Moffat County High SchoolMoffat County High School athletes are back out on the diamond, and the Bulldogs are looking to make this season a real jewel. athletes are back out on the diamond, and the Bulldogs are looking to make this season a real jewel.

Moffat County High School athletes are back out on the diamond, and the Bulldogs are looking to make this season a real jewel.

The MCHS baseball season is underway, with the Dogs ready to chase after a successful schedule of America’s Pastime.

Head coach Justin Folley said farewell to a multitude of seniors last year but brings back just as much talent, particularly at the mound with returning pitchers Mike Bingham, Adain Wilmot, Josh Turner, Jefferson Piatt and more.

“We’re basically rebuilding our whole infield other than Colby (Beckett) at first base,” Folley said. “We’ve got guys stepping up and looking like they’re ready to play, a lot of young talent, freshmen and sophomores showing some skill.”

The program isn’t hurting for numbers, and 34 players make up the varsity and JV rosters.

As with many sports this year, baseball’s 3A Western Slope League expands with the addition of Delta and Cedaredge, and Bulldogs intend to let their bats do the talking against the impending opponents.

“I think this year we have a lot more base-hit players, guys who’ll get on base a lot more,” Wyatt Nielsen said.

Fielding is even stronger, he added.

“Our defense is pretty good, so I think it’ll be a good year,” he said.

The varsity squad is 1-1 after its opening games in the past week, an 11-3 Tuesday victory in Rangely and a 9-6 loss to Basalt at home, a game which also included a tribute to the late Clayton Moon, who was a team manager in 2015 and was killed in a car crash this week near Boulder.

Folley dedicated the season to Moon’s memory.

The home game against slipped away in the latter innings, but the stands were packed nonetheless with Moffat County supporters with MCHS cheerleaders providing the ballpark experience with a fully stocked concession stand.

The Bulldogs held a 5-0 lead by the second inning, including a three-bagger by Bingham that was only a few feet from falling over the fence for a full-fledged grand slam.

Bingham — one of four seniors on the team along with Ulises Silva, Dalton Greenwood and Hugo Hernandez — also struck out six Basalt batters.

“The team is super-athletic this year, a lot of good pitchers and a lot of different types of pitchers, speed difference, pitch difference,” Bingham said, adding his final year of Moffat County baseball is one he intends to make count.

Folley also seeks to make the most of the upcoming schedule, helped along by a full list of players who can fill in wherever they’re needed.

“That’s the thing I’m liking about this team, they’re a bunch of utility players,” he laughed.

Contact Andy Bockelman at 970-875-1793 or Contact Andy Bockelman at 970-875-1793 or abockelman@CraigDailyPress.com or follow him on Twitter @CDP_Sports.Contact Andy Bockelman at 970-875-1793 or abockelman@CraigDailyPress.com or follow him on Twitter @CDP_Sports.