Cavemen overwhelm Cats twice

CLOVIS - It was a long night for the Clovis High baseball team on Thursday.

Carlsbad jumped on the Wildcats early in both games and never let up in posting 15-1 and 14-3 triumphs over Clovis in the District 4-5A openers for both teams.

The Cavemen (16-3 overall) scored three in the first inning in Game 1, then added back-to-back six-run frames in the fourth and fifth. They then led 10-0 in the second inning of the nightcap.

Both games were shortened to five innings on the 10-run rule.

"They came out better," Cats coach Richard Cruce said of the Cavemen. "We should've gotten out of the first inning (in the opener).

"They're the best (hitting) club we've seen all year, but we've just got to grow up and make some plays."

Clovis (5-11) managed only three hits in each game, and committed seven errors in the twin bill to none for Carlsbad.

Senior Nolan Perry went four innings in the opener for the win, while junior Mack Mabrey did likewise in the second contest for the Cavemen.

Carlsbad did its damage in the first game on just nine hits. Perry led the way on offense as well, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs, including a three-run homer in the fifth.

Clovis made some noise in the nightcap on a three-run double by sophomore Will Jordan in the third, but that was all the damage they could muster against Mabrey and reliever Jeremiah Dominguez. Perry knocked in two more runs with a couple of hits in that one, while Mabrey went 4-for-4 with two triples, three RBIs and three runs scored.

The teams meet again on Monday in a 5 p.m. single district tilt in Carlsbad.

Tennis - Clovis squads also had a tough time in its District 4-5A duals with Hobbs.

The Eagles won the boys matchup 9-0 while the Hobbs girls posted a 7-2 victory at the CHS courts.

CHS boys coach Tristan Pautler said his squad is making improvement despite Thursday's result.

"Hobbs has great talent and came out to play," Pautler said. "(Our) boys have shown progression throughout the season, regardless of the scores. From the first time we played, we increased the number of games we won."

Meantime, the Lady Cats played pretty well at the top of the lineup, getting a win from senior Ayia Al Saleh at No. 1 singles and from Al Saleh and junior Niliyaah Hall at No. 1 doubles.

Al Saleh defeated Isabel Armendariz 6-4, 6-1 and teamed with Hall for a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Armendariz and Naomi Recker in doubles. The Lady Cats also lost three-setters at No. 6 singles and at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles

Clovis teams will complete regular-season district play on Friday at Roswell High.