Peter Dindinger — NMMI Sports Press
RIO RANCHO — It’s state playoff time for Class 3A baseball.
There was plenty of drama to start the day as the New Mexico Military Institute took on sixth-seeded Cobre on Thursday morning at Cleveland High School in the quarterfinal round.
Trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the sixth, the Colts got a gift in the form of six straight walks. Three batters drew a walk with the bases loaded, which put NMMI on top 4-2.
The Indians scored once more in the seventh, but the third-seeded Colts were able to come out with the 4-3 victory to advance to the semifinal game at 7 p.m. Friday at Rio Rancho High School against the winner of the Raton-Sandia Prep game.
“We’re very fortunate. We had some good quality at bats to make those walks,” said NMMI head coach Charlie Ward. “I told them it’s going to take 21 outs. We move on to the next one.
“We earned it, but it could’ve gone either way. I’m proud of them, but we’re very fortunate today.”
In the top of the first, James Castañon started Cobre off with a single. Luis A. Patron then struck out the next three batters.
After two walks issued to Tegin Maloney and Jose Barcelo, Miguel Rivera hit a single to left to load up the bases in the bottom half of the first.
Luis A. Patron then helped out his own cause by delivering an RBI single to center to give NMMI a 1-0 lead.
The Indians tied up the game in the top of the second when Andres Tovar scored on a two-out balk.
Each team stranded a total of six runners until the tie was broken up in the top of the fifth when Castañon crossed home on another balk.
Cobre was six outs away from pulling off the upset.
NMMI was quickly down two outs in the bottom of the sixth when Maloney drew the walk that started the carousel.
Gentry Caplan and Barcelo then got the free passes to load up the bases for Rivera, who drew an RBI walk on five pitches.
Luis A. Patron kept the inning alive by drawing another bases-loaded walk, which gave NMMI a 3-2 lead.
Alexys Valverde looked at four straight pitches to advance on to first to increase the Colts’ lead to two runs.
Cobre started off the top of the seventh with a triple from Ismael Dominguez. Castañon later drove in Dominguez on a ground out to short.
The comeback rally for the Indians was erased after a ground out to Rivera to end the game.
NMMI had six hits to Cobre’s four.
The Indians walked a total of 12 batters.
Barcelo finished 2 for 2 with two singles and two walks while Luis A. Patron went 1 for 2 with a single, two walks and two RBI.
Maloney was walked three times as he went 1 for 1 with a single.
Luis A. Patron started on the mound throwing 1.2 innings with four strikeouts. He allowed just one hit and walked one batter.
Barcelo relieved for the next three innings as he allowed two hits and fanned two batters while allowing one earned run.
Maloney earned the victory after allowing one hit in 2.1 innings.
“Well, bottom sixth we had a lot of clutch walks,” Maloney said. “I think we need to be smart on the bases, we need to be smart with our pitching staff and we just need to hit the ball.”
>> WARD SET TO RETIRE:
After the game, head coach Charlie Ward broke the news to his players that he’ll be retiring at the end of this season after 22 solid years at the helm of the Colt baseball program.
Ward broke in as head coach in 1998.
Up to this point, he has amassed 343 victories, but the road doesn’t end here.
“Decision was made middle of the season,” Ward said. “Life’s too short. I’ve been committed, loyal to NMMI for those 22 years and I’m ready to move on.
“I’m happy inside. I have 11 grandkids. I’m putting life in perspective. We don’t know how much time we have in this world. I’m just going to enjoy life to the best I can. I love NMMI. Let’s go out with a bang. Win, lose or draw — this has been a fun year.”
NMMI 4, Cobre 3 (7)
COBRE….0100101 — 3 4 0
NMMI….100003x — 4 6 2
Ismael Dominguez, Andres Tovar (5), James Castañon (6). Luis A. Patron, Jose Barcelo (2), Tegin Maloney (5). W — Maloney. L — Dominguez. 2B — None. 3B — Cobre: Ismael Dominguez. HR — None.
Records — Cobre (17-10); NMMI (21-6).