Cats sweep Coyotes

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While their bats have been hot for most of the season, occasionally Clovis High’s baseball team has been faced with trying to win a low-scoring contest.

link Staff photo: Tony Bullocks

Clovis High sophomore third baseball Connor Langrell throws out Roswell High’s Ty Jordan on a bunt attempt during Tuesday’s openeer at Bell Park. The Cats improved to 9-3 for the season with 10-0 and 2-1 victories over the Coyotes.

It helps to have a pitching staff that goes several arms deep. The Wildcats used that to their advantage on Tuesday in posting a 2-1 win over Roswell High and completing a doubleheader sweep at Bell Park.

Senior Daniel Gallegos tossed a four-hitter to outduel junior left-hander Garrison “Bear” Kyser as the Cats improved to 9-3 for the season.

In the opener, senior right-hander Austin Adams was overpowering, throwing an abbreviated one-hitter in a 10-0 rout of the Coyotes, shortened to 4 1/2 innings by the 10-run rule.

Coming off a tournament championship at Rio Rancho over the weekend, the Cats appear to be getting better and better as the season progresses.

“We needed another game like that, where you have to grind out a win,” CHS coach Richard Cruce said of the nightcap.

Senior shortstop Keaton Greenwalt erased a 1-0 deficit with a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth. Other than that, Kyser kept the Cats in check, allowing six hits — four coming in that inning — with one walk and two strikeouts.

“That’s their No. 1 (pitcher),” Cruse said. “Talking to their coaches, he’s kept them in every game for the last two years.

“He cut down a little bit of our running game. We had to find a way to win with small-ball.”

Meantime, Gallegos has emerged as a solid No. 2 starter for the Cats behind Adams. He walked none and struck out five — including the side in the third inning — and limited Roswell High (4-6) to just one run in the fourth inning after the Coyotes loaded the bases with no one out.

Hector Garcia drove in the lone tally with a fielder’s choice grounder before first baseman Gabriel Montoya speared a low line drive and doubled Garcia off first base.

“They’re a good ballclub, but coach just told me to trust my stuff,” Gallegos said. “It’s always rough when you have bases loaded and nobody out, but as long as I trust my defense we’ll be fine.”

In the opener, Adams walked none and struck out six. He allowed only three baserunners, losing a possible no-hitter when Roswell High’s Gabby Perez lined a one-out single to right in the fifth.

Meantime, the Cats pounded out 11 hits and chased Garcia, the starter, in the second inning. Senior Kurt Kelley doubled, tripled, walked and scored twice, while sophomore Jace Piepkorn knocked in three runs with a pair of singles and Adams, Jason Freeman and Gallegos each had a pair of RBIs.

Greenwalt went 2-for-2 with a walk and finished the day 4-for-5.

Clovis plays its final pre-district game on Thursday, facing Frenship in a 5 p.m. clash at Bell Park.