Peter Dindinger — NMMI Sports Press
DEXTER — On a blustery Thursday morning, the New Mexico Military Institute Colt baseball team punched its way into the 22nd annual Hal Bogle tournament championship semifinals.
The Colts made quick work of the Capitan Tigers with a 17-0 win in five innings.
NMMI takes on Santa Rosa in the next round at 4 p.m. Friday.
“I’m happy for the W. Our pitching plan — we did what we had to do because you have to respect every opponent,” said NMMI head coach Charlie Ward. “We knew Capitan was going to be good with eight seniors. They threw their number two. We did our job.”
Luis A. Patron and Miguel Rivera combined for a four-hitter for the Colts. The duo struck out seven batters and walked just three.
Bailey Mego closed the ball game not allowing a single hit in the fifth.
Capitan threatened early in the top of the first with runners at first and second. Luis A. Patron tabbed a strikeout while Luis C. Patron threw out a runner at third to get out of the frame.
Luis A. Patron led off the bottom half of the inning with a double.
After back to back walks to load up the bases, Jose Barcelo hit an RBI single.
Rivera later drew a four-pitch walk to drive in Tegin Maloney.
With the bases still loaded, Sergio Gonzales hit a grounder to third that brought in a run. Alexys Valverde and Bailey Mego then hit back to back RBI singles to make the score 5-0.
Niko Rice delivered an RBI double to left. Luis A. Patron later brought in Mego on a sacrifice fly to right.
Up 7-0, Maloney hit an RBI single to keep the rally alive.
NMMI took advantage of three walks and six hits during the big inning.
The Colts continued to stay hot on offense entering the bottom of the second.
After a leadoff single by Barcelo, Rivera hit an RBI triple to center. Gonzales followed up with an RBI single to extend NMMI’s lead to 10-0.
Luis A. Patron hit an RBI single that came in the form of a high pop fly near the pitcher’s mound that was carried by the wind.
Down 11-0, the Tigers tried to erase the shutout in the top of the third, but they were unable to push across a run after having the bases loaded.
The Colts tacked on two more runs in the third to lead by 13.
NMMI rallied for four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Maloney delivered an RBI single while two runs were scored on errors by the middle infielders.
On a botched pickoff attempt at second, pinch runner Gael Garza was able to sprint his way across home plate to make the score 17-0.
Luis A. Patron went 2 for 2 with a single, double and two RBI while Maloney finished 2 for 3 with two singles and an RBI.
Barcelo had a quality outing going 3 for 4 with three singles and an RBI.
Mego and Valverde went a combined 4 for 6 with four singles and an RBI. Rivera tallied the extra base hit to go 1 for 2 with two RBI.
“Patron pitched well. I thought at the beginning we hit well, stayed with the ball,” Ward added. “Miguel’s first time pitching. He looked solid, he’s going to be fine.
“We still got a long way, but we’re proud of our pitching staff. I’m really pleased with that part.”
NMMI 17, Capitan 0 (5)
CAPIT……00000 — 0 4 4
NMMI…..8324x — 17 15 0
Diego Gallegos, Darin Kahlich (4). Luis A. Patron, Miguel Rivera (3), Bailey Mego (5). W — Patron (3-0). L — Gallegos. 2B — NMMI: Luis A. Patron, Niko Rice. 3B — NMMI: Miguel Rivera. HR — None.
Records — Capitan (1-1); NMMI (4-0).