Clovis baseball team goes to 3-0

HOBBS — Clovis High’s baseball team may have to show some heart and resiliency this season if a state championship is in the cards.

If so, Thursday was a good test for the Wildcats, who rallied for a seventh-inning tie against Carlsbad before winning 2-1 in the eighth on senior Colson Faircloth’s walk-off single that scored senior Jace Piepkorn in a Hobbs round-robin tournament game.

“I’m very proud of the kids and the way they stayed the course and believed in one another,” Clovis baseball coach Richard Cruce said. “They didn’t quit today, and the baseball gods were on our side when it came time to get big hits in big situations.”

That started in the bottom of the seventh inning, with Clovis trailing 1-0, a deficit that had existed since the top of the first. Down to their last three outs, the Wildcats got their bats working just in time, as Sebastian Nunez ripped a leadoff single and grabbed second on a sacrifice bunt by Kayden Shober. Carlsbad was able to get the second out, bringing Joe Gallegos to the plate as Clovis’ last chance, and he came through by singling to left, sending Nunez to third. Cam Kuykendall followed with an infield single, scoring Nunez with the game-tying run.

Clovis also started off the eighth quickly, getting a leadoff single from Piepkorn, who was then sac-bunted to second by junior Garrett Langrell. Faircloth followed with a single through the right side, scoring Piepkorn from second base with the winning run.

Senior Connor Langrell (2-0) was the winning pitcher, going all eight innings. Though he struck out only three and walked a less-than-ideal four in that span, he took the Andy Pettitte Express to a solid outing, scattering five hits and getting plenty of ground outs and fly outs.

Carlsbad starter Nate Arrington had five strikeouts and a walk. Will Garza, who relieved Arrington in the eighth, neither fanned nor walked anyone.

Piepkorn led Clovis’ offense, going 2-for-4, including scoring that game-winning run.

The Wildcats (3-0) are right back at it today, playing Artesia at 3 p.m. Artesia defeated Cleveland, 9-8, in another Hobbs tournament game on Thursday.

“We’re going to roll into another one,” Cruce said, “and hopefully keep the momentum going and stay the course, enjoy the process of playing baseball.”

Boxscore

Clovis 2, Carlsbad 1, 8 inn.

Carlsbad 100 000 00 — 1 5 0

Clovis 000 000 11 — 2 8 0

Nate Arrington, Will Garza (7) and Mason Estrada. Connor Langrell and Jace Piepkorn. 2B — Carlsbad, Rio Granger. Clovis, Garrett Langrell. W — C. Langrell (2-0). L — Garza. Records — Carlsbad 2-2 Clovis 3-0.