Colts sweep Ruidoso in final regular-season doubleheader

Left: Grant Maloney had the walk-off two-run single in Game 2, and scored the winning run in Game 1 on a wild pitch. Right: NMMI Shortstop Makihi Phillips turns a double-play in the second game vs. the Warriors. (Photos courtesy of cadet Han McCall for NMMI Sports Press)
Left: Grant Maloney had the walk-off two-run single in Game 2, and scored the winning run in Game 1 on a wild pitch. Right: NMMI Shortstop Makihi Phillips turns a double-play in the second game vs. the Warriors. (Photos courtesy of cadet Han McCall for NMMI Sports Press)
Posted: May 02, 2026

On Saturday afternoon New Mexico Military Institute concluded its regular season with a sweep over Ruidoso high school at the NMMI Ballpark. The Colts took game one 7-6 and followed up with a 6-5 win in the second game. With the pair of wins, the Colts improved to 11-15 overall and 8-7 in district play. With the losses, Ruidoso moves to 7-8 in district play with a 11-14 overall record. 

GAME 1

The game began as a defensive struggle, with both J. Gonzales-Miles for the Colts and C. Stratton for Ruidoso dealing early. Ruidoso finally broke the ice in the top of the 3rd when A. Marmolejo laced a two-run single to center. However, the Colts responded immediately in the bottom half. Exploiting walks and errors, NMMI exploded for five runs, highlighted by RBI singles from Rodolfo Anaya, Nicolas Barcelo, and Konstantino Scopelitis, taking a 5-2 lead.

Ruidoso refused to go quietly. In the 5th, E. Marmalejo grounded into a fielder's choice that plated two, and by the 6th, the Warriors capitalized on a series of walks and a critical error by Scopelitis to claw back and tie the game at 6-6. The Warriors nearly took the lead in the 7th, but M. Fikany was caught stealing home to end the threat.

The drama peaked in the bottom of the 7th. The Colts loaded the bases following singles by Grant Maloney and Nicolas Barcelo and a walk to Connor Kent. With Konstantino Scopelitis at the plate and the pressure mounting, a passed ball allowed Grant Maloney to sprint home from third, sealing the 7-6 victory for the Colts in walk-off fashion.

Despite a resilient effort from Ruidoso's lineup, NMMI’s ability to capitalize on late-inning opportunities proved to be the difference.

GAME 2 

Ruidoso wasted no time in the first, capitalizing on a two-run error following a C Stratton double to take an early lead. However, the Colts clawed back, manufacturing runs in the first and fourth innings—the latter highlighted by a Rodolfo Anaya bunt single and a Warrior throwing error that briefly gave NMMI a 3–2 advantage.

The momentum swung back to the Warriors in the fifth. After loading the bases, A Marmolejo reached on a fielder's choice that saw two runs cross the plate following a shortstop error. E Marmalejo then padded the lead with a clutch RBI double to left, putting Ruidoso ahead 5–3. The Colts responded in the bottom half of the frame, cutting the deficit to one after Konstantino Scopelitis singled and eventually scored on a fielder's choice.

Entering the final frame down 5–4, the Colts showed remarkable composure. A leadoff error and a walk put the tying and winning runs on base. Anaya moved the runners with his second bunt single of the day, setting the stage for Grant Maloney. On a 1-0 count, Maloney laced a hard ground ball into left field, driving in both Juan-Carlos Hurtado and Caden Carter to secure the dramatic 6–5 comeback victory for the Institute.

UP NEXT 

The Colts will await tomorrow's NMAA selection show to decide their seeding at the NMAA Class 3A State Championship. The first round will be at the higher seed, with a single game on Friday, May 8 and close out the three-game series on Saturday, May 9. 

  • Thu, 05/14 | Colt Varsity Baseball Colt Varsity Baseball vs. East Mountain HS 7 - 10 (3:30 pm MST)
  • Sat, 05/09 | Colt Varsity Baseball Tochatchi HS vs. Colt Varsity Baseball 3 - 6 (11:00 am MST) RC | PH | V
  • Fri, 05/08 | Baseball vs. Weatherford College L, 10-4 (Final) BX | PH | V
  • Fri, 05/08 | Colt Varsity Baseball Tochatchi HS vs. Colt Varsity Baseball 1 - 8 (6:00 pm MST) RC | PH
  • Thu, 05/07 | Baseball at Weatherford College L, 5-1 (Final) BX | V
  • Sun, 05/03 | Baseball vs. New Mexico Junior College L, 22-7 (Final - 7 innings) RC | BX | PH | V
  • Sun, 05/03 | Baseball vs. New Mexico Junior College L, 7-3 (Final - 7 innings) RC | BX | PH | V
  • Sat, 05/02 | Baseball vs. New Mexico Junior College W, 13-5 (Final - 7 innings) BX
  • Sat, 05/02 | Baseball vs. New Mexico Junior College W, 6-5 (Final - 7 innings) BX
  • Sat, 05/02 | Colt Varsity Baseball Ruidoso HS vs. Colt Varsity Baseball 6 - 7 (11:00 am MDT) RC | PH | V
  • Sat, 05/02 | Colt Varsity Baseball Ruidoso HS vs. Colt Varsity Baseball 5 - 6 (1:00 pm MDT) RC | PH | V
  • Mon, 04/27 | Colt Varsity Baseball Colt Varsity Baseball at Eunice HS 2 - 3 (6:00 pm MDT)
  • Sat, 04/25 | Baseball vs. Midland College W, 12-10 (Final) BX | PH | V
  • Sat, 04/25 | Baseball vs. Midland College L, 7-4 (Final - 7 innings) BX | V
  • Fri, 04/24 | Baseball vs. Midland College W, 7-6 (Final - 7 innings) RC | BX | PH | V
  • Fri, 04/24 | Baseball vs. Midland College L, 7-5 (Final - 8 innings) RC | BX | PH | V
  • Fri, 04/24 | Colt Varsity Baseball Colt Varsity Baseball at East Mountain HS 0 - 5 (4:00 pm MDT)
  • Fri, 04/24 | Colt Varsity Baseball Colt Varsity Baseball at East Mountain HS 3 - 8 (2:00 pm MDT)
  • Tue, 04/21 | Colt Varsity Baseball Colt Varsity Baseball at Dexter HS 15 - 2 (5:00 pm MDT)
  • Sat, 04/18 | Baseball at Odessa College W, 7-4 (Final - 11 innings) BX | V
  • Sat, 04/18 | Baseball at Odessa College L, 1-0 (Final - 8 innings) BX | V
  • Sat, 04/18 | Colt Varsity Baseball Sandia Prep vs. Colt Varsity Baseball 6 - 3 (12:00 pm MDT) RC | PH | V
  • Sat, 04/18 | Colt Varsity Baseball Sandia Prep vs. Colt Varsity Baseball 7 - 4 (2:00 pm MST) RC | PH | V
  • Fri, 04/17 | Baseball at Odessa College L, 12-3 (Final - 8 innings) BX | V