NMMI Sports Press
The Colts allowed one unearned run and a single hit during the 2024 home opener Tuesday afternoon at the NMMI Ballpark, sending the visiting Eunice Cardinals home early in an 11-1 mercy-ruled victory.
Sophomore catcher Nicolas Barcelo had some trouble squeezing the ball in the top of the first frame, leading to some free bases and a run for Luis Zamora, who reached on a fielder’s choice.
But it was smooth sailing for the battery after that, as three Colt pitchers combined for five innings of one-hit ball with 10 strikeouts.
Javier Yepiz got the start, tossing the first two innings with five Ks and one base on balls. Grant Maloney pitched the third and fourth, fanning two and allowing one hit, and Tegin Maloney closed the game in the top of the fifth, hitting the first Cardinal he faced before settling in for three strikeouts.
“We have a lot of good arms on this team,” said second-year head coach Brad Blackwell. “Javier is new to the team and he’s competing at a high level. And we already know the competitiveness and skill that Tegin and Grant bring to the table. We lost a couple good arms from last year, but I think this staff could be even better overall.”
The Colts scored in bunches — three in the first, three in the third and a big five-run fourth to put the contest out of reach.
Yepiz went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and four RBI, including an inside-the-park homerun. Grant Maloney had a similar stat line, but with one run scored, also on an inside the parker.
The Colts moved to 3-0 with the win after a successful Friday doubleheader at the Alamogordo Round Robin where they defeated 4A Valencia 12-2 and 5A Alamogordo 16-11. More tough games await as the Colts enter Goddard High’s Rocket Invite starting this Thursday with a matchup against 4A Grants.
“I think we’re showing that we can complete at any level and these types of games should get us prepared for a tough district,” Blackwell said. “The more big arms we can face now, the better off we’ll be when we go up against a rival No. 1 pitcher in a big game late in the year.”