Today, April 7, will be a big day for area spring sports teams. It is the first big weekend in coming off spring break. While some athletes did compete last weekend and the weekend before, some took time off to spend with their families. But now all the athletes should be back and ready to make the final push to post-season tournaments and meets.

Baseball is swinging into league play.

The big game being played locally is Dolores at Dolores County in Class 2A San Juan Basin League play. The Bears and the Bulldogs play their first league game at 11 a.m. at Weber Park Field in Dove Creek. The Bears are off to one of their best starts in a number of season at 5-2 overall. The Bulldogs are 8-2 overall. Both schools are coming off wins for Class 3A schools from this past Tuesday. Dolores defeated Ignacio 10-7 and Dolores County outlasted Bayfield 4-3 in nine innings.

Dolores is led by Cullen Zion, Kevin Fane, Creed Williford, and Aeson Reed. Dolores County is led by Chris Kail, Keith Pierce, Terence Gardner, and Kyle Krafka.

"If we make the routine play and don’t try to force things, I think we can play this year with Dolores County and Nucla," DHS head coach Jim Everin commented. "We have got to focus and not make silly mistakes. We will need to hit the ball well if we we’re going to win."

"I feel like we are playing pretty well right now," DCHS head coach Ken Soper remarked. "We faced some very good pitching and competition in our preseason. I think the kids are ready."

Montezuma-Cortez High School lost 26-3 to Durango in the first Southwest League game of the season this past Tuesday. It played at Central of Grand Junction Friday afternoon and will play at Montrose at 10:30 a.m. today in league play. The Panthers, 2-4 overall and 0-1 in SWL, are led by Josh Knapp, Kevin Wayman, Patrick Reed and Tony McComb.

The Panther girls’ tennis team (see related story) is at Western Slope Tournament in Grand Junction today. The Panthers, who are coming off a 1-6 loss to Hotchkiss just before spring break, are led by singles player Tracy Berhost and doubles teams of Amanda Frazier-Melinda Lee, and Amanda Norris-Ashley Reed.

MCHS boy swimmers get back into the water after taking a break. They compete at 11 a.m. today in Craig. Joining MCHS and host Moffat County will be Delta and Durango. Cortez, which finished eighth at the District 51 Swimming Meet in Grand Junction on March 17, is led by Daniel Puls.

The Panther boys and girls track and field teams are competing today at the Page, Ariz., Invitational. The Panther boys are led by high jumper Jeff Yarbrough, long jumper Josh Lee, and weightmen Colin Tansey and Derique Duran. Yarbrough placed third at the huge Chandler, Ariz., Invitational in the high jump over spring break. The MCHS girls are led by weightperson Charlene Tilton, and sprinter Julie Christensen. Both the Panther girls and MCHS boys split teams at Moab, Utah, and Chandler, Ariz., on March 24. They did not have a meet last weekend.

Dolores, Dolores County, and Mancos boys and girls track and field teams are participating today at the annual Shiprock (N.M.) Invitational. Mancos had teams at two meets over Spring Break (at Moab, and at Bayfield), Dolores County went only to Moab, while Dolores did not compete at all over the week-long vacation.

Dolores girls are led by sprinter Jennifer Trevillian. The DHS boys are paced by hurdler Cody Beaver. Mancos boys are led by sprinter Philip Wilson, and weightman Travis Clark. The Blue Jay girls are led by sprinter Amanda Kennedy, utility runner Kerri Morgan, and field person Jori Yeomans. The DCHS boys is led by sprinter Lyle Joe while the Bulldog girls are paced by utility runner Tia Wood, and Charlene Atkins.

The Cortez girls soccer team, 1-4 overall, opened an eight-game homestand Friday night by host Fruita-Monument. They will host Montrose at noon today at Norman Johnson Memorial Field. The Panthers, under first-year head coach Monica Plewe, are led by goalie Nikki Fuchs and Nicole Stephens.