NMMI Sports Press
Grant Maloney hit a bases clearing triple as part of an 8-run fifth inning Tuesday afternoon at NMMI Ballpark, as the Colts began their district schedule with an 8-3 victory over the visiting Sandia Prep Sundevils.
“Grant hadn’t had a lot of at bats on varsity, but he adjusted well to the pitcher and gave us what we needed right there, cleared the bases on a triple and gave us some insurance runs to finish the ball game,” said NMMI head coach Brad Blackwell.
The starting pitcher for the Sundevils kept the Colts off balance for the first four innings, allowing a single hit with only two walks. But once Chris Gist left the game, the Colts burned through three Sandia Prep pitchers in the big fifth inning.
“We struggled with their number one,” Blackwell said. “He was throwing with a little more velocity that we’ve seen, and it showed. We gave up a lot of first pitch strikes. We just need to get better with our approach and learn to adjust to velocity.”
Sophomore starting pitcher and shortstop Tegin Maloney tossed five innings for the Colts, allowing three runs off five hits with six strikeouts and four walks. Senior pitcher and first baseman Miguel Rivera finished off the final two innings, allowing no hits and striking out three of the seven batters he faced.
“It wasn’t Tegin’s best day on the mound, but he still pitched pretty dang good,” said Blackwell. “He’ll always give everything he has and he did his job, and then Miguel came in a slammed the door on them.”
Tegin Maloney was the only Colt with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Sophomore outfielder Nicolas Barcenas, MVP of last weekend’s Colt Classic, drove in two runs with a 1-for-3 day from the plate. Freshman outfielder Caden Carter didn’t have a hit, but worked two walks and scored both times he got on.
“Once we get rolling, we’re good, but the big thing with us is we can go flat and then it takes a big hit or a big play to get them going again,” said Blackwell. “So we just gotta learn to stay motivated for the entire game, no matter what the score or the situation.”
The Colts (9-1, 1-0 in District 4/5-3A) take the short trip south to Dexter for a Saturday doubleheader against the Demons. The Colts run-ruled their district rivals 12-0 last Saturday at the Colt Classic.