NMMI Sports Press
The Institute opened its home season Thursday in the nightcap of the 29th annual Roswell Sertoma Colt Classic with a run-rule victory over the Tularosa Wildcats 14-1.
Sophomore pitcher and shortstop Tegin Maloney tossed 58 pitches over five innings, 35 of them for strikes. He allowed one run on two hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.
“He threw a lot of first pitch strikes and his slider was pretty devastating,” said acting head coach Greg Maloney. “With his fast ball, he was able to hit the spots we were calling and they couldn’t catch up to it. They were aggressive at the plate and Tegin took advantage.”
Tegin Maloney said he felt good throwing the ball, especially in front of the home crowd.
“My fast ball was there. I pulled a couple pitches here and there, but I felt like I made them put the ball in play,” said Tegin Maloney. “I used a lot of breaking balls and they were going for them. We have the best field in the state and the crowd was supportive. It was a fun night.”
Sophomore centerfielder Nicolas Barcenas was the top hitter for the Colts, going 3-for-4 with three runs batted in.
“He’s a guy that makes a lot of contact and he doesn’t necessarily hit the ball out of the park, but he finds holes whether to the left or right,” Greg Maloney said. “He plays the game hard and he’s on fire right now.
Senior first baseman Miguel Rivera went 0-for-2, but walked twice, plated two runs and scored three times.
Maloney said the Colts will need to hit the ball better tomorrow when they face the district-rival Dexter in the second semifinal game. The Demons took down the Hatch Valley Bears 9-6 earlier in the day.
“They are a young team and they’re moving up,” said Greg Maloney “We’re gonna have to hit the ball better. Put the ball in play and make their defense work. We’ll have our hands full.”
In other Colt Classic action, the Santa Rosa Lions made quick work of the Hatch Valley Bears 11-0 and the defending Class 2A state champion Eunice Cardinals turned a close game into a blowout with an 18-7 win over the Texico Wolverines.
The Cardinals will face the Lions in the first semifinal at 3:30 p.m. The Wolverines and Tigers will meet in the first consolation semifinal at 10 a.m. and the Wildcats and Bears will play in the second consolation semifinal at 12:45 p.m.
The Colts (6-1) take on the Demons at 6:30 p.m. All Colt Classic games can be viewed free of charge at KSVPtv.com.