Defending Class 3A champ Rams rebuilding

And now comes the morning after, so to speak.

In the history of Portales High baseball, nothing quite matches the wild ride that was the 2012 season as the Rams won the school's first state championship on the diamond.

CMI photo: Tony BullocksPortales High senior Zach Blaeser makes contact during Saturday's baseball practice at Ram Field. Blaeser will divide time between shortstop and the mound this season for the defending Class 3A state champion Rams.

On three consecutive May days, Portales won three straight games which culminated in an 8-3 Class 3A title contest victory over Cobre and ended old preconceptions of what PHS baseball was capable of achieving.

But the bulk of that team, including ace pitcher David Rodriguez, has graduated and that leaves coach Art Ontiveros, in a sense, at a starting-over position.

"When you graduate eight seniors, seven who were everyday starters, it becomes a challenge," Ontiveros said. "I'm pretty realistic. We've got some big shoes to fill and we've got a target on our backs."

That's not to say, however, that there's no talent left to build upon.

The Rams (25-6 in 2012), who lost their season opener to Clovis 14-1 on March 5 at Ram Field, return to action today with a 3 p.m. twin bill at Santa Fe Indian.

CMI photo: Tony BullocksPortales coach Art Ontiveros pitches batting practice to his team on Saturday at Ram Field. PHS takes an 0-1 mark into today's 3 p.m. doubleheader at Santa Fe Indian.

Sophomore catcher Matt Martinez, fresh off helping the Rams reach the Class 3A state quarterfinals in basketball, is also one of the top returnees for the baseball team.

"He's got a pretty broad skill set," said Ontiveros of Martinez, who also concluded the football season last fall as the team's quarterback. "He's got a knack for being a gamer."

Although Rodriguez is gone, it might still be pitching where Portales will rebuild the quickest. All of the three players in line to be the number one starter got some experience on the mound a year ago.

Senior David Zapata and junior Daniel Sanchez will likely shuttle between the pitching mound, first base and outfield while another senior, Zach Blaeser, will go between shortstop and the bump.

Another returning player with experience is Jarret Faust, who will play mostly the middle infield spots but will also see some time as a pitcher.

Newcomers for the Rams include sophomore Darin Bonem, who will succeed his older brother Kyle in center field, as well as sophomore outfielder Omar Legarda and junior third baseman Sam Roberts.

Ontiveros will also see the return of River Fine to the baseball field as a senior. Fine played as a freshman, but has concentrated on other activities the last two years.

Combined

"He's swinging the bat well, looks good in practice," Ontiveros said.

The Portales coach isn't raising any expectations for an encore to a state title run, but isn't discounting the possibility of his team being in the mix.

"There's opportunities and I think we'll be competitive," he said