Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Portales High junior Victor Lozano slides safely into second base as Clovis High second baseman Quinn Culiver takes the throw during Tuesday's game at Ram Field. The Wildcats improved to 6-5 by holding on for a 5-4 win over the Rams, who were playing their season opener.
While the Clovis High baseball team is already well into its season, Portales High was just getting started in Tuesday night's matchup at Ram Field.
Portales gave the Wildcats all they wanted, but a two-run double in the sixth by freshman Javi Jimenez held up for CHS in a 5-4 victory over the Rams.
The hit gave the Cats (6-5) a 5-3 lead, and they held on with sophomore left-hander Joseph Hernandez working the final four innings in relief and allowing just two hits and a run.
"I warned the kids that they (Rams) were going to be excited to play," CHS coach Richard Cruse said. "We just found a way tonight."
Both teams managed only five hits in the contest. Senior Gabe Tapia walked in his three at-bats for Clovis, scoring twice.
Hernandez relieved starter Jax Piepkorn during the Rams' two-run fourth, which tied the game 3-3. Senior Andru Ontiveros pulled PHS to 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth with a run-scoring groundout, but with runners at the corners and two out in the seventh Hernandez ended it on a pickoff at first.
"We competed and had a chance," said Rams coach Arturo Ontiveros, who returns to the bench this season after having coached PHS from 2003-13. "We made some mistakes that cost us, but overall I was pretty happy."
Senior Koby Rivera went 1-for-2 for the Cats with a run; he was hit by a pitch twice – while senior Quinn Culiver finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.
"I'm proud of the kids," Cruse said. "They competed, and just grinded out a win tonight..
"They're (Rams) going to be good. They've got some good arms on the mound."
Senior Peyton Williams went 2-for-3 with a run-scoring single in the second and a run scored for Portales, while Andru Ontiveros finished 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. Senior Zane Mayberry and sophomore Carson Pfaffenberger both went 1-for-3, each scoring a run.
Senior left-hander Edel Legarda started on the mound for the Rams, with senior right-hander Kaiden Gutierrez and sophomore left-hander Carson Pfaffenberger pitching in relief.
Portales was slated for three games over the weekend in the Cardinal Classic, hosted by Eunice. Meantime, the Cats are idle until April 2 when they visit Roswell Goddard for a doubleheader.
