at stake."

Durango's overall record could be a lot better, with the team dropping eight one-run games, and the Trailblazers have been beset by injuries most of the season.

"The biggest thing was us just getting healthy. Once we started division play, it was the first time we've been able to put the same nine kids in the lineup," Knapp said. "From injuries to family emergencies, we've had 13 kids miss things. Injuries have taken a toll on us, but these kids practice hard and they play hard.

"It would've been easy for them to quit early on, but they're a tough group of kids. They come ready to play and they battle."

The Trailblazers have received contributions from a plethora of players, including Kris Cichoski, Aldon Kahalehoe, Anthony Iaconianni, Emilio Gonzalez, Dustin Romero, Nick Bumstead, Isaiah Whigham, Nick Kilby, Brandon Graff and Chris Stiles.

Cichoski, a sophomore in his first varsity campaign, is the team's top pitcher and leadoff hitter, with a .421 batting average, five home runs and 21 RBIs and a 3.81 ERA on the hill, with a 2-0 league record.

"He runs well. He's got a great throwing arm, and he's only a sophomore," Knapp said. "We knew he had a chance to be a pretty good one. We ask a lot out of Kris, but he's done whatever we've asked of him."

Kilby, a senior, is 3-0 in league play and Whigham, also a senior, tossed a one-hitter, with nine strikeouts, in a win over Bishop Gorman.

"Isaiah has a great arm and he has great stuff. The biggest thing with him is throwing strikes," Knapp said. "Kilby's a competitor. He doesn't have overpowering stuff, but he just goes right after people. He throws strikes."

Kahalehoe, a freshman, was injured the first three weeks of the season, but has bounced back to lead the team with a .500 batting average.

Gonzalez, a junior third baseman, is the only player to appear in every game this year and leads the team with 29 RBIs.

"Emilio's a guy who goes all out all the time. He just plays hard and he's had a fantastic year. The kid's a gamer," Knapp said.

So is Romero, a junior shortstop hitting .370 despite getting hit in the head with the ball twice this season.

"Early in the year, he got drilled in the head at the plate and sat out three games. In his first game back, he got hit in the head again, in the same spot," Knapp said. "He was fighting that a bit, but I think he's over that and he's played with a lot of confidence. He's a tough kid. He's one of those kids who would run through a wall for you, if you ask him to.

"He just does whatever it takes to get the job done, both him and Gonzalez. He's really stepped up."

Graff, a freshman center fielder, is hitting .345; Iaconianni, a junior outfielder, is hitting .430 with 27 RBIs; Stiles, a senior outfielder, is hitting .385; and Bumstead, a junior catcher, is batting .300 and excelling behind the plate after playing third base and pitching last season.

Regardless of what happens in the playoffs, the experience should serve Durango well next season, when most of the team will return.

"Hopefully, they'll have great confidence and they'll know what to expect out of themselves," Knapp said.


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