Peter Dindinger — NMMI Sports Press
There will be a shakeup in the new Class 3A baseball standings on MaxPreps.
Sitting atop the rankings as the No. 1 team, the New Mexico Military Institute Colts were challenged immediately at the start of District 4/5-3A by taking on the third and fourth squads.
On Saturday afternoon, NMMI met the defending state champs, Sandia Prep, for a doubleheader at NMMI Ballpark.
Game 1 was competitive with Colt starter Luis A. Patron on the mound, striking out 13 batters, however NMMI fell short 3-2.
The Sundevils pounded out 10 hits in Game 2 to win in five innings by a score of 11-1 to secure the sweep.
“I hope we’re going to find out something about our character,” said NMMI head coach Charlie Ward after the loss. “I tried to prepare them. We got nine more games. We got a lot of good baseball in front us to improve.”
Game 1 proved to be a classic pitcher’s duel between Luis A. Patron and Scotty Charles.
Sandia Prep struck first in the top of the second with an RBI double by Sam Treme.
To start the bottom half of the inning, Luis C. Patron and Alexys Valverde drew back to back walks.
Patron stole third to set up the RBI groundout to first by Sergio Gonzales to tie up the game.
The Colts took the lead in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI triple to left by Jose Barcelo that plated home courtesy runner Gael Garza.
Cameron Motola tied up the game at two-all with an RBI double to left in the top of the sixth.
Sandia Prep took advantage of three straight hit by pitches that loaded up the bases in the seventh. Lucas Lemons hit a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Ethan Dudley.
With a potential walk off looming in the bottom half of the inning, Gonzales hit a one-out single to center.
NMMI’s hopes of a rally were ended on a 1-6-3 double play.
Luis A. Patron suffered his first loss of the year, dropping to 5-1. Patron has a 1.00 ERA with 86 strikeouts.
Barcelo finished 2 for 3 with a double, triple and an RBI. He’s riding an eight-game hitting streak while batting .487.
Tegin Maloney went 2 for 3 with two singles while Gonzales and Luis A. Patron each finished 1 for 3 with a single.
Sandia Prep set the tone early in Game 2 by scoring six runs in the top of the second.
The rally was highlighted with a two RBI double by Chris Gist and another two RBI double by Santiago Cooper.
Lemons added to the scoring barrage with an RBI triple to center. Lemons later scored on a wild pitch to close out the frame.
The Sundevils tacked on four more runs in the fifth after a passed ball, wild pitch and two singles.
Luis C. Patron tallied a double to go 1 for 2. Barcelo and Gentry Caplan each went 1 for 2 with a pair of singles.
Maloney started the game, throwing two innings allowing three hits with two strikeouts.
“We competed in that Game 1. Patron pitched well, but so did their boy Charles. They’re a solid team,” Ward added. “We played hard, they were just the better team in the second game.
"We’re going to move forward. We’re still a solid program. I just believe we’re in the top four in the state.”
>> UP NEXT: NMMI plays in Dexter for a single 4 p.m. game Tuesday. The Colts will be on the road for the next six games. NMMI returns home April 19 for a doubleheader with Dexter.
Game 1
Sandia Prep 3, NMMI 2
SANDI….0100011 — 3 6 1
NMMI….0100100— 2 6 1
Scotty Charles. Luis A. Patron, Jose Barcelo (7). W — Charles. L — Patron. 2B — Sandia Prep: Santiago Cooper, Cameron Motola, Luziano Casados, Sam Treme; NMMI: Jose Barcelo. 3B — NMMI: Jose Barcelo. HR — None.
Game 2
Sandia Prep 11, NMMI 1 (5)
SANDI….06014 — 11 10 1
NMMI….01000— 1 2 1
Cameron Motola. Tegin Maloney, Miguel Rivera (3), Bailey Mego (5). W — Motola. L — Maloney. 2B — Sandia Prep: Santiago Cooper, Chris Gist, Ben Valdez; NMMI: Luis C. Patron. 3B — Sandia Prep: Lucas Lemons. HR — None.
Records — Sandia Prep (10-4, 3-0); NMMI (10-4, 0-3).