Grady slips past Elida in extras

ELIDA - Grady scored three runs in the top of the eighth - the first extra inning - and held on for a 14-11 win over Elida on Monday. The second game of the scheduled twin bill was called due to darkness.

Freshman Jax Piepkorn went the first seven innings for the Bronchos (2-0), allowing 14 hits but striking out 14, before sophomore Zane Rush earned a save by working the eighth. Meantime, Rush went 2-for-5 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored, while sophomore Xavier Romero was also 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run.

For the Tigers (0-2), sophomore Seth Jimenez posted a 3-for-4 outing with three doubles, four RBIs and two runs, while junior Levi Victor was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs. Freshmen Hardy Fraze and Gunner Tipton each had a single, a double and a run batted in.

Melrose 18, Floyd 0 - Sophomore Michael Cardonita pitched a five-inning no-hitter, striking out 11, and also chipped in 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs and two runs for the host Buffaloes (3-4).

Freshman Cy Draper was also 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs, while senior Brandon Garcia and sophomore Dathan Yeary each singled and doubled and combined for seven RBIs against the Broncos (0-1).

In area weekend baseball action:

Texico places fifth in NMMI tournament - The Wolverines won their final two games in New Mexico Military's Colt Classic in Roswell, capped by Saturday's 16-9 victory over Tularosa in the fifth-place tilt.

The game was called after 4 1/2 innings on the tourney's two-hour time limit. Texico (3-3) put the contest away with a 12-run fourth, breaking a 4-4 tie, and was able to withstand a five-run top of the fifth by the Wildcats (5-4).

Junior Bryson Crow went 3-for-4 with a three-run triple in the fourth, finishing the game with a walk and two runs scored en route to all-tournament honors. Sophomores Easton Cooper and Daltyn Cain were both 2-for-3, with Cooper drawing a walk, scoring twice and driving in three while Cain scored twice.

In Friday's consolation semifinals, the Wolverines cruised past Dexter 14-2. Texico did all its damage in the first three innings of a game called after 4 1/2 by the 10-run rule.

Sophomore Bryson Crow went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored, while senior Jonathan Herrell and junior Tristan Chavez were both 2-for-3. Herrell scored twice, drove in two runs and drew a walk.

Chavez tossed a three-hitter to earn the win.

Grady 26, Floyd 4 - At Grady, the Bronchos cruised to a win in the first of two scheduled games. The second was suspended by darkness after three innings with Grady leading 14-5.

Coach Jared Piepkorn said the teams were looking at finishing the suspended game in front of a doubleheader already slated at Floyd on Friday.

Freshman Jayce Garrett pitched five innings for Grady in the opener, allowing two hits and striking out seven, while also going 5-for-5 at the plate with a double, five RBIs and five runs scored. Meantime, Rush was 6-for-6 with a double, a three-run homer in Grady's 13-run third and six RBIs while sophomore Emiliana Corrales finished 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBIs.

Magdalena 14-14, Melrose 4-12 - In a neutral-field doubleheader on Friday at Estancia, the Steers (4-0) scored nine runs in the fourth to take control of the opener, and used another nine-run inning in the third to erase a 6-2 Buffaloes lead in Game 2.

The first game ended in five on the 10-run rule, while the second was called after five due to darkness.

Cardonita went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the opener. Meantime, Yeary doubled and tripled in three at-bats in the second game for Melrose, scoring three times and driving in a pair, while Draper was also 2-for-3.

In area softball action:

Dora takes four from Logan - The Dora Lady Coyotes improved to 6-1 for the season with a pair of doubleheader sweeps over Logan, on Friday at Logan and on Monday at Dora.

In Friday's tilts, the Lady Coyotes won both games in three innings on the 15-run rule, taking the opener 17-1 and second 27-5.

Sophomore Faith Jasso was the winning pitcher in all four games for Dora. Junior Jenna Ramirez carried a big bat in both, combining to go 7-for-9, while in Game 2 Jasso went 3-for-4, freshman Justice Deason was 3-for-4 with a pair of triples and sophomore Bre'ann Rodriguez belted a three-run homer.

In Monday's games, Dora won 17-2 and 16-1, both in four innings as Jasso collected a pair of hits in each contest, including a double in the first game and a triple in the nightcap.

Junior Haley Hutchinson went 2-for-3 in the opener, including a 2-run triple in the third which extended Dora's 4-2 lead. The Lady Coyotes then added 11 runs in the bottom of the fourth.

In Game 2, Rodriguez finished 2-for-2 with three RBIs, including a two-run triple in the third, and Ramirez went 4-for-4 with a walk.