Cats fighting for postseason

A little more than a month ago, the Clovis Wildcats beat Valley to advance to the title game of the Rio Rancho Tournament. At that point, the season took a turn for the worst.

The Cats lost 6-0 to Rio Rancho in the title game, and would lose 10 out of their next 12 games, including being swept by Carlsbad and Hobbs in district play.

However, the Cats (10-13, 1-5 District 4-5A) have been on a run as of late, sweeping Roswell Goddard and taking one of two from Carlsbad in their past four games.

Clovis senior Chase Denton said handing the Cavemen a loss, only their second all season, was a sign that his team has broken the slump.

“It’s hard to get out of a losing streak,” Denton said. “And Carlsbad is, what, third in the state? Beating the No. 3 team in the state is pretty big.”

The Cavemen (17-2, 5-1) are ranked third in the Albuquerque Journal Class 5A poll.

That win gave the Cats a big confidence boost, but it also gave them a fighting chance to finish second place in the district and earn an automatic state tournament berth.

“Coach told us, ‘It’s all up to y’all. If you want to make the playoffs we need at least one against Carlsbad and you need to sweep Hobbs.’” CHS senior Jared Powers said. “And the one against Carlsbad happened.”

The Cats play at Hobbs (15-4-1, 2-2) today in a doubleheader . If Clovis sweeps, and Carlsbad sweeps Hobbs on Saturday, the Cats will be second in the district. If either series are splits, Hobbs will take second and Clovis will be third.

“It feels a lot better knowing that we can get second,” Powers said. “I think we’re going to go out there (today) and whoop Hobbs. We’re a lot more confident and a lot more ready.”

The Eagles swept Clovis 18-11, 10-9 in a doubleheader at Bell Park earlier this month.

“I think we can do it,” Denton said. “We’ve been hitting the ball a lot better.”

Powers said the Cats’ recent surge is representative of how the team should have been playing all season.

“It’s not a surprise, we knew that we were good,” Powers said. “It’s just that we haven’t pulled it together until now.

We’re going to try to stay that way for the rest of the season and into the playoffs.”

The Lady Wildcats (12-12, 0-6 District 4-5A) host Hobbs (12-10, 2-2) today at the Lady Wildcats softball park.

Clovis has lost seven games in a row, and coach Brandi Thomas said she wants her team to turn that trend around.

“I expect to win two games,” Thomas said. “There is no excuse for not bringing home two games (today).”

The Lady Cats can tie for second place if they sweep Hobbs and Carlsbad sweeps the Lady Eagles this weekend.

Hobbs swept Clovis 2-1, 7-3 earlier this season.