Wolverines finish five-peat

ALBUQUERQUE - Texico wobbled a bit on Friday, but the Wolverines were able to right the ship.

An early 3-0 lead turned into a 5-3 deficit against Eunice in the Class 2A state championship game at the University of New Mexico's Lobo Field, but Texico scored six runs over the final three frames to pull out a 9-5 victory and claim its fifth consecutive state crown - Class 3A titles from 2016-18 and a 2A championship in 2019 before COVID-19 wiped out spring sports last year.

Sophomore designated hitter Bryson Crow went just 1-for-5 in the game, but greeted reliever Zeke Benton with a bases-loaded, two-run single to cap a four-run sixth and give the top-seeded Wolverines some breathing room.

"That was the most timely hit, for sure," Wolverines coach Ty Thatcher said. "He was struggling; the kid (Eunice starter Conagher Pierce) was throwing him sliders, but he finally got a fastball and ripped it into right-center."

Senior Seth Griego went 4-for-5 and drove in four runs for Texico (21-1), including a mammoth two-run homer in the top of the first.

"Seth had a great day," Thatcher said. "He kind of set the tone for the game (early). His home run was a 'no-doubter.'"

Senior catcher David Davalos and junior left fielder Brayden Bender, who was hitting out of the No. 9 spot, both went 3-for-4 as the Wolverines collected 16 hits. Senior Anton Goins added 2-for-4.

"Brayden Bender hadn't played for us before (this season); he was a track guy," Thatcher noted. "But he's just gotten better and better."

Griego hit an RBI single in the third to make it 3-0, but he struggled after that on the mound. Junior first baseman Garrett Tucker put the second-seeded Cardinals (15-5) on the board with a two-out, two-run double in the third, and senior second baseman Hayden Dean's two-run single snapped a 3-3 tie in the fourth.

Senior Freddy Davalos relieved Griego with one on and no one out in the fifth and blanked the Cardinals the rest of the way to earn the win. Pierce took the loss, working 5 1/3 innings and allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 13 hits, with four walks and five strikeouts.

Texico won three of four meetings this season against the Cardinals, whose 17 state championships in baseball are the most of any school in New Mexico.

Wolverines cruise into finals - Texico breezed into the championship game with easy home wins over eighth-seeded Pecos 20-5 on Tuesday and No. 5 Rehoboth Christian 17-7 on Wednesday.

Texico scored at least two runs in all nine turns at bat in those games. Goins was the winning pitcher against District 6-2A foe Pecos (6-10), working three innings, and he also drove in four runs in each game, going a combined 4-for-6 with three doubles.

Goins probably delivered the big hit in Wednesday's morning clash with Rehoboth (15-2). With Lynx starter Talen West struggling to find the strike zone, Goins chased him by banging a three-run double into right-center to make it 4-0 in a six-run first.

Goins later added a run-scoring double after belting an RBI single and a three-run double in Tuesday's win.

Thatcher said Goins started the season near the top of the batting order before getting moved down a bit. Most of the time in the latter part of the campaign, he's batted either sixth or seventh.

"I'm never satisfied," Goins said. "I always want to hit better. There's always room for improvement."

Texico put together a pair of seven-run innings against Pecos, pounding out 14 hits in a game ending on the 10-run rule after 4 1/2 innings. Griego belted a two-run homer in the contest, while Crow and Freddy Davalos each hit inside-the-park home runs.

Against Rehoboth, the Wolverines were in line for another 4 1/2 inning win with a 14-1 lead after four, but the Lynx temporarily stayed alive with a six-run rally. Texico then added three in the bottom half to end it.

"We couldn't get the (outs) in the fifth inning," Goins said. "But we finished it off, and that's what matters."

Texico won handily despite stranding 10 baserunners. The Wolverines benefited from 11 walks and four hit batsmen.

"We did some things we wanted to do and needed to do," Thatcher said. "We kind of lost our focus (in the fifth) and gave them some life.

"They were kind of pitching around some of our guys, but for the most part, we executed."

David Davalos went 3 2/3 innings for the win, allowing three hits and striking out six before leaving with a 12-0 lead. Senior Josh Myers, Goins, Bender and Crow also had two hits apiece for Texico, which outhit the Lynx 12-9.