Walk-off ends Portales' title bid

STAFF WRITER

[email protected]

RIO RANCHO — All it took was one swing by Dominique McGilbert to end the Lady Rams’ 2016 softball season on Thursday.

The Kirtland Central sophomore hit a solo home run, her second of the game, on a 2-0 count in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Lady Broncos a 6-5 victory over Portales in the consolation bracket of the Class 4A state playoffs on Thursday at the Cleveland H.S. softball complex.

In what was the theme of Portales’ three games in Rio Rancho, the Lady Rams (23-7) had trouble keeping their opponents off the board in the late innings while not coming up with enough offense of their own to stay alive in the tournament.

“I didn’t feel like we hit the ball as well as we’re capable of hitting the ball,” Portales coach Robbie Crowley said. “I don’t know why. It was just one of those games. We battled back. I was proud of the kids for battling back.”

Portales never led, but tied the game twice, first in the fifth inning with three runs and again in the top of the seventh with two more.

The Lady Broncos (20-11), who were eliminated by Hope Christian 5-3 later on Thursday, got off to a quick start against PHS when leadoff hitter Tiana Aspaas tripled to left field and scored on a sacrifice fly by McGilbert. Kirtland made it 3-0 in the fourth on a two-run double by Nikki Begay.

The Lady Rams showed some signs of life in the top of the fifth when Sarah Lovato hit a two-run single and Kiersten Ramirez brought Lovato home with a double.

Kirtland Central went back to work in the bottom half when McGilbert hit her first home run of the game and pitcher Shiloh Lewis drove in Andrea Weaver with a single.

Down to their last out, No. 9 hitter Lovato drove home Kimberly Hay with a single and Ramirez drove in Macaela Garcia with another single.

The Lady Rams had runners at second and third, but Lewis got PHS junior Sky Marianito on a groundout to keep the game tied.

It was a rough way to end the season as Portales, seeded second in the 16-team tournament, was riding a 12-game winning streak before losing to sixth-seeded Silver and the No. 8 Lady Broncos. However, Crowley enjoyed the ride with her team.

“This has been one of my favorite groups,” she said. “The kids are so close. They work so hard and play for each other.

“It was a fun, fun year for me. (Seniors) Tori (Cordova) and Kiersten (Ramirez), their leadership was great.”

After finding a gem in eighth-grade pitcher Wendy Baeza to start out this season, Crowley is looking forward to her development next season.

“I think Wendy’s going to get better and better,” Crowley said. “Softball’s the only thing she does. She pitches a lot in the summer.

“Hopefully we can develop another pitcher to go along with her. We will see when we get our crop of newbies.”