Portales uses big fourth to beat Clovis

With the wind blowing almost straight out, it took the Portales bats a while to get going on Saturday. Once they did, there wasn't much stopping them.

The Lady Rams pounded out 14 hits — seven for extra bases — and used a six-run fourth to cruise to a 10-0 victory over Clovis at Lady Wildcat Field.

Junior catcher Simone Laurenz drove in three runs with two of Portales' six doubles, while freshman Kiersten Ramirez tossed a two-hit shutout.

Ramirez also started the damage in the fourth, hitting a first-pitch double to left leading off the inning and advancing to third on Kacie Terry's bunt single. Terry stole second, and both runners came home on a two-base throwing error to break the scoreless tie.

CMI staff photo: Kevin Wilson

Clovis catcher Stephanie Gulley guards home plate against a charging Simone Laurenz of Portales Saturday at Lady Wildcat Softball Field. Laurenz was called out on the play to end the top of the third inning. The visiting Rams took a 10-0 win.

Laurenz then belted the first of three consecutive doubles for PHS (13-5), driving in two for a 4-0 lead.

"When we get the bats going, we're pretty tough," Portales coach Robbie Crowley said. "Defensively we made the plays, and Kiersten is just getting stronger and stronger."

Ramirez worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the second — the result of a hit batsman and singles by Mariah Chavez and Ashley Gallagher, Clovis' only hits of the game.

Ramirez allowed three walks and a hit batsman the rest of the way, retiring 11 of the final 13 Lady Wildcats hitters.

"It was a lot easier after we got some runs," she said. "I knew if something happened, I had good backup in the field."

Her sister, sophomore Kailee Ramirez, went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, while right fielder Francis Armijo, left fielder Kacie Terry and shortstop Summer Martinez were all 2-for-4.

The Lady Cats completed a weeklong homestand at 3-2, but CHS coach Brandi Thomas knew it would be tough to contain the Lady Rams.

"Portales hits the ball," she said. "Robbie has done a fantastic job with that program.

"We just did not bring the bats today. We did all right on the defensive side, but when you have a field this big and a team can hit the ball, it's hard to stop them."

Portales resumes its District 4-3A schedule on Tuesday with a 4:30 p.m. doubleheader against Ruidoso at Wheeler Park. The Lady Cats are back in District 4-5A play on Tuesday with a 4 p.m. twin bill at Carlsbad.