Elida edges Portales JV

The Elida Tigers played extra baseball against the Portales JV Monday night at Portales and won in eight innings 10-9.

The Tigers (3-2) are still tinkering with their pitching staff as Ben Massey started the game and pitched two innings. Caleb Widener pitched two innings as well. Junior Wesley Gilmore threw for three innings, while junior Tom Sullivan pitched the final inning.

“We’re a long ways from being in shape yet,” Elida head coach Jimmy Ward said. “We’re starting to come around. Our arms are getting stronger every day.”

Ward also called out Gilmore for his work on the mound.

“Wesley Gilmore threw really well when he was in there — and the rest of them did too, but he was just exceptional.”

According to Ward, the Tigers didn’t have much of a problem from the plate, as Ever Varela and Dan Massey went 3-5 and Sullivan went 2-5 at the plate.

“Sullivan and Massey (had a bunch of RBI’s),” Ward said.

The Tigers travel to Roswell April 3 for a contest against the top-ranked Gateway Christian, but they won’t get much preparation for the Warriors due to FFA obligations.

“The thing about this, most of my guys are going to be gone to judging all week so we’re not even going to get to practice until Sunday,” Ward said. “We’re going to have a tough time there.”