Lady Rams cruise to sweep of Jal

If there were any concerns Portales would have a letdown a day after scoring a District 4-3A sweep over its biggest rival, they were gone like softballs off the bat of Sorina Flores.

JOSHUA LUCERO: CMI Correspondent

Portales' Jasmin Vega dives back to second ahead of the tag by Jal second baseman Jawni Morrison in the second inning of Saturday's second at Wheeler Park. Portales won 16-0 for its 11th consecutive victory.

The senior went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and seven batted in to help the Lady Rams coast to a 12-1, 16-0 doubleheader sweep of Jal Saturday.

Coupled with 15-0 and 8-7 victories over Lovington on Friday night, Portales upped its record to 20-1 and claimed its 11th-straight victory since splitting a road doubleheader at West Las Vegas.

"The girls are always focused, they don't quit and they feed off of each other," Portales coach Robbie Crowley said. "When one of them is hitting, it's contagious."

JOSHUA LUCERO: CMI Correspondent

Portales shortstop Valerie Villanueva handles a ground ball before making the throw to first for the final out in the second game of a Saturday afternoon doubleheader at Wheeler Park. Portales swept Jal with wins of 12-1 and 16-0.

Senior Kelsey Laurenz struck out 11 Lady Panthers in 7 2/3 combined innings of work in the run-ruled contests, only coming out in order for sophomore Stormi Hancock to get in 1/3 inning of work.

Laurenz also added a towering three-run shot in the first inning of the nightcap, only to be slightly outdone when Flores hit a grand slam to center in the second.

Flores, who noted the Laurenz shot was more powerful, also had a bases-clearing triple in the opener.

"I think we just pulled together," Flores said. "Kelsey had backup out there. There wasn't a down moment with us."

Jal (8-9) scored its lone run in the opener on a third-inning RBI single by catcher Mattie Hiebert.

The sweep finishes a six-game homestand and a perfect 11-0 home campaign. Portales is back in action on Monday with a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Raton and closes out the regular season with a district twin bill on Friday at Ruidoso.

Jal visits Eunice Monday and Dexter Tuesday in single-game matchups.

Linescores

Saturday

First game

Portales 12, Jal 1

Jal 001 00 — 1 4 3

Portales 252 03 —12 12 1

Kayla Montez and Mattie Hiebert; Kelsey Laurenz and Simone Laurenz. W — K. Laurenz. L — Montez. 2B — Portales, Whitney Hall. 3B — Portales, Kacie Terry, Sorina Flores. Top hitters — Jal, Morgan Komer 2-3, run. Portales: Jasmine Vega 2-2, 3 runs, BB; Hall 2-3, 2B, 3 RBIs; S. Laurenz, 2-4, 3 runs.

Second game

Portales 16, Jal 0

Jal 000 — 0 0 5

Portales 88x —16 9 2

Montez and Hiebert; K. Laurenz, Stormi Hancock (3) and Whitney Hall. W — K. Laurenz. L — Montez. 2B — Portales: Francis Armijo. HR — Portales: K. Laurenz, Sonia Flores. Top hitters — Flores, 1-2, HR, 4 RBIs, 3 runs; K. Laurenez, 2-2, HR, 3 RBIs; Terry 2-2, 2 RBIs, 2 runs. Records — Portales 20-1, Jal 8-9.