Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Never trail during three-game set vs. Ruidoso
Portales senior Logan McDaniel rounds third before scoring in the fifth inning of Saturday's District 4-4A doubleheader opener at Ram Field. The Rams moved to 3-0 in district play with 10-0, 14-1 wins over Ruidoso.
Shortstop Baylor Diaz makes the throw to first for an out in the top of the fifth Saturday.
PORTALES — Portales baseball had a strong showing to cap off its district-opening series against Ruidoso, as the Rams scored 24 combined runs in Saturday's doubleheader. The Rams took Game 1, 10-0, and followed that up with a 14-1 victory in Game 2.
"We played really well. We made maybe three errors in the three games, our pitchers did a great job of throwing strikes, we didn't have too many walks," Rams coach Dusty Nusser said of the series. "We had really good approaches at the plate, we're starting to learn mentally what to look for. Overall, really happy with where we're at right now, but we just gotta keep getting better every game."
Portales (7-6, 3-0) did an exceptional job of extending innings in Game 2, scoring six of its runs with two outs. Leading 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning, Chandon Neece was hit by a pitch to start things off for the Rams.
Logan McDaniel then had an infield single, before a wild pitch put runners in scoring position. A walk, two batters later, loaded the bases for Jordan Garcia. Garcia's fielder's choice brought in McDaniel, before an error at second base scored two more runs to extend the lead to 4-0.
Trevor Whiting then had a bases loaded RBI single past short in the third inning, bringing home Neece. Garcia then followed with a two-run double to right field, before a passed ball during Josiah Lucero's at-bat gave the Rams an eighth run.
Portales would go on to add six more runs in the fourth, as the Rams drew seven walks. As for Ruidoso (0-10, 0-3), an inability to finish innings, be it errors or walking batters — after getting ahead in the count, put both games out of reach for them.
"Frustrating effort on our part. We didn't play behind our pitchers, can't defend walks," Warriors coach Billy Page explained. "As a coach, it's hard to tell them what to do when we keep booting the ball or keep putting people on bases without an attempt. We had an opportunity early, but when we don't do things behind our pitchers it makes it real tough.
"I don't know how many runs (Portales) scored with two outs. You get two outs and can't finish an inning. The last inning, I think we had three guys at 0-2 and walked two of them, and hit one of them."
Game 1 was much of the same, as Portales drew five walks and only struck out once. The Rams carried a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth, but managed to run-rule the Warriors with six runs in the inning.
Garcia went the distance in Game 1, striking out three and allowing just five hits in the shutout. As for Game 2, starter Damian Belden allowed just two hits in three innings, while Whiting closed it out with two scoreless — and hitless, innings to finish off the series.
The Rams will now host Lovington on Tuesday, before taking a 10-day break to prepare for a three-game set with rival Hope Christian in Albuquerque.
"We didn't play real well when we went over there — they're tough," Nusser said of Portales' 5-0 loss to Lovington back on March 20. "They've struggled a little bit, but they've been in a lot of close games. So we gotta be ready, mentally, and then we'll be off for a week or so."
