Cats take control to down Portales 12-2

CLOVIS — Nine players hit safely for Clovis High’s baseball team and the Wildcats took control early in rolling past Portales High 12-2 at Bell Park.

The Cats (5-6) ended the game on the 10-run run with a tally in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Sophomore Will Jordan allowed two hits and struck out 10 over five innings. Meantime, senior Joseph Albert reached base three times, going 2-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch and two runs scored, while freshman Quinn Culiver finished 2-for-2 with a two-run double, a walk and two runs scored and senior Derek Bretz was 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.

“I was proud of the way the kids competed,” CHS baseball coach Richard Cruce said. “The conditions (with a strong wind) were tough, but we came out with a good attitude and showed up from the first inning on.”

Clovis scored four runs in the first and seven in the second. The Rams (3-4) got on the board in the second and added one more in the third.

Sophomore Zane Mayberry and freshman Noah Swift each had a single for PHS, and Mayberry scored a run.

Clovis returns to action on Tuesday with a 4:30 p.m. doubleheader at Roswell Goddard.

Wolverines fall to Shiprock — Texico dropped its quarterfinal contest to Shiprock 6-1 on Thursday in the Colt Classic at Roswell, hosted by New Mexico Military.

The Chieftains (5-5) led 4-0 after three innings before the Wolverines (1-3) got on the board in the top of the fourth.

Texico collected seven hits in the game, with junior Jadyn Gonser scoring the team’s lone run. His brother, sophomore Kyle Gonser and sophomore Daltyn Cain each had a pair of hits for the Wolverines.

Texico was to return to action in a 10 a.m. consolation semifinal on Friday against Dexter. The tournament was slated to end on Saturday.