NMMI Sports Press
The Colt baseball team took on the Texico Wolverines in the 24th Annual Colt-Sertoma Classic Championship game and lost 4-1.
Texico has won the Colt-Sertoma Classic for the third consecutive year and returned all but one starter from last year’s state championship team.
”We faced a very good team, the defending state champs in 3A the last two years,” said head coach Charlie Ward. “We had [runners on] second and third twice, bases loaded twice – we just didn’t get any clutch hits. That’s baseball. It didn’t happen tonight, but maybe next time it will.”
On the mound for the Colts was Gavin Maloney, who signed to play Division I baseball for Santa Clara next year. He took the loss, striking out 11 Wolverines while giving up four hits and four runs on six innings of work.
“It was a great baseball game,” said Ward. “We just gave up too many walks early and they capitalized with a shot in the gap.”
Leading the offensive charge for NMMI was Francisco Rivera. Rivera went 2-for-3 at the plate hitting a single and double.
Nathan Phipps was credited with the victory for Texico. He lasted four and a third innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out five.
The Colts will hit the road on Monday as they travel to play the Loving Falcons at 4:00 PM. NMMI will then head into district play as they face off against the Pintos next Thursday in Moriarty.
Coach Ward also wanted to thank everyone who helps make the annual Colt-Sertoma Classic a success. "It's a lot of work to put on a baseball tournament and I definitely want to thank the Roswell Sertoma Club, along with all the parents, NMMI employees, and local businesses who help make our tournament one of the best in the state."