The New Mexico Military Institute Colt baseball team won both of their season opening games in convincing fashion, topping the visiting Hatch Valley Bears 20-1 and 14-4.
A combination of hot bats and dominant pitching paved the way to quick five-inning wins.
On the offensive side, NMMI scored early and often, cranking out 24 hits and 26 RBI in just 50 at-bats, good for a team batting average of .480 and a team slugging percentage of .700. Luis Alejandro Patron went 7-for-7 at the plate with a double, triple, four RBI and four runs, fellow Jose Barcelo had a team-leading 5 RBI and a .667 stint at the plate (3-for-5).
On the defensive side, Patron looked to be in mid-season form, throwing a complete five-inning game to get the win the front half of the twinbill. He struck out 14 batters, while giving up no walks or earned runs.
In Game 2, 23-year veteran NMMI head coach Charlie Ward used a trio of arms, starting with Barcelo. They combined for 11 strikeouts against just three walks, and just one of the four runs the Bears scored was earned.
Tegan Maloney was first relief after Barcelo pitched the opening two innings. Maloney, who had a triple and a RBI in his first high school at-bat, looked just as impressive on the mound. He allowed just two hits over two innings and kept his ERA perfect.
Bailey Mego closed out the game in similar fashion, retiring all three Hatch batters on strike-outs in the final inning.
"We pitched well and made some solid contact at the plate, at the right times," said coach Ward simply. "When you get two W's early in the season, that's a big positive for the team."
>> UP NEXT: The Colts have a single seven-inning game vs. Ruidoso at home Tuesday, March 8. The first pitch is scheduled for 4 pm.