Rams roll past NMMI twice

Staff report

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The start of the District 4-4A baseball schedule couldn’t have gone much better for Portales on Tuesday as the Rams put up 32 runs and run-ruled New Mexico Military in both games at Ram Field.

Staff photo: Matthew Asher

Senior Grant Wagner is congratulated by teammates after hitting a three-run homer during the fourth inning of the first game in Tuesday’s District 4-4A baseball doubleheader at Ram Field. Wagner went 2-for-3 with 4 RBIs in the Rams’ 10-0 win over the Colts.

Portales won the first game 10-0 before overcoming an early four-run deficit to complete the sweep with a 22-7 victory.

Following a disheartening late-game loss at Texico last week, the Rams (5-6) were able to right the ship.

Junior pitcher Emilio Lovato was in total command of the first game, allowing two hits and striking out 11 batters.

“I knew if I threw strikes my team would be right there behind me and get everyone out,” Lovato said. “This win helps us a lot. We came together as a team for this one.”

It was clearly Lovato’s world and everyone else was simply living in it. He also hit a three-run homer in the second inning for a 6-0 lead and finished with three runs scored.

The only thing that didn’t go Lovato’s way was his entrance music, which skipped each time it played.

NMMI (4-8), also opening district play, couldn’t catch a break as the closest the Colts got to scoring came in the fourth inning. With a runner on second base, a botched a bunt attempt gave PHS catcher Joel Lagarda ample time to throw the runner out at third.

Portales scored in each of its four turns at-bat. Leading 7-0, senior Grant Wagner hit a three-run home run in the fourth and Lovato finished off NMMI in the fifth with three strikeouts.

Six Rams contributed to the hit column.

“That was what we were hoping for,” Portales coach Dusty Nusser said. “We needed something like this after what happened to us at Texico.

“The guys were mentally prepared. We had a great batting practice. We had a great practice yesterday. They were definitely ready to come and start the second part of our season.”

The nightcap didn’t start off well as PHS starter Draven Saiz was chased before he could record an out, giving up four runs. Nusser then went with Josiah Lucero, who got Portales into the third inning leading 8-3.

Because their luck wasn’t bad enough, Lucero rolled his ankle sliding into second base and Nusser put in Jacob Salgado, who finished the game for the Rams.

“We had a lot of adversity in that game. Getting down 6-3 in the first few innings, I thought our guys handled it very well. That’s the definition of a total team effort because everyone stepped up.”

The Rams stay at home on Thursday to face longtime rival Lovington at 4:30 p.m. in a non-district tilt.