Rams, Storm finish 2-3 at Puentes tournament, won by Cavemen

Saturday, though, was a different story, as defending Class 5A champion Carlsbad edged the Rams, 5-4, in the championship game of the annual Sal Puentes Rio Rancho Tournament.

The Rams weren’t getting their usual timely hitting in this three-game tournament, their fourth tournament of the season. Here’s a comparison: In the tournament at El Paso, which opened the season for the Rams (13-2), they averaged 6.75 runs a game for the four-game tourney; in Las Cruces for the New Mexico Invitational, RRHS averaged nine runs a game and at the APS Metro Tournament, another four-game tourney, the Rams averaged 12 runs a game.

Contrast that to the nine runs scored in the three games over the weekend, although two of them were victories.

The Rams scored first when Eddy Vasquez drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the first, stole second and third, and plated on a single by Marcus Martinez.

Carlsbad took advantage of a walk issued by starter Eli Cappello and catcher’s interference on Martinez, plus three singles to take a 3-1 lead in the third inning.

After a solo home run by Brandon Slate in the third gave the Cavemen a 4-1 lead, Vasquez made it 4-2 in the bottom of that frame on a bunt single, an advance to second on a balk by CHS’s Caleb Prentiss, and then some superb base running: He tagged and made it to third on a foul popup off the bat o Martinez and came around to score on an errant throw to third.

Wyatt Kelley relieved the struggling Cappello with a runner aboard in the fourth; Carlsbad ultimately made it 5-2 when Rams shortstop Zak Felix’s throw was missed by first baseman Evan Offutt. Kelley allowed only three harmless singles and no runs in his 3-2/3 innings of work, but the damage had been done.

Vasquez tripled with one down in the fifth and scored on a passed ball to make it 5-3. The Rams closed to 5-4 on an RBI single by Angelo Lujan in the sixth.

Prentiss, hit on the elbow on a line drive by Vic Chavez in the second, stayed tough and closed out the game, which he had done in the Cavemen’s semifinal win over Cleveland on Friday; he earned a save by getting the game’s final out in that one.

In the Rams’ seventh, Chavez reached on an infield single and headed to second on Felix’s sacrifice. But Vasquez, 2 for 2 with three runs scored earlier, and Martinez each flew out to end it.

The Cavemen beat the Rams, 1-0, to win last year’s Puentes title.

Cleveland 9, La Cueva 3: In the third-place game played earlier Saturday, Cleveland High pitcher Scott Ostrowsky allowed just one run and a hit before being relieved in the fifth by Neil Evans, who gave up two runs.

Josh Casillas pitched a 1-2-3 seventh for a save.

At the plate, Ostrowsky led the way, going 2 for 3 with three RBIs; one of his hits was a two-run double. Casillas was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a walk. Kevin Kilcommons was 1 for 2 with RBI, and also reached base via a walk and being hit by a pitch.

“I was very proud of the way we competed throughout the tourney,” Cleveland coach Shane Shallenberger said. “After the tough loss to Carlsbad, we came out with great intensity against La Cueva.”

Rams 3, La Cueva 2: In Friday’s first semifinal, the Rams spotted the Bears a 2-0 lead, then tied it with a two-run single by Lujan in the bottom of the second.

The Rams scored the winning run in the fourth when Brendan Wanchek plated it with a groundout.

Wanchek turned in a complete game on the mound as the Rams beat the Bears for the second time in seven days.

“I thought he struggled a little early in the first few innings with his control,” RRHS coach Ron Murphy said. “He battled back… and did a great job. He hung in there all the way and I thought he was in control at the end there, when it mattered the most.”

Wanchek struck out two of the four Bears he faced in the seventh, gave up a single, followed by a wild pitch, to put the tying run in scoring position, and got the final out on a routine fly to right field.

Lujan and Offutt had two singles apiece to lead the Rams; both teams had six hits.

“Let’s hope we don’t play them again,” Murphy said of La Cueva. “Those guys are tough … they’re young. They battle, they swing, they’re aggressive. I hope it’s the last time we play them — they look a lot like us two years ago.”

Carlsbad 3, Storm 1: In the second semifinal Friday, Austin Edwards’ two-run homer in the third — the only bad pitch delivered by Royce Cleveland — provided the only runs the Cavemen would need to advance into the championship game.

Cleveland scored its lone run in the sixth when Kilcommons, who went 3 for 3, singled to left, went to second on a groundout by Nathan Blotter and to third on Chris Foster’s groundout, and then scored on a wild pitch.

After the Cavemen scored an unearned run to make it 3-1 in the top of the seventh, the Storm rallied, only to come up short.

After Ostrowsky grounded out, Riley Peterson walked but was forced at second on a fielder’s choice hit by Ish Montoya. Kyle Anderson’s double to right gave the Storm two runners in scoring position, but pinch-hitter Jorge Guzman was whiffed by Prentiss to end it.

“It was a very tough situation I put him in,” Shallenberger said. “The one thing I talked to him about wasn’t about if he succeeded or failed, it was the aggressiveness he needed … Instead of getting one swing, let’s get three swings and see what happens.”

Extra innings: Rams Wanchek, Vasquez and Offutt made the all-tourney team, as did the Storm’s Kilcommons, Ostrowsky and Anderson.

The MVP was Carlsbad pitcher Prentiss.

… The Storm were home to face Eldorado Tuesday and then home again Saturday at 10 a.m. to meet Valley.

… The Rams’ only game this week is on Friday, when they play at Sandia at 4 p.m. Next week, RRHS also has just one game: Thursday vs. Manzano at 4. The District 1-5A opener is April 16 at Cibola.

