Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Portales High sophomore Micaela Garcia looks over a high pitch during Thursday's softball matchup against Clovis High at Lady Wildcat Field. The Lady Rams collected 13 hits in the game en route to a 17-4 victory, shortened to five innings by the 10-run rule.
Clovis High sophomore catcher Brittni Chavez smothers a pitch during Thursday's matchup against Portales at Lady Wildcat Field.
CLOVIS — The Clovis High softball team is still looking for that magic formula.
The young Lady Wildcats got through the first inning on Thursday, then ran into big-time problems as Portales ran away to a 17-4 victory, called after five innings on the 10-run rule.
Five errors, five hit batsmen and myriad walks made the Lady Rams' job easy. Portales (7-5) added 13 hits to the mix, including at least one from all nine batters in the lineup.
The Lady Cats (0-15) just couldn't match up. Still, CHS coach Brandi Thomas tried to stay positive.
"I'm proud of my girls," she said. "They didn't give up. We've got to take baby steps (to get better), and that's what we're doing.
"It would've been easy to give up, but I feel like we're starting to learn the game."
CHS junior Celeste Chavez hit Portales' Devyn Chavez with the game's first pitch, but then retired the next four hitters, including the leadoff batter in the second.
But a walk, single, walk and hit batsman put the Lady Rams on the board, and Lopez followed with a two-run double for a 3-0 lead.
Portales continued to pile on after that, leading 11-1 after four and adding a six-spot in the fifth.
Clovis countered with a three-run rally in the bottom of the inning, but it was too little, too late.
Sophomore Aymri Chavez, filling in for freshman Wendy Baeza in the circle, was in control most of the way before running into a bit of late trouble. She also delivered three hits at the plate.
Baeza was resting a sore shoulder, Lady Rams coach Robbie Crowley said. She added that Chavez, normally an outfielder, doesn't really like to pitch, but said she's willing to do what's needed.
"She can hit the ball," Crowley said. "She did her job today."
Portales is gearing up for the start of District 4-4A play next week. The Lady Rams have struggled at times as some players transition from basketball to softball, but they seem headed in the right direction.
"I think we'll do pretty well in district," said senior center fielder Sky Marianito, who herself is coming back from an MCL injury suffered during basketball season in January. "Some of the girls (came in) late, but now I feel like we're getting more comfortable."
First baseman Alexis Garcia and right fielder Kimberlie Hay each drove in three runs for Portales, which finished with 13 hits.
"What we've had trouble with this year is a adjusting to the speed of the pitching," Crowley said. "We're learning how to do that now."
The Lady Rams have a 1 p.m. game on tap at Dexter on Saturday before opening district play at home next Thursday in a doubleheader against Moriarty. Clovis' next outing is on Saturday in a 2 p.m. District 2-6A doubleheader at Manzano.
