Peter Dindinger — NMMI Sports Press
The grind is here as District 4/5-3A play has begun.
In the span of a week, the New Mexico Military Institute Colt baseball team will host the third and fifth-ranked squads in Class 3A.
On a gusty Tuesday evening at NMMI Ballpark, the No. 1 ranked Colts went toe to toe with No. 5 East Mountain.
The game couldn’t be decided after 21 outs as the score was deadlocked at 3-3.
An error in the top of the eighth allowed the Timberwolves to score two runs to take control and come out with the victory.
“We played our butts off. All you got to do is your job,” said NMMI head coach Charlie Ward. “Give all the credit to East Mountain. They’re legit, they got great pitching.”
The Timberwolves took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first after Trace Krueger hit an RBI triple down the line in right. Krueger ended up scoring on the throw to the plate.
NMMI answered back in the bottom half of the frame by taking a 3-2 lead.
Luis A. Patron drew the leadoff walk while Tegin Maloney singled on a bunt in front of the catcher. Jose Barcelo grounded out to the pitcher to move the runners into scoring position at second and third.
Miguel Rivera drove in courtesy runner Niko Rice on a groundout to first. Luis C. Patron then singled to bring in the tying run.
Alexys Valverde put the Colts ahead on a double that went down the left field line.
NMMI was able to string together four more hits in the final seven innings.
The Timberwolves tied up the game in the fifth after a leadoff double by Cooper Davis, who advanced to third on the throw.
Davis later scored on a wild pitch.
Luis A. Patron finished with 13 strikeouts in six innings of work. He allowed three earned runs on three hits.
His counterpart, Krueger, struck out 13 batters in seven innings while allowing seven hits.
Maloney relived the final two innings for the Colts, allowing two hits and striking out two.
NMMI had seven hits to East Mountain’s five.
Maloney, Luis C. Patron, Barcelo and Rivera all went 1 for 4. Norberto Valencia, Valverde and Luis A. Patron each went 1 for 3.
“I’m proud of them, but I just don’t like people getting on other people. It’s a team game,” said Ward. “Everybody’s giving it their heart and soul. We had a chance.”
>> UP NEXT: NMMI hosts Sandia Prep, the defending 3A state champs, for a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.
East Mountain 5, NMMI 3
EASTM….20001002 — 5 5 0
NMMI…..30000000 — 3 7 2
Trace Krueger, Cole Phillips (8). Luis A. Patron, Tegin Maloney (7). W — Krueger. L — Maloney. SV — Phillips. 2B — East Mountain: Cooper Davis; NMMI: Alexys Valverde. 3B — East Mountain: Trace Krueger. HR — None.
Records — East Mountain (7-2, 1-0); NMMI (10-2, 0-1).