The Durango Demons will head out to take on the Grand Junction Central Warriors at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. Durango is coming into the contest hot, having won their last three games.
On Tuesday, Durango narrowly escaped with a win as the squad sidled past Montezuma-Cortez 10-8. That's two games straight that the Demons have won by exactly two runs.
Austin Romero was a major factor no matter where he played. On the mound, he tossed 3.1 innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off three hits. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up a single walk in three consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBI.
In other batting news, Dylan Burns was excellent, going 1-for-3 with three runs, one double, and one RBI. That's the most runs he has posted since back in May of 2025. Brady Hoerl was another key player, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
Coal Ridge hit Grand Junction Central with a five-run sixth inning on Tuesday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Warriors fell just short of the Titans by a score of 10-8. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest defeat the Warriors have suffered since March 6th.
Octavio Gallegos made the most of his time in the batter's box despite the final result and went 2-for-3 with three stolen bases, two runs, and two RBI. Tyrus Kellerby also deserves some recognition as he hit his first triple of the season.
This is the second loss in a row for Grand Junction Central and nudges their season record down to 6-5. As for Durango, their record now sits at 8-4.
Friday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Durango has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .471. However, it's not like Grand Junction Central struggles in that department as they've averaged .460. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Durango got the 'W' when the teams last played back in April of 2025 against Grand Junction Central by a conclusive 12-5 score. Will the Demons repeat their success, or do the Warriors have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
