DEL NORTE — Guests and school officials gathered with the Del Norte High School Tigers baseball team on Saturday, May 14, at their new field to enjoy a day of sunshine and a doubleheader with the Custer County Bobcats.

The weather was kind enough to keep the wind at bay for most of the day, creating the perfect conditions for an afternoon of baseball.

“We were very pleased with the amount of people who came out and helped to support the Tigers and enjoy a day of good old-fashioned baseball on our new field. It was a great day, and we appreciate everyone who turned up,” said Upper Rio Grande School District (URGSD) Superintendent Aaron Horrocks.

The Tigers faced off against the Bobcats in a doubleheader that lasted most of the afternoon, with the first pitch at 11 a.m. The first game was close, but the Del Norte Tigers slid by with a perfect ending in a 3-2 win.

During the brief intermission between games, some of the URGSD Board of Education took to the field to welcome the crowd and receive some ceremonial artifacts that will be displayed in the school to commemorate the new field and the work that went into the project.

Tigers baseball player Malachi Gallegos presented board members Veronica Climie and Cory Off with a baseball bat signed by the team and coaches from the first game played on the new field earlier this spring.

Teammate Brendan Valesquez presented school board President Neal Walters with a golden shovel created for the groundbreaking at the new field by Hellas Construction.

After the presentation, school and athletic officials fired up two large barbecue grills and started handing out hamburgers and hotdogs donated by the school district.

“We planned to feed about 200 people, and we made sure to have more than enough. We definitely came close and only had a few leftovers, though I think some came back for seconds,” said Horrocks with a laugh.

The teams hit the field after the short pause. This time, the Bobcats came out swinging, quickly took the lead and won 8-6.

“We considered it a perfect game. We won one and the opposing team one the other. It was really great,” said URGSD Athletic Director Richie Madrid.