Lady Rams cruise

Staff writer

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PORTALES — The Portales softball team’s senior day was sweep day as well, with 10-3 and 8-4 wins over West Las Vegas.

“It’s a really great feeling and I couldn’t be happier with the group of girls I’m with,” senior catcher Kassandra Rodriguez said, “and I’m honored to play with them.”

Portales (13-7) broke the first game open with three runs in the fifth to snap a 3-all tie, then built on the lead in the sixth with four runs on four hits and a pair of walks. Senior Kailee Ramirez had the big hit of the sixth, an RBI double, and Rodriguez also stole home in the inning.

“I was proud of the kids,” Lady Rams coach Robbie Crowley said. “West Las Vegas is a good team and they hit the ball well today. We were patient in the box. We got the hits when we needed it, and the runs came in bunches.”

Kiersten Ramirez held the Lady Dons (11-11) scoreless for two innings before Sarah Blaeser, the original starter, was subbed back in as pitcher to finish the game.

The Lady Rams faced an early 1-0 deficit in the first game, but took the lead as they scored three runs in the bottom of the first. After the first two hitters walked, Kailee Ramirez blasted a RBI double to the left-center wall to score Rodriguez, and Sky Marianito scored following an errant throw home.

Ramirez scored the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly.

The Lady Dons tied the game and chased Blaeser in the third, as Deanna Bustos led off the inning with a homer to left-center, followed by Justice Adkins reaching on an error and scoring on a double.

In the second game, Portales again trailed early as the LadyDons scored three runs in the first on a double, single and a two-run home run by Adkins.

From there, Kiersten Ramirez settled in and the Lady Rams didn’t allow another run. Several baserunning mistakes cost Portales chances to tie the game early, but in the third the Lady Rams got on the board as Ashlie Villanueva, Rodriguez, Marianito and Kaille Ramirez started the inning with four straight hits, and all four came around to score.

Rodriguez was 2-for-2 with a triple and two runs scored, and Marianito went 3-for-3 and scored twice.

“We need games like this to make us better,” Crowley said. “If we don’t play good competition, we won’t get better. We had some baserunning mistakes, but we’ll fix that and we’ll get better. I like where we are right now, but we’re not done yet.”

The Lady Rams play a District 4-4A home doubleheader today against East Mountain, beginning at noon, before wrapping up the regular season on Tuesday in a district twin bill at Ruidoso.