CHS baseball team advances to state semifinals

LAS CRUCES — The Clovis Wildcats advanced to the state semifinals for the first time in school history, edging Las Cruces Mayfield 8-7 in a Class 5A regional game Saturday at Apodoca Park.

After allowing an unearned run in the seventh, Clovis reliever Jason Seefeld retired the next three batters in order with Mayfield slugger Dustin James on deck. James homered twice and drove in five runs as Mayfield rallied from an early 6-0 deficit.

The Cats (22-5) advance to the state semifinals at 11 a.m. Friday at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque against West Mesa, a 9-1 winner on Saturday over Del Norte.

Mayfield ends the seasons at 17-10.

Seefeld and sophomore designated hitter Jordan Moore went 3-for-4 for the Cats, who are making their third straight playoff appearance.

“I thought we executed well in the short game,” CHS coach Shane Shallenberger said. “The whole lineup did a pretty good job today. But we still left too many men on base (seven).”

Clovis used two sacrifice bunts and two sacrifice flies to help build a 6-0 lead in the fourth inning against Mayfield ace Frankie Duran (9-2).

Clovis started Richard Urban (9-1) scattered 10 hits in five-plus innings, but was generally effective except for the two homers by James. He walked none and struck out two.

Shallenberger said he gave some thought to bringing Seefeld in to pitch at the start of the sixth, but he figured Urban had a chance to finish.

“Richard usually gets tougher as he goes,” Shallenberger said. “But he pitched well. I’m not disappointed with Richard at all.”

The teams combined for five double plays, including one on the first batter Seefeld faced in the sixth inning. The Trojans, meantime, stayed in the hunt by turning twin killings in each of the final three innings.

Clovis scored in the second on singles by Ryan Denton, a sacrifice by Mark Young, a single by Moore and a sacrifice fly by John Props, and went up 3-0 in the third on one-out singles by Seefeld and Urban two-run double to right-center by Young.

In the fourth, Props singled, Matt Ulibarri beat out a bunt and both runners moved up on Mark Replogle’s sacrifice. Sean Cruce delivered Props on a sacrifice fly to center, and Seefeld and Urban followed with run-scoring doubles.

James’ first homer, following one-out singles by Isaac Benegas and James Suter, cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fourth. The teams exchanged runs in the fifth before the Trojans got within a run in the sixth on a leadoff single by Suter and James’ two-run shot to right.

After Edgar Casillas’ single chased Urban, David Munoz worked the count to 3-1 against Seefeld before hitting into a 5-4-3 double play started by Young.

Clovis scored what proved to be the winning run in the seventh when Young reached on a fielder’s choice, moved to third on Moore’s hit-and-run single and scored on Props’ grounder, booted by James at third for an error.

Leadoff man Uriel Fuentes reached on a two-base error to start the Mayfield seventh and scored on a wild pitch and a passed ball. But Seefeld retired the next three hitters for his first save of the season.

“He got it done,” Shallenberger said of Seefeld. “He had two runs to play with. It was a big pressure situation, and he ended up coming out on the winning end.”

Clovis 8, Mayfield 7

Clovis 012 310 1 — 8 15 1

Mayfield 000 312 1 — 7 11 1

Richard Urban, Jason Seefeld (6) and Mark Replogle, Urban (6); Frankie Duran, Tony Luchini (5) and Casey Cook. W — Urban (9-1). L — Duran (9-2). Sv — Seefeld (1). DP — Clovis 2, Mayfield 3. LOB — Clovis 7, Mayfield 3. 2B — Clovis: Mark Young, Seefled, Urban. Mayfield: David Bustillos. HR — Mayfield: Dustin James 2. T — 1:53. Records — Clovis 22-5, Mayfield 17-10.

Class 5A regionals

Saturday

La Cueva 5, Rio Grande 0

Las Cruces High 8, Carlsbad 3

Clovis 8, Manzano 7

West Mesa 9, Del Norte 1

State pairings

At Isotopes Park, Albuquerque

Friday

Semifinals

La Cueva vs. Las Cruces High, 8 a.m.

Clovis vs. West Mesa, 11 a.m.

Saturday

Championship

Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.