Cleveland Battles Past Rio Rancho

Rio Rancho’s proved more costly than Cleveland’s.

The Storm capitalized on some erratic pitching and defense from the Rams in the final two innings on Tuesday afternoon, and Cleveland went on to a 3-1 victory at Rio Rancho in the District 1-5A baseball opener for both teams on a windy afternoon.

“We did a good job of battling back,” Cleveland coach Shane Shallenberger said. “And a couple of breaks went our way.”

Rio Rancho scored an unearned run in the bottom of the third. Storm shortstop Robert Montoya botched a ground ball that led to a run.

But the Rams were sloppy later on, and it cost them the game.

A hit batsman eventually led to Cleveland scoring the tying run in the sixth. Ted Bency’s ground ball out scored James Cleveland to make it 1-1.

In the seventh, pinch-hitter Ray Mora opened the at-bat by lining a double down the right-field line. He moved to third on Natty Lucero’s infield single. Lucero was bunting courtesy runner Brennen Parramore over to third, but his bunt was so well placed that Lucero was able to leg out a single.

With runners at first and third, Matt Corrales flied to right. The Rams’ Vic Chavez caught the ball for the first out and fired home to get Parramore, who tagged up from third.

While the ball reached the plate far ahead of Parramore, Ram catcher Marcus Martinez dropped the ball when applying the tag. That error allowed Parramore to score and Cleveland led 2-1.

A second error allowed the Storm to tack on an insurance run.

Matt Villalobos pitched five innings for Cleveland. Lucero pitched the sixth, and got the win. He is 2-3. Montoya got the save in the seventh.

On Saturday, Rio Rancho (13-5) has a doubleheader with Cibola, at 1 p.m.

“We thought two or three losses could win this district, because it’s such a tough district,” Ram coach Ron Murphy said.

Also at 1 p.m. Saturday, the Storm (12-6) visit Volcano Vista for two games. The Hawks pounded Cibola 13-1 on Tuesday in a 1-5A opener.

It is the first meeting between the schools since Volcano Vista beat Cleveland in the Class 5A semifinals last May at Isotopes Park.

Signings

A handful of Cleveland athletes are expected to sign letters of intent today.

That list is headed by Storm senior guard Kyle Quintana, who will play for Division I Navy. Attempts to reach Quintana for comment were unsuccessful.

Girls soccer player Courtney Dudley, who had previoulsy committed to Notre Dame, will instead sign today with the University of Colorado.

The Storm’s Lucero will sign to play baseball with Otero (Colo.) Junior College.

Two members of Cleveland’s girls basketball team will sign today — Amorette Garcia with Northern New Mexico College in Española, and Maddi Mendoza with Austin College in Texas.

Three wrestlers also are scheduled to sign. Brian Yarbrough is signing with Air Force, Jake King with Oklahoma City University and Mich Napier with Wayland Baptist University in Texas.

♦ Rio Rancho’s Ryan Pickowitz is signing a letter of intent to play LaCrosse at Young Harris College in Georgia. That signing is Friday.

If readers know of any other local athlete who has signed, or will sign, they are encouraged to email the information to jyodice@abqjournal.com.