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Cats win in ninth, advance to finals in Goddard meet

ROSWELL – Senior Joe Albert delivered a two-run single in the top of the ninth inning on Friday night and Clovis High’s baseball team edged Roswell High 8-6 to advance to Saturday night’s championship game in Roswell Goddard’s eight-team Southwest Classic.

The Wildcats (3-6) were to face the host Rockets (3-1), who edged Eldorado 9-8 in nine innings in Friday’s other semifinal, in the 7 p.m. title clash.

“We’re starting to grow up, starting to mature a little bit,” CHS coach Richard Cruse said. “The kids have bought in very well.”

Junior Nathan McIntosh earned the win with eight innings on the mound before sophomore Koby Rivera finished, striking out the side in the bottom of the ninth for a save.

“Nate was a bulldog tonight,” Cruce said. “When things got tough, he got tougher, and Koby was lights out.”

Clovis posted an 11-8 advantage in hits over the Coyotes (1-1). Rivera led the attack with 3-for-4, while Jasias Jimenez added a pair of hits.

Albert drove in a third run with a third-inning sacrifice fly. Roswell High took a 3-2 lead in the bottom half on a three-run double by senior Jerry Burrola.

Clovis 17, Ruidoso 1 (Thursday, quarterfinals) – The Cats made short work of the Warriors, who were playing their season opener. Clovis scored 11 runs in the first, then added five in the fourth in a game shortened to 4 ½ innings by the 10-run rule.

Rivera and sophomore Quinn Culiver led a 14-hit attack, both going 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Culiver did all his damage in the first inning with a pair of two-run singles, while Rivera added a three-run homer.

“We’ll take everything we can get right now,” Cruce said. “I thought the kids had a great approach at the plate.”

Junior Jayden Jameson benefitted from all the offense, throwing a five-inning two-hitter, with one walk, one hit batsmen and nine strikeouts.

“Jayden threw well,” Cruce said. “He came out and pounded the (strike) zone.”

After Saturday’s game, the Cats return to action with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday against Mayfield at Bell Park.