Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Portales baserunner Alexis Garcia tries to bait Lovington first baseman Addy Marquez in the third inning of Saturday's doubleheader opener.
Portales catcher Shelbi Walker retains control of the ball after diving for a tricky popup in the third inning of Saturday's doubleheader opener at Wheeler Park.
Portales second baseman Devyn Lopez applies the tag to Lovington's Anaee Reves on a steal attempt in the third inning of Saturday's doubleheader opener at Wheeler Park. The visiting Wildcats swept Portales, winning both games 7-3.
PORTALES - The Rams' quest for a 2018 Class 4A softball title got off to a bit of a bumpy start in Saturday's season-opening doubleheader against Lovington. Portales committed a bevy of errors and struggled against stout Wildcat pitching, as the Rams lost both games by a score of 7-3 apiece.
"We didn't hit the ball very well. Only scored three runs - you're not gonna win a lot of games," Rams coach Nathan Dodge explained. "We're trying to figure out where everybody's going to play (defensively), and it may be where we have somebody somewhere (one game), and another game maybe move them."
For Class 5A Lovington (7-1), both games proved to have that one big inning to break the game open. In Game 1, a bases loaded error at third by Portales (0-2) brought home Rylee Mapes and Brisa Moreno in the second inning.
However, it was the top of the seventh when Lovington officially put things out of reach. Hayley Marquez' RBI double to left extended the lead to 5-2, before a bloop single by Abby Marquez and an infield single by Hailey Morales produced two more runs.
In Game 2, the Wildcats led 2-1, heading into the fourth inning. Kae Smith-Vega, America Hernandez and Hayley Marquez all reached on singles to start off the inning, loading the bases for Abby Marquez.
Marquez took a 2-2 pitch up in the zone and drove it to left center field for a grand slam, extending the lead to 6-1. Hayley Marquez would then follow that up in the fifth with a solo blast to deep center field for a 7-1 lead.
In fact, both Marquez' had exceptional afternoons. Hayley went 4-for-4 in Game 1, and finished 1-for-3 with the homer in Game 2. As for Abby she did it both at the plate and on the mound, as her Game 2 grand slam helped her own cause, as she pitched a complete game, allowing three runs on seven hits, while striking out five.
In fact, strong pitching was a theme for Lovington throughout the day, as Game 1 pitcher Kae Smith-Vega sat down nine Rams in her complete game outing, allowing three runs on 10 hits.
"They work hard at it," Wildcats coach Stephen McCraw said of his two pitchers. "I'm kinda lucky (because) they've been pitching for years. I inherited them and we just kinda keep their minds straight, call the good pitches - ones they believe in, and trust the defense. That's the trick."
While Lovington has already played eight games, and showed it on Saturday with solid all-around play, it was more of a struggle for Portales in its season-opening games. Wendy Baeza's first inning fielder's choice in Game 1 tied the score at 1-1, before a sixth inning bases loaded wild pitch by Smith-Vega brought home Kim Hay to cut the Portales deficit to 4-2.
In Game 2, the only offensive success Portales had came by way of a Hay two-run single past third base in the bottom of the fifth inning. However, the Rams were already down by five runs before the hit.
Portales will now try to shake off some of the early-season rust in next week's Christian Griego Tournament in Rio Rancho, starting with Miyamura next Thursday. According to Dodge, the tournament is one that the Rams frequently play in, as it helps for the stretch run later in the season.
"I know we get five games in that tournament over there, so that's why we do it," Dodge explained. "It gets us kinda in shape for the state tournament."
