Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Clovis High sophomore Koby Rivera dives back into third base safely on a pickoff attempt during the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against Mayfield at Bell Park. The Wildcats won both games in walkoff fashion 6-5 and 9-8.
CLOVIS – Clovis High's baseball team picked an opportune time in each game to take its only leads – at the very end.
The Wildcats erased deficits of three runs in the opener and six in the nightcap to post a 6-5, 9-8 sweep of Mayfield on Saturday at Bell Park, winning both games in the bottom of the seventh.
It was the third and fourth wins in the last five games for the Cats (5-7).
"I think the kids are starting to buy into what we're doing," CHS coach Richard Cruce said. "They're seeing the big picture and not thinking about themselves right now."
Trailing 5-2 in Game 1, the Cats plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth as senior Manny Gutierrez, eighth-grader Javi Jimenez and sophomore Koby Rivera hit consecutive RBI singles with two outs. In the seventh, senior Joseph Albert beat out an infield hit leading off, moved to third on a passed ball and Jayden Jameson's sacrifice bunt and scored when junior third baseman Bernie Lopez dropped a single into right-center field.
Junior right-hander Nathan McIntosh went the distance on the mound, allowing six hits and three earned runs. He hit five batters and walked two while striking out five.
In the second contest, the Cats fell behind 6-0 in the second, rallied to tie it with five in the third and trailed 8-7 after four. It stayed that way until the seventh before a walk, a hit batsman and an error on a sacrifice bunt by Jimenez loaded the bases with no one out, and Rivera followed with a two-run, ground-ball single to right past a drawn-in infield.
"Koby didn't really hit it that hard, but that ground ball had eyes," Cruce said.
Jimenez, who attends Yucca Middle School, had four hits in the twin bill, three coming in the second game.
"We just really competed as a team," he said. "I thought our pitchers really worked hard.
"I just came out there and tried to compete. I wanted to work as hard as I could and go from there."
Jimenez also pitched 1 2/3 innings in the second game, allowing two unearned runs, before Jameson took over in the fifth and got the win with three shutout frames.
"Javi came in and did a good job," Cruce said. "Jayden came in and threw up three zeroes."
Sophomore second baseman Quinn Culiver went 3-for-4 with a pair of run-scoring singles in the first game, while Rivera was 2-for-3 and Lopez and senior catcher Jashias Jimenez – Javi's older brother – were both 2-for-4. The Cats posted a 12-6 margin in hits – all singles – over the Trojans (5-6).
Senior second baseman Anthony Reyes led the way for Mayfield, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI.
Jashias Jimenez and senior third baseman Joe Albert were both 2-for-3 for Clovis in Game 2. Albert had two doubles, scored twice and drove in a run.
Starting pitcher Andrew Molenda was 3-for-5 for the Trojans, scoring twice and knocking in one.
"They were big wins for us," Cruce said. "I'm very proud of these kids and the way they battled."
The Cats were slated to visit Portales on Tuesday night in a single game. They return to action next Tuesday, hosting Roswell Goddard in a 4:30 p.m. doubleheader at Bell Park.
