Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Clovis baseball team makes Sal Puentes title game

RIO RANCHO — Another tournament, another championship game appearance for the Clovis Wildcat baseball team.

This time it's the Sal Puentes Tournament for the Wildcats, who punched a ticket into today's title matchup with a 6-3 win over Rio Rancho on Friday night.

Senior Connor Langrell scattered 10 hits in a complete game victory, and the Wildcats (11-3) took control of a tight ballgame with a fourth-inning rally that included three consecutive doubles.

"Early, it was back and forth. In the fourth inning, we get three runs and just hold the lead for the rest of the ballgame," Clovis coach Richard Cruce said. "We had great approaches at the plate tonight, and really focused on what we have been working on."

Cam Kuykendall went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI, while Sebastian Nunez and Kayden Shober were each 1-for-2 with a double, a run and an RBI.

"Connor competed great tonight," Cruce said. "He gave up what we thought were just some turf hits early on. He competed hard and pitched out of jams all night."

Langrell gave up single runs in the first, second and third innings, but the Wildcats' explosive fourth inning staked him to a 5-3 lead.

Clovis tacked on an insurance run against the Rams (12-5) in the seventh inning with a leadoff single by Kuykendall, a sacrifice bunt by Connor Langrell to move him to second and a one-out line drive single by junior Garrett Langrell — part of a 2-for-4, 2-RBI night for the younger Langrell.

The Wildcats faced Cleveland on March 8 and lost 3-1, but have since won seven of eight games leading up to the 3 p.m. championship game. Senior Colson Faircloth is the projected starter for the rematch.

"We'll get out there, be ready to go," Cruce said. "We've got to get this one back."

Author Bio

Do you have a question?
A comment you'd like to see published?
Or maybe a story idea for a future edition?

— Please email the publisher: [email protected]

 
 
Rendered 03/18/2024 01:47