Peter Dindinger — NMMI Sports Press
DEXTER — Entering Friday’s Hal Bogle tournament championship semifinal game, the New Mexico Military Institute Colt baseball team had outscored opponents 61-5.
NMMI had not played a full seven inning game until meeting Santa Rosa.
The Colts went the distance with the Lions and came out on top 12-7 to land a spot in the tournament championship at 7 p.m. Saturday against the winner of the Tularosa-Loving game.
“They needed a wakeup call,” said NMMI head coach Charlie Ward. “Defense had a little lack of focus, but they put pressure on us like we did to them.
“Our bottom of the order got us that rally. Those guys can compete. We got the W. We’re in the championship and that’s all you can ask for.”
Both teams were retired in order in the first inning.
The rally for NMMI began in the top of the second when Miguel Rivera and Luis C. Patron hit back to back singles.
Sergio Gonzales came into the clutch with a two RBI double to left field.
Alexys Valverde then hit an RBI single to right to extend the lead to 3-0. After a sacrifice bunt by Bailey Mego and a single by Kendrick Tsosie, the Colts had runners at first and second.
Luis A. Patron drove in a run on a fielder’s choice to the shortstop. Tegin Maloney then delivered a two RBI triple to center.
Up 6-0, Maloney scored on an error by the third baseman. Jose Barcelo drilled a double to left to keep the inning alive.
Rivera followed up with an RBI double to make the score 8-0.
Luis C. Patron later drove in Rivera on a groundout to short. The NMMI rally was fueled by nine hits.
Quickly down two outs in the top of the fourth, the Colts put together two runs after Rivera and courtesy runner Noah Martinez scored on a pair of wild pitches.
With a chance to end the game early courtesy of the 10-run rule, the Lions rallied for five runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Santa Rosa strung together five hits while taking advantage of an error and a wild pitch to trail by seven.
The Colts added on a run in the top of the fifth after Mego leadoff with a hit by pitch. Luis A. Patron hit a single to center. An error by the centerfielder allowed Mego to score, but Patron was thrown out at the plate.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Lions cut the deficit in half after an RBI groundout by Josiah Barela.
Santa Rosa tacked on one more run in the bottom of the seventh as Jaron Sanchez scored on a wild pitch.
The Lions left a runner stranded as the Colts got out of the inning with a 1-3 put out by Mego.
NMMI out hit Santa Rosa 12-8.
Rivera finished 3 for 4 with two singles, a double and an RBI. Gonzalez tallied a single, double and two RBI to go 2 for 3.
Barcelo had two singles to finish 2 for 4.
Luis A. Patron, Luis C. Patron and Maloney tallied a combined three hits while driving in four runs.
Maloney struck out four batters and allowed three hits in three innings of work to pick up his first win of the season.
Barcelo and Mego closed out the final four innings allowing a combined five hits and three earned runs while tallying three strikeouts.
Santa Rosa had to come from behind in the first round after trailing Hot Springs 8-0 after three innings. It tried to surmount a comeback once again, but the Colts battled and proved to be the better team.
“I think it’s a big confidence booster for them,” Ward added. “Barcelo looked good. Tegin, the little freshman, did his job and dealt. Pitching wise, I still trust our pitching.
“We’re in the championship. We got Patron, our ace, tomorrow. We’re going to compete. We’re 5-0. No one can take that away.”
NMMI 12, Santa Rosa 7
SANTA….0005011 — 7 8 5
NMMI…..0902100 — 12 12 4
Jykub Gage, Josh Cordova (4), Josiah Barela (5). Tegin Maloney, Jose Barcelo (4), Bailey Mego (6). W — Maloney. L — Gage. 2B — Santa Rosa: Jaron Sanchez, Nicholas Chavez; NMMI: Sergio Gonzales, Jose Barcelo, Miguel Rivera. 3B — NMMI: Tegin Maloney. HR — None.
Records — Santa Rosa (1-1); NMMI (5-0).