On Tuesday evening, NMMI started the year off with a 7-5 win in game one as they hosted Chaparral High to open the year. In game two of the doubleheader, the Lobos came out on top 3-1. Splitting the doubleheader, the Colts open the year 1-1 while Chaparral improves to 2-1 on the season. 

Game 1

After keeping the Lobos scoreless in the top half of the opening inning, NMMI responded with a run in the home half. With two outs, Tegin Maloney recorded his first double of the year to get the tying run in scoring position. In the next at bat, Javier Yepiz tallied his first RBI of the season with a triple to the center field wall to give NMMI the 1-0 lead.

After a scoreless second inning, the Colts scored another run in the third with the help of wild pitch as Nicolas Barcenas beat the catchers tag to make it a 2-0 ball game. In the away half of the fourth inning, Chaparral scored a pair of runs to knot the game at two. Again in the fifth inning the Lobos were able to score as they tallied a trio of runs with a pair of RBI singles and take a 5-2 lead.

Down three the Colts did not flinch. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Caden Carter started it off with a lead-off double. In the next three at bats, two runners reached base. First, Barcenas reached as he was hit by a pitch and Maloney advanced the runners after being walked.

With the bases loaded, Yepiz smashed his second triple of the game to clear the bags and score a trio of runners and tally three RBIs. Down by one, with Yepiz at third, Grant Maloney recorded an RBI single to put the Colts ahead, 6-5.

NMMI used the bottom half of the sixth inning to add some insurance. Barcenas reached after being walked before Tegin Maloney earned his first RBI of the year with single to center frills as Barcenas crossed home plate to give the Colts a 7-5 advantage.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Lobos made it interesting. After the first two batters were retired, the Lobos used three walks and error to make it a 7-6 ball game. In the next at bat, the Lobos tried stealing home but it was not successful as the Colts secured the first win of the year.

Yepiz finished game one hitting 2-for-3, with four RBIs to lead the way for the Colts. On the mound, Tegin Maloney struck out nine batters in 4.0 innings of action while allowing just one run in the process.

Game 2

In game two, the Lobos used a pair of walks, a double and a single in the first to cross to runs across home plate as they took a 2-0 lead. Establishing some rhythm on the mound, the Colts held Chaparral scoreless in the next two innings to stay in the game.

In the bottom of the fourth, Javier Yepiz smacked a double into right field to get on base. After a groundout advanced Yepiz to third base, he later scored with the help of an error to make it a 2-1 ball game. The Colts were held scoreless to end the game but the Lobos were able to add some insurance in the top of the seventh as they scored a run with a sac fly. In the bottom of the seventh inning, NMMI went down in order as they fell 3-1 in game two of Tuesday’s doubleheader.

Head Coach Brad Blackwell on the team’s performance, “being the first two games, playing a 4A school … I think we responded well and our pitching was phenomenal. We struggled at the plate a little, but we battled every count.” Blackwell said. Looking forward to next week, “we need to get better with our approach at the plate, going up their knowing what pitches we want and not guessing,” Blackwell said.  

NMMI returns to the diamond on Tuesday, March 4 as they travel to Denver City, TX to take on Denver City in a doubleheader, starting at 4 p.m. CST.