Rams take pair of wins

PORTALES – Prior to Saturday, Zane Mayberry had only pitched in a couple of games for Portales High this season.

But with the Rams looking at the last of 11 games in 13 days, the junior right-hander seemed pretty comfortable on the bump. Of course, having a huge lead doesn't hurt.

Mayberry scattered six singles over five innings and the Rams completed a doubleheader sweep of Texico with a 15-1, run-rule victory at Ram Field.

Portales (7-6) almost let the first one get away, but rallied late and claimed a 10-9 victory as junior Kaiden Gutierrez doubled home junior Andrew Ontiveros in the bottom of the seventh.

Mayberry, normally the Rams' center fielder, walked two and struck out four in a relatively efficient outing.

"I think I did pretty good," he said. "Coach (Ruben Tellez) came up in the fourth inning and wanted to pull me, but I wanted to finish it."

Mayberry anticipates getting more work on the hill as the season progresses.

"I think I'll get a lot more opportunities," he said. "I'm more confident in myself and I know my team will have my back."

PHS scored in all but two of the 11 innings in which it batted. Junior first baseman Edel Legarda got the Rams off to a good start in the nightcap with a two-run homer to left, making it 3-0.

Mayberry walked Wolverines senior Tristan Chavez with the bases loaded in the second, but then got out of it and Portales promptly tacked on four runs, highlighted by a two-run double from junior second baseman Elijah Tellez, son of the coach.

Ruben Tellez said he's been looking for mound help and Mayberry, a three-sport athlete for the Rams, gave him everything he needed.

"I'm trying to see who we can depend on," Tellez said. "We've given different kids an opportunity to pitch."

Texico (3-5) looked like it might get run-ruled in the opener, but the Wolverines came alive for eight runs in the top of the fifth to erase a 7-1 deficit and take the lead. Junior Daltyn Cain had the big hit of the inning, a two-run single, while brothers Jadyn and Kyle Gonser and freshman Jesus Chavez added run-scoring singles.

"I was proud of how we fought back," first-year Texico coach Zach Shank said. "It was kind of disappointing (to lose). You don't want the game to end on a walkoff."

Portales tied it in the bottom of the fifth, scoring its two runs on a wild pitch and an error. The Rams outhit Texico 11-7, but the Wolverines were able to take advantage of 10 walks and two hit batsmen.

"The kids showed some resiliency," Ruben Tellez said. "We made some mistakes, but we fought back."

Starting pitcher Carson Pfaffenberger led the Rams at the plate in the opener, going 3-for-4. Gutierrez reached base five times, adding a triple, two walks and a hit-by pitch.

Pfaffenberger also went 2-for 3 in the second game, scoring four times and driving in two, while Elijah Tellez doubled twice in three at-bats. Meantime, six players had one hit apiece for the Wolverines.

"Credit to Portales," Shank said. "They hit the ball very well in the second game, and their pitcher threw strikes for the most part."

The Rams get a small break in the schedule before traveling to Las Vegas on Thursday to take on West Las Vegas at 2 p.m. and Robertson at 5 p.m.

Meantime, the Wolverines were slated to host Clayton in a District 6-2A-opening doubleheader on Tuesday. There next outing is next Tuesday when they entertain Santa Rosa in district play.