Rams ready for baseball season

STAFF WRITER

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After going 21-9 land making it to the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state tournament last year, the Portales Rams baseball team is hoping to mount an even a deeper run into the playoffs this season.

Coach Dustin Nusser will need to find some new starters as about half of them from last year graduated and were responsible for a lot of the Rams’ offense.

Staff photo: Matthew Asher

Portales senior Chris Aranda fields a ground ball during Tuesday’s practice. The Rams begin their season this Tuesday against the Clovis Wildcats.

“Out of those five guys, three of them were among our four batting averages,” Nusser said. “We’re going to have to find some guys to fill in. Maybe bunting, hit-and-runs, stealing bases. We’ll have to find a way to manufacture some runs.”

The good news for the Rams most of their pitching returns. However, Nusser needs to find a replacement for Ray Ornelas and his 44-plus innings of work in 11 appearances from last season, second only to now-senior Grant Wagner’s 48-plus innings over 10 games.

“We get all but one of our pitchers back from last year,” Nusser said. “That will be big because (Ornelas) went 6-0 for us, so we have to find a way to win those games. But we have everybody else pitching so we’re ready to rock and roll.

“We try to rotate four or five guys. Two or three that can start and a couple rest for relief. The more the better. We want to let them get in a rhythm. If they’re struggling, we won’t pull them instantly. We’ll let them work through it.”

As of now, Nusser isn’t planning on having a designated closer.

“If they’re in a groove or somebody’s been throwing, well we’ll let them do it,” he said. “It just depends on who’s hot right now.”

Even with having to replace several position starters this season, Nusser isn’t worried about who will step up as numerous players have impressed him in preseason.

“Alex Galvan split time at first base with us last year,” Nusser said. “We have big expectations for him. We’re looking for a catcher because Matt Martinez, who started all four years for us, graduated last year. We’ve got some guys to rotate but we don’t know if it’ll be (Jacob) Salgado, (Kersey) Burnett or (Omar) Legarda.”

Just like Martinez, Burnett has been on the varsity squad since he was a freshman and likes what he’s seen from this team so far.

“We look great,” Burnett said. “I think we have a solid defense and have some guys who can hit. We also have five or six good pitchers so I like this and I think we have a good chance.”

Nusser is looking forward to District 4-4A play as well as the Rams’ tournament scheduled for later in March.

“Our district games are tough,” Nusser said. “I think Ruidoso’s been to the state championship two out of the last three years and NMMI’s always competitive. Coach (Charles) Ward does a heck of a job with those guys. I know East Mountain lost their main guy, but their coach does a great job as well.

“I’m really looking forward to our tournament. We have Sandia Prep, who’s won about 32 straight games — it’s an outrageous number. We’re playing them at 11 (a.m.) on March 25 of our tournament. And of course, our first game against Clovis. We’ve been practicing a long time and are waiting for basketball to end so we have our full roster. We’re ready to get started.”

Of course, the goal of every sports team is to win a championship, but Burnett is hoping at least for a deep trip into the state tournament.

“The ultimate goal is to win state but we want to make the tournament first,” he said. “As a senior, I want to win the title, but if we make it past the quarterfinals that’s great because I’ve never done that here.”

The Rams open their schedule with a 5 p.m. home game on Tuesday against Clovis.