Bronchos, Buffs split district twin bill

MELROSE — Only four teams will make it to next month’s Class 1A state baseball tournament — the three district winners and one at-large team.

With Logan seemingly in control of District 3-1A at this point, Thursday’s Grady-Melrose doubleheader figured to go a long way towards settling an at-large bid.

The teams split, though, with the host Buffaloes pulling out a 6-5 win in the opener and the Bronchos claiming a 10-8 triumph in Game 2 when darkness ended play in the bottom of the seventh.

In the opener, freshman Cy Draper hit a one-out double in the seventh, took third on a wild pitch and continued home with the winning run on a throwing error. Draper and seniors Logan DeVaney and Brandon Garcia all went 2-for-3 and scored a run for the Buffs (7-6, 3-2 district), with Draper hitting a pair of doubles and DeVaney adding one.

Draper also got the win, pitching the final inning in relief of sophomore Dathan Yeary. Sophomore Zane Rush went the first four innings for Grady (8-4-1, 1-4), allowing three runs and striking out eight.

Freshman Deakin Ragland was 3-for-4 for Grady (8-4-1, 1-4), scoring twice and driving in one. Freshmen Jayce Garrett and Jax Piepkorn were both 2-for-4 with a run scored, with Piepkorn hitting a double.

In the nightcap, the Bronchos built a 10-2 lead with a five-run fourth and held on. The game was called in the bottom of the seventh with two on, two out and two in for Melrose.

Sophomore Emiliano Corrales went 2-for-4 and belted a three-run homer in the fourth for Grady, while Garrett had a pair of run-scoring singles and senior Teagan Watson delivered a two-run single. Ragland pitched four innings, striking out seven.

For Melrose, Yeary doubled twice in three at-bats and scored a run, while freshman Junior Garcia was also 2-for-3 and scored twice.

In Tuesday area baseball action:

Texico 13-9, Santa Rosa 6-14 — At Texico, the Wolverines scored in every inning to take the first game of the doubleheader and hand the Lions (14-6, 5-1) their first District 6-2A setback.

Sophomore Erik Davalos hit a two-out, three-run homer in the fifth to give Texico (8-8, 4-2) a 10-4 lead. Senior Jonathan Herrell and Diego Davalos, junior Bryson Crow and sophomore Easton Cooper all had two hits for the Wolverines and combined to drive in four runs.

Junior Tristan Chavez pitched into the seventh inning for the win, allowing nine hits and striking out seven, with sophomore Tristan Lucero getting the final two outs.

Santa Rosa, though, moved back into first place in Game 2, building a 10-2 lead. Texico made it close with a six-run rally in the bottom of the sixth, but the Lions put it away with four in the top of the seventh.

Lucero and Erik Davalos both went 2-for-3 with a run batted in for Texico, while Kyle Gonser and Diego Davalos each drove in a pair of runs and were both 2-for-4.

In area softball on Tuesday:

Dora 26, Eunice 24 — A 12-run sixth gave the Lady Coyotes a 25-13 lead and proved to be just enough cushion to notch a District 4-1/2A win over the Lady Cardinals at Eunice.

Senior Katelyn Burnett and sophomore Faith Jasso were both 5-for-6 for Dora (9-6, 3-5 district), including a two-run homer for Jasso and a pair of doubles for Burnett. They combined to score five runs.

Meantime, senior Summer Sleming added 3-for-4 with two walks and four runs scored.

The Lady Coyotes are currently ranked eighth in 1/2A. Twelve teams will make the state tournament field in early May.