The Eastern New Mexico News - Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Staff report

CARLSBAD — Senior left-hander Caleb Prentiss pitched six shutout innings and senior Brent Cole drove in three runs to lead Carlsbad past Clovis High 5-0 in the opener of a District 4-5A baseball doubleheader on Friday.

In the second game, the Wildcats were outhit 11-1, but managed to play the Cavemen close before losing 4-3.

Prentiss and reliever Kain Fierro combined on a three-hitter in the opener for the Cavemen (15-3, 2-0 district). The only hits for the Cats (5-14, 0-2) were singles by losing pitcher Matt Lanier, Austin Adams and Kordell Tindle.

Cole drove in the game’s first run with a fourth-inning double and added a two-run single in Carlsbad’s four-run fifth. Senior Sergio Ortega scored two runs and drove in another for the Cavemen.

In the second game, only sophomore Kurt Kelley had a hit for the Cats, but Clovis closed to 4-3 with a pair of unearned runs in the fifth inning.

“We had some scoring opportunities in the second game,” CHS coach Shane Leatherwood said. “We just couldn’t get the hits.”

Senior Jared Rodriguez went 4-for-4 with two-runs scored for Carlsbad, while Prentice was 3-for-3.

The Cats have generally gotten decent pitching during a slide which has seen them drop 10 of their last 11. The problem has been clutch hitting.

“I think we’re playing better,” Leatherwood said. “Their five runs (in the opener) essentially came off two errors.”

Clovis, which has only three district doubleheaders remaining in the regular season, will travel again next Friday in a 4:30 p.m. twin bill at Hobbs.