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Lady Rams pound seven homers in sweep

Staff report

RUIDOSO — Tuning up for postseason play, the Portales Lady Rams brought out the big whuppin’ sticks on Saturday.

PHS clobbered seven home runs — including five in the opener — and rolled to a 13-1, 21-3 District 4-3A rout of Ruidoso in the regular-season finale for both teams. The first game was shortened to five innings and the second game to six by the 10-run rule.

Now, coach Robbie Crowley is hoping the Lady Rams (19-6, 8-0 district) are ready to make another deep run in the Class 3A state tournament. Pairings for the 16-team event will be released later today by the New Mexico Activities Association.

“I think we should get a 2 seed, or no lower than a 3,” Crowley said.

Junior right fielder Kassandra Rodriguez led the barrage in the opener, driving in nine runs with three homers — a grand slam in the first, a three-run blast in the second and a two-run shot to cap the scoring in the top of the fifth.

Senior catcher Simone Laurence and sophomore pitcher Kiersten Ramirez added solo shots. Ramirez allowed five hits, walked one and struck out nine in the circle.

In the second game, PHS broke open a scoreless game with a seven-run second that incluided a three-run homer junior Kailee Ramirez. She finished with five RBIs, also driving in a pair with a double in Portales’ nine-run sixth.

Laurenz had five RBIs, including a three-run double in the second, while senior shortstopl Valerie Villanueva went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and an RBI single.

“i was pretty pleased with the way we hit,” Crowley said of the 26-hit performance in the twin bill. “We adjusted well every time they put a new pitcher in.”

Taylor Mowdy did the only damage against Kiersten Ramirez, who went four innings, and freshman Daizia Looney. She hit a three-run double in the fourth to account for the only runs for the Lady Warriors (11-15, 0-8).