NMMI Sports Press
The Colt baseball team topped Ruidoso 5-2 in the first of a three-game District 4-4A series at home vs. the Warriors.
“For us it was a special moment,” said head coach Charlie Ward on earning their fourth district win. ”First of all, assistant coach Steve Rogers is sick right now. He’s getting well, but he won’t be back in the dugout until our next series on Monday. And all the players were rooting for his health and a speedy recovery. We wish him the best.”
NMMI started off the scoring in the bottom of the first inning with a pair of runs. Francisco Rivera crossed home plate on a passed ball and Alejandro Barcenas later scored on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch with two outs; designated hitter Gus Curnutt got credit for the RBI.
Ruidoso responded with a two-out triple by Gabe Dorame, followed up with a single by Ian McClure, to score Dorame and make it 2-1 after the top of the second.
“We had several key hits in the right inning, which allowed us to put up multiple two spots on them,” said Ward.
After a scoreless bottom of the second and top of the third, NMMI had runners on first and second. Back to back wild pitches allowed Alejandro Lopez to advance to third and then home, giving the Colts a 3-1 advantage heading into the top of the fourth inning.
In the top of the fourth, the Warriors managed to get another runner into scoring position, but the Colts dodged the bullet, as Ruidoso wasn’t able to bring their player home for the run, despite there being just one out.
In the bottom half, the NMMI offense came through for another pair of runs. With a runner on second, Gavin Maloney started a two out rally, doubling to center field and scoring Barcenas. Andres Bleizeffer then singled on a line drive over second base, scoring Maloney to give the Institute a 5-1 lead.
The Warriors’ final run in the top of the sixth. Maloney struck out the side, but two walks and two errors gifted Ruidoso a single-spot in the stanza.
Maloney got the complete-game victory on the mound, lasting all seven innings, allowing just three hits and two runs while striking out seven.
” We also had coach Greg Maloney calling pitches for his son, a senior, Gavin and I felt like that was a special moment for both of them,” said Ward.
The Colts were led by Rivera at the plate. He went 2-4.
Both teams will square off again tomorrow at the NMMI Ballpark beginning at 4 P.M. with another pair of games to complete a three-game series.