(Courtesy photo). Alamosa’s Dawson Honeycutt sends dirt flying as he successfully stole second base in Saturday’s opening day win over Buena Vista.

ALAMOSA — Following guidelines set by the public health department, the Alamosa Mean Moose resumed action on the Ortega diamond on Saturday, splitting a double header with Buena Vista. Coach Paul Duarte said both teams practiced social distancing and an extra effort was made to sanitize balls and other equipment regularly during the games.

Plans were presented to public health in advance. Allowing the visitors early leads in both contests, Alamosa battled back in the offensive opener to win 11-8, dropping the nightcap 6-5. Senior-to-be Tyler Duarte stole the offensive show in the first tilt and took the win on the hill as starting pitcher. His four runs batted in came on a sacrifice fly in the first, a single in the third and a double in the sixth.

He went four innings on the mound, allowing six runs on three hits and striking out eight before being relieved by Kade Jones. Alamosa outhit the Demons 8-6 with Duarte and Case Zimmerman contributing multiple hits. After trailing 4-1 early, the Moose took the lead for good with two runs in the fourth after exploding for five runs in the third.

The offensive onslaught came on a double by Zimmerman and singles by Duarte and Dustin Curto. Alamosa Mean Moose’s effort to come back from down five runs in the second inning came up just short, as they fell 6-5 to Buena Vista in the second game. The home team tallied three runs in the failed comeback as Michael Madril, David Jordan, and Dawson Honeycutt fueled the rally with RBIs. Case Zimmerman started the game for Alamosa, allowing six hits and six runs over two and two-thirds innings, striking out five.

Donovan Ramirez and Madril entered the game from the bullpen, throwing three innings and one and one-third innings respectively. Madril, Tyler Duarte, Honeycutt, Kade Jones, Zimmerman, and Ramirez each managed one hit to lead the Moose.