Peter Dindinger — NMMI Sports Press
There are just four games remaining on the New Mexico Military Institute Colt baseball team’s schedule.
Sitting at No. 3 in the current Class 3A rankings on MaxPreps, the Colts have a good opportunity to finish as a top seed to host in the opening round of the state tournament.
But for now, NMMI has some unfinished business to take care of before its fate is decided at the end of the regular season.
On Tuesday, backed by some solid pitching and offense, the Colts made quick work of the Dexter Demons by notching a sweep by the scores of 29-2 and 13-0 at NMMI Ballpark.
“Everybody got to play. We played the JV guys a little bit in that first game,” said NMMI head coach Charlie Ward. “We got a big two-week grind out of town. That’s been real tough on guys. We’re 16-6. We hit the ball real hard today.
“These kids have come a long ways and they’re giving themselves a chance with four more games to go.”
In Game 1, the Demons were hitless until the top of the fourth when Gavin Gonzalez hit a single to spoil the combined no-hitter by Jose Barcelo and Kendrick Tsosie.
NMMI took a commanding 17-0 lead in the bottom of the first after getting 10 hits and taking advantage of five hit batters and four walks.
Twenty two batters came up to the plate for the Colts in the big inning.
Gentry Caplan hit a two RBI triple to highlight the frame. Luis C. Patron also drove in two runs on a single to left.
NMMI scored eight more runs in the bottom of the second to lead by 25.
Barcelo hit a two RBI double to center during the rally.
Dexter collected its three hits in the final two innings. Erick Brock erased the shutout with two-run inside-the-park home run in the top of the fifth.
NMMI had 19 hits. Barcelo finished 4 for 5 with a double, three singles and four RBI while Luis C. Patron went 3 for 3 with three singles and five RBI.
Barcelo is hitting a team-best .552 while riding a seven-game hitting streak.
Bailey Mego drove in four runs while going 2 for 2 with two singles. Luis A. Patron tallied two singles and two RBI to go 2 for 3.
On the mound, Barcelo allowed one hit in four innings pitched. Tsosie struck out two batters in one inning while allowing two hits.
Game 2 was very much similar as the Colts took an early lead.
NMMI was up 6-0 in the bottom of the first. Norberto Valencia hit a two RBI single to center during the frame.
The Colts tacked on six more runs in the bottom of the third to lead by 12. Barcelo had an RBI double while Mego drove in Sergio Gonzales with a single to right to highlight the offense.
Tegin Maloney struck out a season-high nine batters in four innings while allowing just one hit. Miguel Rivera struck out the side in the fifth to finish off the game.
NMMI out hit Dexter 11-1.
Barcelo finished 3 for 3 with a double, two singles and two RBI while Valencia went 2 for 3 with two singles and two RBI.
“We’re going to be in the thick of things. We just got to come together as a group,” Ward added. “It’s going to be fun. We’re gonna let the cards deal and wherever we’re seeded we’re going to accept it and go compete.”
>> UP NEXT: NMMI travels to Albuquerque for a single game Saturday at 11 a.m. against Sandia Prep. The Colts return home Tuesday, April 26 for a 4 p.m. game against Tucumcari.
Game 1
NMMI 29, Dexter 2 (5)
DEXTE….00011 — 2 3 5
NMMI….(17)804x— 29 19 2
Erick Brock, Raul Sigala (1), Justice Sanders (2). Jose Barcelo, Kendrick Tsosie (5). W — Barcelo. L — Brock. 2B — NMMI: Noah Martinez, Jose Barcelo. 3B — NMMI: Gentry Caplan. HR — Dexter: Erick Brock.
Game 2
NMMI 13, Dexter 0 (5)
DEXTE….00000 — 0 1 1
NMMI….6061x— 13 11 1
Joshua Duran, Nathan Cobos (3). Tegin Maloney, Miguel Rivera (5). W — Maloney. L — Duran. 2B — NMMI: Luis A. Patron, Jose Barcelo. 3B — NMMI: Tegin Maloney. HR — None.
Records — Dexter (3-17, 2-7); NMMI (16-6, 6-4).