Lady Cats drop pair to Hobbs

Compared to the rest of the doubleheader, in the top of the second inning of the second game, things were going pretty well for the Clovis High Lady Wildcats.

No runs had scored, although two Hobbs Eagles had reached base with two outs in the frame. That's when a foul ball down the first base line blew into fair territory, crossing over the line just in front of the bag.

CNJ staff photo: Tony Bullocks

Clovis senior Taylor Marez makes the long throw to first to nail a Hobbs baseunner during the top of the fourth inning of Saturday's District 4-5A softball doubleheader opener at Lady Wildcats Field.

Hobbs' Ciara Gregory was originally ordered back to home plate but the umpires then reversed the call and sent Gregory again to first to load the bases. The next batter, Hannah Jones, immediately drove a single to center to drive in two runners as Gregory also scored on an errant throw to give the Lady Eagles a 3-2 lead.

Before the inning was over, Hobbs had tallied nine runs — including a three-run home run shot by Kailee Ramirez that rode a 40-mph wind over the left-center field fence in about two seconds.

And that's kind of how things went for Clovis (3-16, 0-2 District 4-5A) on Saturday.

The Lady Cats gamely fought back repeatedly from large deficits but fell 13-8 and 17-11 to Hobbs (11-9, 2-2).

"Let's play two more," said Lady Eagles coach Dean Crossland in jest about the weather. "These are horrible conditions but the kids never quit — either team. This is typical for these two teams to battle back and forth."

CNJ staff photo: Tony Bullocks

Clovis freshman Denae Gallegos scores in the bottom of the fourth inning in Saturday's District 4-5A softball opener at Lady Wildcat Field as Hobbs catcher Katelyn Raulston awaits the throw.

Clovis' only lead of the day came when the Lady Cats scored two runs in the bottom of the first in the nightcap as a triple from Andrea Aguilar was the key hit.

But, nine Hobbs runs later, the Lady Cats were playing from behind again.

In the opener, the Eagles broke out to a 9-2 lead before Clovis rallied with five runs in the fourth as Lyndsi LeClear and Kyleigh Guthals had RBI singles.

CNJ staff photo: Tony Bullocks

Clovis senior Inez Macias jumps away from a low inside pitch during Saturday's District 4-5A softball doubleheader against Hobbs at Lady Wildcat Field.

The visitors however outscored the Lady Cats 4-1 over the last three innings to preserve the advantage.

Clovis also rallied from the 9-2 advantage that Hobbs built in the second game — also scoring five runs in the fourth again. This time the big hit was a bases-loaded triple to dead center by Andrea Aguilar, her second three-bagger of the game.

But Hobbs again bounced back with three answer runs in the top of the fifth as the Lady Eagles began to pull away.

The nightcap did include two shutout innings of pitching from junior LeClear as she took that position for the first time in a game since she was an eighth grader.

"We've just got to learn how to get over the hump," Clovis coach Brandi Thomas said. "We've got young kids who are making young errors.

"Until we start playing fast-pitch softball in the summer, we're going to make these kind of mistakes."