GLENWOOD SPRINGS — On Saturday, Rick Stevens didn’t know how long it had been since Glenwood Springs High School’s boys lacrosse team won a game. There was one thing he knew for certain, though.

“This is the best start that we’ve had in a while,” the fifth-year coach of the Demons said with a chuckle.

Actually, it’s the best start ever. Thanks in part to a three-goal performance from Ben Liotta, the Demons earned a 7-4 victory against Telluride on Saturday afternoon at Stubler Memorial Field to notch the program’s first 1-0 start for the Demons since it’s inaugural 2009 season.

---

---

“Our kids are bringing things to another level this year,” Stevens said.

Glenwood won its first game in close to two years Saturday after it posted an 0-14 overall record a season ago. According to statistics posted on http://www.MaxPreps.com, Saturday’s victory snapped a 24-game losing streak dating back to April 6, 2013, when Glenwood posted a 15-13 victory over Ridge View Academy. What’s more, the previous best start for the Demons came in the 2012 season, when Glenwood began the season 1-1 when the Demons’ 8-4 win over Telluride followed their 15-3 season-opening home loss to Aspen.

---

---

“You know, it also would have been our best start in program history if we’d lost,” Stevens added, laughing.

The coach added that Glenwood was missing several players who are still playing hockey for the Glenwood Springs Youth Hockey Association high school team. He added that the Demons won the game in the trenches, getting stellar goalkeeping from goalie Joe Liotta while the back line picked up ground balls to protect the Demons’ lead, which Steven said lasted nearly the duration of the game.

“They kept [Telluride] from coming back and protected their lead,” Stevens said. “That was an awesome thing to see.”

The Demons, who are also 1-0 in Mountain League play, continue play with a nonleague game at Montrose on March 14.

GIRLS TENNIS

Delta tops Glenwood 4-3

GLENWOOD SPRINGS — Glenwood Springs High’s girls tennis team got wins from its Nos. 1 and 2 singles players and its No. 3 doubles team during its season-opening dual loss to the Panthers at the Glenwood Springs Community Center tennis courts.

Glenwood’s Sophia Nelson topped Uyen Nyuyen od Delta, 6-2, 6-0, in the No. 1 singles slot, with No. 2 singles player Ivy Wight earning a three-set, 6-2, 3-6, 10-7 win over Madison Farmer at No. 2 singles. Winning for Glenwood at No. 3 doubles was Savannah Kelley and Becky Eggleston, who earned a 6-1, 6-1 victory.

Falling in four sets at No. 4 doubles was Nina Alley and Linda Ramirez, who fell 5-6, 6-1, 10-8 against Delta’s Marina Curtrecas and Vianka Valdez.

“We had a good showing today,” first-year Glenwood coach Jon Zalinski said. “I was very encouraged by the way our girls played in our first match of the season.”

The Demons compete again Tuesday when they play in another dual meet at Grand Junction High School.

BOYS SWIMMING

Demons take third at Grand Junction Relays

GRAND JUNCTION — The Glenwood Springs High boys swimming team won three of the eight events it competed in during the annual early season Grand Junction Relays meet at the El Pomar Natitorium on Saturday.

The best finish of the day for Glenwood was the Demons’ 200 medley relay of Zach Baker, James McMahon, A.J. Lee and Stefan Buxman, who won in 1 minute, 53.76 seconds.

Buxman and Lee joined Phillip Hecksel and Luke Herron in the 200 butterfly/freestyle relay team that won in 1:44.24, and Zeb Thorsen, James McMahon, Herron and Baker won the 200 backstroke relay in 1:53.93.

The Demons finished third in the team standings behind first-place Montrose and second-place District 51, which includes each of Grand Junction’s four high schools in Fruita Monument, Grand Junction, G.J. Central and Palisade.

Glenwood Springs competes again on Friday and Saturday at the Montrose Invitational.

BASEBALL

Coal Ridge splits doubleheader against Battle Mountain

PEACH VALLEY — Coal Ridge High’s baseball team won its season opener against the Battle Mountain Huskies 9-3 before falling in the nightcap, 16-0.

Nathan Nelson pitched six solid innings in the opener to earn the pitching victory, allowing just two earned runs. He also paved the way for the Titans at the plate with a pair of triples.

Sophomore Jackson Seargent, playing in his first varsity baseball game, finished 2-for-2 with a double and a walk for Coal Ridge.

Coal Ridge, coach Dan Larsen said, ran out of pitchers by the second game, which was called because of darkness and the 10-run mercy rule.

The Titans take the field again on Tuesday when they host a nonleague game against the Rifle Bears at the Coal Ridge baseball field.