Craig Daily Press

Photo by David Pressgrove

Moffat County’s Josh Satterwhite is congratulated by teammates are hitting a three-run home run in the second game of the American Legion doubleheader against Palisade. Satterwhite had home runs in each game as Moffat won, 10-1 and 18-8.

Craig — Welcome back Winder.

On Sunday, Moffat County senior-to-be Chris Winder joined his hometown American Legion team after spending most of the summer playing baseball in Denver.

He made an immediate impact, helping Moffat County sweep a doubleheader against Palisade, 10-1, 18-8.

“It was fun to be back with my friends and teammates,” he said. “I’m glad I could help them out.”

He did more than that. In the words of coach Shane Camilletti, “He pretty much won us two games.”

Winder pitched all seven innings in the first game and struck out 14 batters. In the second game, he caught for six innings and had two putouts from behind the plate.

“I don’t think I’ve caught since 8, 9 and 10 year olds,” he said. “It wasn’t too bad.”

Offensively, Winder batted five-for-seven with three home runs from the plate. His final at bat was a grand slam in the top of the seventh inning to blow the second game open.

“I don’t think there is something Chris can’t do well,” Camilletti said. “His presence helped everybody play better and with more confidence.”

With Winder and senior-to-be Anthony Flores returning after missing Thursday’s game, the Bulldogs had a different look than most of the summer. The top four batters in the lineup were upperclassmen.

“We didn’t have the experience in the lineup most of the summer that we had today,” Camilletti said. “It helped on defense as well, because guys were playing their natural positions as opposed to just trying to put kids places so that we had a complete defense.”

Still, this wasn’t just the Chris Winder show.

In the first game, upcoming sophomore Austin Sadvar hit a three-run home run. Senior-to-be Josh Satterwhite hit two home runs, one in each game, and had six RBIs.

Satterwhite and Flores pitched in the second game.

“If we would have had the lineup we had today for most of the summer, we would have won the league,” Camilletti said. “But at the same time a lot of our younger guys had valuable playing time.”

Sunday was the first time Moffat and Palisade had met this summer. The maroon Bulldogs had two losses going into the weekend and were at the top of the league. The blue Bulldogs were in fourth in the league.

Moffat County finished the summer, 12-10.

“What was nice about today was that it gave our guys a picture of what we are capable of in the high school season next year,” Camilletti said. “It was a summer of ups and downs for this team, and we ended on an up.”

As for Winder, his summer isn’t done. He leaves with his Connie Mack league team Wednesday for a tournament in South Dakota, and then they’ll play in the state tournament at the end of July.

He left the field encouraged for next year.

“We have a promising season ahead of us,” Winder said. “The young guys have come along well.”

Game notes: New Moffat County baseball coach Tim Hafey met with his future team after the game and set up a practice for the end of July.

Thursday’s “loss” to Steam­boat Springs still is under review because the Bulldogs were in the lead when the games was stopped due to rain. “We’re looking for a loophole or an exception to the rule because it just doesn’t make sense to us,” Camilletti said.