State-ment win

TEXICO - As Wednesday night's state 2A first-round playoff game was beginning, a dark angry cloud was moving toward the Texico baseball field.

It was hardly a bad omen for the Wolverines. Though the cloud didn't deposit much more than a few drops on the players and fans, top-seeded Texico rained on big-hearted and 16th-seeded Navajo Pine, 26-0 in five innings.

With that, the Wolverines - winners of three consecutive state 3A championships - advanced to the 2A quarterfinals, and will play noon Thursday against ninth-seeded Capitan at Eldorado High School in Albuquerque. Capitan defeated eighth-seeded Mesilla Valley Christian School 12-7 this past Wednesday.

"It's always good to move on," Texico head coach Ty Thatcher said. "We're excited about the next few games. This time of year, baseball's always fun."

"We always say we've got four games to play. That's just one; we've got three more to go," Texico senior Dalton Thatcher said after collecting three hits, including two doubles and three RBIs.

"It's awesome," Wolverines senior Cole Rohrbach said after going 5-for-5, including a triple and five RBIs. "You can't take anything for granted. ... Any game could be your last."

Sophomore Seth Griego and junior Luke Phipps combined for a five-inning no-hitter. Griego worked the first three innings, striking out five and walking one. Phipps went the last two, striking out four with one hit batsman.

They certainly had plenty of support from an offense that collected 19 hits and a defense that committed no errors.

Texico (17-5) went to work early and built a daunting lead, plating 12 runs in the bottom of the first inning. Freddy Davalos led it off by doubling on a 2-2 count, and he scored when Dalton Thatcher then doubled to deep centerfield.

Thatcher was sent to third base on a balk and scored when Rohrbach dropped a single into shallow right-center. Rohrbach also went to third on a balk, Luke Phipps reached on an error to put runners at first and third, and Phipps stole second with Robin Winton batting. Winton doubled home a run to make it 3-0, and Phipps stopped at third base on the play, giving Texico runners at second and third again.

Two consecutive popouts, however, moved Texico close to leaving it at 3-0. But, Isaac Ortiz was plunked to load the bases, and when an errant pitch got to the backstop with Seth Griego batting, a run scored to give the Wolverines a 4-0 edge. Griego reached on an error, allowing Texico's fifth run to score.

With the Wolverines having officially batted around, Freddy Davalos returned to the plate, and he walked this time to re-load the bases. Thatcher was hit by a pitch to force Ortiz home, and Rohrbach beat out an infield single, increasing Texico's lead to 7-0 while keeping the bases jammed.

Phipps walked to push Freddy Davalos home, and Winton then singled to right, scoring Thatcher and Rohrbach and handing Texico a 10-0 lead.

With David Davalos up, Winton stole second, and Davalos then singled to left, scoring Phipps and Winton to give the Wolverines a 12-0 cushion.

Texico added three more in the second inning - on an RBI double by Thatcher, an RBI triple by Rohrbach and a pitch in the dirt that allowed Rohrbach to score.

In the third inning, David Davalos skipped an RBI double down the left-field line; Ortiz, Freddy Davalos and Rohrbach added RBI singles; Phipps reached on error to score a run; and Winton clouted an RBI double, making it a 22-0 game.

And in the fourth, RBI bunt singles from Griego and Rohrbach, a sacrifice bunt by Freddy Davalos, and Josh Myers reaching on an error, allowed Texico to add four more runs.

Winton finished 4-for-4, with three doubles and five RBIs. Aside from his three hits, Thatcher made it on base all five times he visited the plate - he was also hit by a pitch and reached on an error.

Wednesday night's game marked the last at home for Thatcher, Rohrbach, Winton, Ortiz and Bryce Douma, all due to graduate later this month. Thatcher and Rohrbach have been around the longest, each having played varsity ball since eighth grade.

"It's kind of bittersweet. My son's last game at home," Ty Thatcher said. "Rohrbach's been with me for a long time. They were a little disappointed about having to bunt on their last at-bats, but they understand the game of baseball, not to rub it in. To win and lose with class."

"It's a bittersweet moment," Rohrbach said. "I'm glad we got to do it with this team, glad we got to play here, glad we got to end on a win."

"I've played here for five years," Dalton Thatcher said. "It's pretty heartbreaking, but it's fun. I'm ready to move on. Never take it for granted; it goes by quicker than you think."