Craig Daily Press

Photo by John Vandelinder

Moffat County pitcher Thomas Baker delivers a pitch against Steamboat Springs in the first game of the three-team, round-robin all-star baseball tournament at Woodbury Sports Complex. Baker struck out five Sailors in his two innings of work.

Craig — Dogs don’t lay eggs.

Don’t tell that to the Moffat County Dawgs all star baseball team.

These Dawgs laid three of them Friday.

Back-to-back-to-back goose eggs, to be exact.

The Moffat County Dawgs 8-to 10-year-old all star baseball team dominated the opposition Friday at Woodbury Sports Complex on their way to a convincing Craig Invitational Tournament championship.

Moffat County won each of its three games without surrendering a run, beating Steamboat Springs, 9-0, Meeker 14-0, and the title game rematch with the Sailors, 11-0.

Game 1 vs. Steamboat Springs

The Dawgs had practiced two times a day for the past two weeks in anticipation of their season-opening game in their home tournament.

Although Steamboat had several games under its belt this season, Moffat County proved to be the more experienced unit.

Moffat County scored three runs in the bottom of the first-inning, and unbeknownst to the team, the runs would have held up to win all three of its games.

But, the lack of knowledge ended up being a thorn in the opposition’s side, not the Dawgs’.

Mikey Bingham connected with a bases-loaded double in the fourth inning, providing the home team with a five run lead.

It was four more than they needed.

Left-handed pitcher Ed Guevara shut down the Sailors from there, striking out five of six Steamboat batters on a miniscule 20 pitches without allowing a hit.

Guevara’s two out single in the fifth put the Dawgs up 8-0 and a Mikey Bingham RBI in the sixth, accounted for the final margin of victory.

“I’m pretty happy with the way our first game of the season went,” Moffat County coach Billy Bingham said. “We have some good athletes on this team, and it showed. They played awesome.”

Game 2 vs. Meeker

The Cowboys were fighting for their tournament lives after losing their first game of the double-elimination tournament to Steamboat, 14-4.

Problem was, the Cowboys had to face a buzz saw named Moffat County.

The Dawgs cut through Meeker in three innings.

Leading 4-0 after one, Moffat County scored eight runs in the second before the Cowboys had recorded an out.

The Dawgs batted through their lineup in their half of the frame, and when the dust had settled, the team held a commanding 12-0 lead.

Bingham had four of his team’s RBIs, Cole Scott had three and Guevara contributed to the 14-0 rout in the third inning with a two-run double, ending the contest because of the Little League mercy rule.

“It was a little hot out there, but we had fun,” Cowboys coach Clinton Kilduff said. “We got beat up a bit, but we found out some of the things we need to work on. I’m sure we will still have a fun bus ride home.”

Bingham said he was growing more and more impressed with his team especially when considering the 23-0 combined score of his team’s first two victories.

“With all the practice time we’ve put in, it’s showing,” he said. “We used a bunch of different pitchers and the nice thing is, we haven’t used our ace yet.”

Championship game vs. Steamboat

The ace he was talking about was his son, Mikey.

Like the two games prior, the Dawgs jumped out to an early lead in the rematch with the Sailors.

Leading 3-0 before Mikey Bingham toted the rubber, Moffat County could taste the tourney title.

Mikey Bingham struck out three Sailors in the first two innings before running into some trouble.

Steamboat loaded the bases on a bloop single and two walks, but a strikeout and a spectacular double play ignited by Scott halted the Sailors in their tracks.

Mikey Bingham helped his cause with a home run in the third, putting the Dawgs up 5-0, and the team never looked back.

A two-run single by Scott ballooned the lead to eight, and a two-run sacrifice fly in the fourth accounted for the final margin of victory.

Steamboat couldn’t solve the Mikey Bingham riddle, as the Moffat County pitcher tallied eight strikeouts, allowing only two hits.

“Both (offense and defense) were going good for me,” Mikey Bingham said. “I’m happy we won it.”

Sailors coach Bruce Gorr said he had to take his hat off to the Dawgs.

“They just basically beat us at everything,” he said. “They shut us out twice, turned double plays when we had runners in scoring position ... they hit well, they pitch well, they just do everything well.

“I’m very proud of the way our kids played, but what can you do? They are a really good ball club over there.”

Championship cheer

After each of its first two victories, the Dawgs huddled together and cheered for the opponent they had just dismantled.

Not this time.

They bobbed up and down, chanting “champions, champions.”

And, rightly so.

Three victories — by a combined score of 34-0 — in their first taste of action this summer.

“These kids did it all,” Billy Bingham said. “They made plays, stayed calm and really played hard. They all get along, and, obviously now, they showed that they play well together. I’m really proud of the defense the team played and the way they just wanted it more.

“It really showed.”