Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
ALBUQUERQUE — Sebastian Nunez may not have picked up a win on the mound Saturday, but he helped seal one at the plate for Clovis High’s baseball team.
The Wildcats junior went 2-for-5, including a single that scored an insurance run in the 10th to help the Wildcats defeat Sandia 6-4 for a District 2-6A split.
The Wildcats (16-8, 5-3) dropped the opener 5-1 behind a no-hitter from Sandia’s Ricky Apodaca, but had their chances. Nunez scored Clovis’ only run of the game in the second as a pair of errors supplemented his leadoff walk — one of nine free passes given by Apodaca.
“The kid threw well, but with the two errors they gave us 11 free runners,” Clovis coach Richard Cruce said. “Connor (Langrell, Clovis junior) pitches his tail off and we don’t help him out today.”
The Wildcats actually left more runners on base in the first game — seven, versus four for the Matadors (10-11, 3-5).
Clovis got just enough runs across the board in the nightcap, however. Cam Kuykendall and Jace Piepkorn hit consecutive one-out singles in the 10th to create a first-and-third situation — then a second-and-third situation with Piepkorn stealing second. Kuykendall scored on a passed ball with two outs, and Nunez singled in Piepkorn.
Tomas Gallegos picked up the win in three-plus innings of relief.
“I thought the kids came back with a good attitude about Game 2,” Cruce said. “They grinded, and they found a way. I was very proud of how they competed.”
Neither Langrell nor Nunez — the second game starter — picked up a win, but both pitched into the seventh. Cruce said that consistency on the mound has paid dividends.
“We’ve had good outings all year,” Cruce said. “They just pound the zone really well. It helps us not having to go to the bullpen all of the time.”
Clovis concludes its district and regular season with a 1 p.m. doubleheader that will double as senior day for Chris Encinias, Traejn Reames and Jared Gomez. The remaining Wildcats roster includes 11 juniors and a pair of sophomores.
