Cats fall to Goddard in title clash 4-0

ROSWELL — After sustaining a 12-2 loss to Hobbs in their season opener, Clovis High’s baseball team has shown encouraging signs.

Since that setback, the Wildcats had won five of six heading into Saturday’s championship game of the Southwest Baseball Classic, but left-hander Cal Villareal and reliever Ethan Coombes combined on a one-hitter as Roswell Goddard blanked CHS 4-0 for the title.

Junior Cam Kuykendall’s third-inning single was the only hit off the Goddard hurlers. Clovis twice managed two-on, two-out situations, but couldn’t come up with the big hit.

Meantime, the Rockets (3-0) did all their damage in a four-run third off junior left-hander Colson Faircloth — aided by two errors which made all the runs unearned.

“The wind was blowing in about 20 or 25 mph,” CHS coach Richard Cruce said. “Runs were at a premium. We just made a few mistakes, and we didn’t hit the ball very well.”

Cameron Stevenson had three hits, scored a run and drove in a run for the Rockets. Drew Price and Matt Shanor each added an RBI single.

Colson allowed nine hits, walked just two and struck out five. Goddard outscored is three opponents in the tournament by a combined margin of 27-3.

Juniors Sebastian Nunez and Tomas Gallegos represented the Cats on the all-tournament team.

“We’re pitching well and we’re playing good defense for the most part,” Cruce said.

Clovis is back in action on Tuesday with a 5 p.m. clash against Portales at Bell Park. The Cats return to Roswell for another three-day tournament beginning on Thursday with a 10 a.m. game against Ruidoso.