Battle Mountain Devils Win Gypsum Doubleheader on Senior Night

Aspen —The wind off the Roaring Fork River carries a chill that bites through jackets, even as the sun hangs low over the Gypsum skyline. On the diamond, the air hums with the tension of a final regular-season showdown, the kind where every crack of the bat echoes louder than usual. It was an emotional end for Battle Mountain and Eagle Valley, two close-knit programs that grew tighter over a full season, both with bright futures ahead.

The Devils, wearing pink jerseys and socks along with matching batting gloves, won both games in the doubleheader. Behind a 1-2-3-5 triple play in the second game, they secured victories that capped a season where they finished 11-9 in the 4A/3A Western Slope division. Eagle Valley, meanwhile, is waiting on other scores but should secure the top spot in the league, having beaten second-ranked Basalt 13-3 in September and lost narrowly 9-8 in early October.

Coach Jesse Meryhew described the team as young and fun, noting that they’ve overcome a lot and that he’s proud of them. He called it one of the most fun teams he’s ever coached, emphasizing that they like to have a good time. Between games, the team celebrated their two seniors, Clover Marquardt and Alyah Ahring, who walked the bases with their parents and played a little toss with their dads before Game 2. Meryhew noted that the seniors have been rock solid all season and bring a lot of energy to the team, which is exactly what you need from seniors.

Marquardt, standing next to Ahring on the field, expressed pride in the seniors and the entire team. She mentioned that she’s been playing with them since sixth grade and that they made a huge comeback this year. She emphasized that everyone busts their butts every single day at practice, even if they goof around sometimes, calling it an amazing place to be.

Individual performances stood out throughout the season. Junior Samantha Kolczak led the team in batting average, triples, doubles, RBIs, and also in ERA as a pitcher. Sophomore Teegan TerBush contributed significantly in the past couple of weeks, batting in the 9-hole and ranking third on the team with 21 hits. Sophomore Delaney Callis proved to be a key player and ringleader in the dugout, leading the team in stolen bases with 17. Junior Ava Brueck led the Devils with two home runs.

Meryhew highlighted the family-like bond among the players, stating that when you can be that tight-knit, success generally follows. Both teams finished their regular seasons on Senior Night in Gypsum, with the Huskies fighting hard until the very end despite the results. Now, Eagle Valley awaits playoff announcements, while the memory of that pink-clad celebration in left field lingers in the minds of everyone who was there.