Portales, NMMI to battle for runnerup spot

ROSWELL — New Mexico Military Institute got the split it needed, and the District 4-3A runnerup will have a tough road ahead.

Lovington and NMMI split a Tuesday doubleheader, with the first game a 4-3 win for Lovington and the second a 15-5 rout for NMMI.

The split leaves Portales and NMMI at 7-5 in District 4-3A play, with the season series tied 2-2. The teams will play a neutral site game Thursday, which NMMI coach Charlie Ward said would take place at 5 p.m. at Hobbs High School.

The winner of that game would then travel to Cobre Friday for a regional championship.

District 4-3A champion Lovington hosts Bernalillo Saturday.

Regional winners advance to next week’s state tournament.

McCurdy holds off Dora

ESPANOLA — Host McCurdy jumped out to a 6-1 lead after three innings, then held off Dora behind a strong pitching performance from Paul Salazar in a 7-5 win in Tuesday’s Region A Class 1A/2A regional tournament semifinal.

The Bobcats (15-6) advanced to today’s regional championship game against Santa Fe Indian School, which defeated Texico 31-1.

Salazar allowed five hits in his seven innings of work and held Dora without a hit over the final two innings.

Greg Naranjo and Gary Gallegos had back-to-back RBI doubles during a three-run third inning, helping the Bobcats establish a 6-1 advantage.

The Coyotes (8-9) rallied back with two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, closing within 7-5 on an RBI single by Zach Morrow in the fifth.