Portales to test Bobcats

A big challenge for the Portales Rams heading to Albuquerque is convincing the kids that no matter the stakes, Thursday’s quarterfinal against Bloomfield is just another game.

If a postseason text message was any indication, coach Dusty Nusser said, the fourth-seeded Rams should be about where they need to be for the noon matchup at La Cueva High School. The player asked who won Portales’ district. The text briefly worried Nusser at first, because he thought it was common knowledge that Ruidoso, seeded third, won District 4-4A. But the second-year coach has since viewed it as evidence the player’s main concern was with the next opponent.

“That’s the type of mentality of our team,” Nusser said. “They just get out there and play; they enjoy playing baseball.

“They all know what’s on the line. Hopefully, we play relaxed.”

As far as what’s in front of them, the Bobcats (21-7) come in with an 11-game winning streak, including 8-1 and 4-0 wins over Shiprock in the first round. Portales hasn’t played Bloomfield since a doubleheader early in the 2014 season.

“They did graduate a few seniors from last year,” Nusser said, “but they’ve got a good deal of their pitching back. In 4A, everybody’s got a couple of (quality pitchers). It’s going to be a tough run these next three days.”

Thursday’s winner moves on to a 1 p.m. Friday semifinal at Sue V. Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho against either top-seeded Sandia Prep or 2014 Class 3A champion Silver. The title game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the University of New Mexico’s Lobo Field.

Junior Grant Wagner is the likely starter for Thursday. He was the hard-luck loser in Friday’s playoff opener against Hope Christian, where Huskies junior Joe Standley pitched a two-hitter. The Rams rallied on Saturday to sweep the final two games in the series.

The first-round bracket only had one upset, with No. 11 West Las Vegas edging No. 6 Robertson.

“Everybody else in it, we had an idea of who was going to be there,” Nusser said. “One through 12 was really pretty competitive. It’s been wide open all year, and it’s wide open to the finish.”

The Rams left Portales a little after noon on Wednesday, and were able to practice at West Mesa High School before going to their hotel. Mustangs coach Robert Erp, a former Ram assistant coach,