LITTLE LEAGUE: American 13-14 squad ousted from state in extra innings

ALBUQUERQUE — If nothing else, the Clovis American 13-14 all-stars gave a pretty good account of themselves in state tournament competition at West Mesa Little League.

After losing to the host Roadrunners 4-1 on Saturday, American bounced back with a 7-1 win over Taos on Sunday before falling out of the double-elimination event in a 7-6, eight-inning loss to White Rock on Monday.

All three games were played in the heat of the day, American coach Tommy Serna noted, with Monday’s game starting at 3 p.m. and the other two at noon.

“It was a good tournament,” Serna said. “I was really proud of the kids. We only had nine kids, and you couldn’t ask for more. They really played hard.”

American scored in the top of the first against West Mesa, and starting pitcher Seth Bailey made it stand up until the Roadrunners chased him in a four-run fifth.

“The pitching was good on both sides,” Serna said. “We just had the one inning where they scored four runs.”

Matt Marez came back with a complete-game three-hitter, striking out 14, in Saturday’s win over Taos.

Matt Vasquez gave American a 4-1 lead with a two-run homer in the fourth. American then broke it open with three in the fifth, loading the bases on walks and getting the runs home on an infield out and Keegan Marsh’s two-run double.

Bailey was back to the mound on Monday, throwing a complete game in the loss to White Rock. Trailing 5-3 after six innings, Marez led off the seventh with a home run and Vasquez then delivered a two-out, two-run single with the bases-loaded for a 6-5 lead.

American was within an out of nailing down the win in the seventh before White Rock tied it to force extra innings.