Rams fall to Huskies

Junior right-hander Keenan Dodd pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings Friday night and Hope Christian handed Portales a 2-0 loss in a five-team tournament being hosted by PHS at Ram Field.

Freshman Joe Standley got the final four outs for the Huskies (3-2), considered one of the top teams in Class 3A this season. The two hurlers combined to limit the defending 3A champion Rams (2-2) to two hits.

"We played real well," Rams coach Arturo Ontiveros said. "It's our third game with all our basketball players back. We're still a little rusty, but Hople's one of the top teams in 3A."

Dodd allowed both PHS hits, singles by catcher Matt Martinez and outfielder Darin Bonham.

Senior Zach Blaeser went five solid innings for the Rams, allowing five hits and both runs with two walks and one strikeut. Grant Wagner was perfect over the final two innings, striking out two.

The Huskies broke a scoreless tie in the third when junior catcher John Jenson doubled to drive in Standley. Dodd tripled leading off the fifth and came home on a squeeze bunt by Nathan Stein.

CMI correspondent: Joshua LuceroPortales High third baseman Sam Roberts makes the tag on Hope Christian's John Jensen during the third inning of Friday's game at Ram Field. The Huskies posted a 2-0 win over PHS.

Standley was 2-for-3 for the Huskies, while Jensen reached all three times with his double and two walks.

In Friday's other game, defending Class 2A state champion East Mountain broke open a tight game late en route to a 5-2 victory over the Texico Wolverines.

Leading 1-0, East Mountain scored twice in the top of the sixth before Texico, playing its season opener, closed to 3-2 on a two-run single by Carlos Silva in the bottom of the inning. The Timberwolves then added three runs in the top of the seventh.

Sophomore Derrick Merkey went the distance on the mound for East Mountain, t ossing a five-hitter. Texico left-hander Jaron Hill pitched well, allowing three runs over six innings.

Today's five-game schedule has Texico facing Hope Christian at 10 a.m., followed by Eunice against Hope Christian at 12:30 p.m., East Mountain against Eunice at 3 p.m., Portales against East Mountain at 5:30 p.m. and Texico against Portales at 8 p.m.