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Coupled with Durango's 9-4 loss to Sierra Vista, Bonanza (11-11, 3-4 SW) moved into a tie for the fourth-and-final playoff spot in the Southwest Division with the important victory.
"We needed that win," coach Derek Stafford said. "We were in need of a split with a few teams in the division and we got on in our pocket now. We have two teams we're battling with for the third and fourth playoff spots and this win goes a long way in keeping us in the hunt. The guys battled today and played flawless defense, something we've been waiting for all season.
"Hopefully, this is the start of a good stretch of baseball from our guys. They played confident and with guts, a tell-tale sign that they are finally settling in. It's never as important how you start. It's how you finish that matters.We've been here before (in 2006) and it led to a regional title game appearance. I'm excited to see how the guys respond to this huge win."
Bryant was 2-for 3 for the Bengals against a program he once played in as a sophomore. Senior Chasen Shreve closed out the game in the seventh, striking out two to pick up the save. Sophomore Eddie Orozco bailed Wells out of a jam in the fifth, appearing in his first game on the mound for Bonanza. He worked out of the jam in throwing two scoreless innings, a pleasant surprise for Bonanza.
"After the loss to Gorman, Eddie came to us as a coaching staff and told us he wanted to throw a bullpen," Stafford said. "He looked great and what a better time to make your debut than in a crucial league showdown. We're very proud of Eddie and the effort of the guys behind him."
Wells finished the game with six strikeouts and just one walk, taking a shutout into the top of the fifth before tiring and giving way to Orozco and Shreve.
The Bengals return to action on the road Friday at 3:30 against second place Sierra Vista with just five league games remaining in the season, one of which will be on the road against Durango.
"Things are about to heat up in the division for everyone," Stafford said. "This is the toughest division in the state for a reason and it's going to be exciting from here on out. I just hope we're left standing when the dust settles. These guys have earned everything they get."
