Lady Rams win district with sweep

LOVINGTON — Senior Summer Martinez cracked a pair of two-run homers in the opener and pitched a three-hit complete game in the nightcap on Friday as the Portales Lady Rams wrapped up the District 4-3A softball title with a 15-1, 10-3 sweep of rival Lovington.

Portales (18-5, 6-0 district) led just 2-1 in the third inning of the opener, but scored five in that inning and four in each of the next two to win on the 10-run rule after five.

Freshman Kiersten Ramirez pitched a five-hitter with no walks and four strikeouts. Martinez, meantime, went 4-for-4 with two-run shots in the third and fourth innings.

PHS clubbed 19 hits in the contest, with three others notching three hits apiece.

In the second game, the Lady Wildcats (6-12, 1-5) took a 3-2 lead with two runs in the third, but junior catcher Simone Laurenz had an RBI double as Portales took control with a four-run fourth. The Lady Rams had only four hits in that game, but benefited from walks and five Lovington errors.

All three runs were unearned against Martinez, who walked no one and struck out four. Laurenz, who had a two-run double in the third inning of the opener, finished the day 5-for-8 at the plate.

"We had some kids step up tonight that haven't had that much experience," PHS coach Robbie Crowley said. "And Summer did well (in the circle); she's always ready."

PHS closes out the regular season at home on Friday with a 4 p.m. district double-header against Ruidoso at Wheeler Park.