… Rio Rancho Public Schools Athletic Director Bruce Carver said Cleveland’s baseball stadium will be getting lights in time for the Storm to play three night games this season; the state baseball tournament will be able to have evening games there, too. That’s good, because isotopes Park will be the sight of just two state championship games in May: classes 2A and 5A.

Saturday, though, was a different story, as defending Class 5A champion Carlsbad edged the Rams, 5-4, in the championship game of the annual Sal Puentes Rio Rancho Tournament.

The Rams weren’t getting their usual timely hitting in this three-game tournament, their fourth tournament of the season. Here’s a comparison: In the tournament at El Paso, which opened the season for the Rams (13-2), they averaged 6.75 runs a game for the four-game tourney; in Las Cruces for the New Mexico Invitational, RRHS averaged nine runs a game and at the APS Metro Tournament, another four-game tourney, the Rams averaged 12 runs a game.

Contrast that to the nine runs scored in the three games over the weekend, although two of them were victories.

The Rams scored first when Eddy Vasquez drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the first, stole second and third, and plated on a single by Marcus Martinez.

Carlsbad took advantage of a walk issued by starter Eli Cappello and catcher’s interference on Martinez, plus three singles to take a 3-1 lead in the third inning.

After a solo home run by Brandon Slate in the third gave the Cavemen a 4-1 lead, Vasquez made it 4-2 in the bottom of that frame on a bunt single, an advance to second on a balk by CHS’s Caleb Prentiss, and then some superb base running: He tagged and made it to third on a foul popup off the bat o Martinez and came around to score on an errant throw to third.

Wyatt Kelley relieved the struggling Cappello with a runner aboard in the fourth; Carlsbad ultimately made it 5-2 when Rams shortstop Zak Felix’s throw was missed by first baseman Evan Offutt. Kelley allowed only three harmless singles and no runs in his 3-2/3 innings of work, but the damage had been done.

Vasquez tripled with one down in the fifth and scored on a passed ball to make it 5-3. The Rams closed to 5-4 on an RBI single by Angelo Lujan in the sixth.

Prentiss, hit on the elbow on a line drive by Vic Chavez in the second, stayed tough and closed out the game, which he had done in the Cavemen’s semifinal win over Cleveland on Friday; he earned a save by getting the game’s final out in that one.

In the Rams’ seventh, Chavez reached on an infield single and headed to second on Felix’s sacrifice. But Vasquez, 2 for 2 with three runs scored earlier, and Martinez each flew out to end it.

The Cavemen beat the Rams, 1-0, to win last year’s Puentes title.

Cleveland 9, La Cueva 3: In the third-place game played earlier Saturday, Cleveland High pitcher Scott Ostrowsky allowed just one run and a hit before being relieved in the fifth by Neil Evans, who gave up two runs.

Josh Casillas pitched a 1-2-3 seventh for a save.

At the plate, Ostrowsky led the way, going 2 for 3 with three RBIs; one of his hits was a two-run double. Casillas was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a walk. Kevin Kilcommons was 1 for 2 with RBI, and also reached base via a walk and being hit by a pitch.

“I was very proud of the way we competed throughout the tourney,” Cleveland coach Shane Shallenberger said. “After the tough loss to Carlsbad, we came out with great intensity against La Cueva.”

Rams 3, La Cueva 2: In Friday’s first semifinal, the Rams spotted the Bears a 2-0 lead, then tied it with a two-run single by Lujan in the bottom of the second.

The Rams scored the winning run in the fourth when Brendan Wanchek plated it with a groundout.

Wanchek turned in a complete game on the mound as the Rams beat the Bears for the second time in seven days.

“I thought he struggled a little early in the first few innings with his control,” RRHS coach Ron Murphy said. “He battled back… and did a great job. He hung in there all the way and I thought he was in control at the end there, when it mattered the most.”

Wanchek struck out two of the four Bears he faced in the seventh, gave up a single, followed by a wild pitch, to put the tying run in scoring position, and got the final out on a routine fly to right field.

Lujan and Offutt had two singles apiece to lead the Rams; both teams had six hits.

“Let’s hope we don’t play them again,” Murphy said of La Cueva. “Those guys are tough … they’re young. They battle, they swing, they’re aggressive. I hope it’s the last time we play them — they look a lot like us two years ago.”

Carlsbad 3, Storm 1: In the second semifinal Friday, Austin Edwards’ two-run homer in the third — the only bad pitch delivered by Royce Cleveland — provided the only runs the Cavemen would need to advance into the championship game.

Cleveland scored its lone run in the sixth when Kilcommons, who went 3 for 3, singled to left, went to second on a groundout by Nathan Blotter and to third on Chris Foster’s groundout, and then scored on a wild pitch.

After the Cavemen scored an unearned run to make it 3-1 in the top of the seventh, the Storm rallied, only to come up short.

After Ostrowsky grounded out, Riley Peterson walked but was forced at second on a fielder’s choice hit by Ish Montoya. Kyle Anderson’s double to right gave the Storm two runners in scoring position, but pinch-hitter Jorge Guzman was whiffed by Prentiss to end it.

“It was a very tough situation I put him in,” Shallenberger said. “The one thing I talked to him about wasn’t about if he succeeded or failed, it was the aggressiveness he needed … Instead of getting one swing, let’s get three swings and see what happens.”

Extra innings: Rams Wanchek, Vasquez and Offutt made the all-tourney team, as did the Storm’s Kilcommons, Ostrowsky and Anderson.

The MVP was Carlsbad pitcher Prentiss.

… The Storm were home to face Eldorado Tuesday and then home again Saturday at 10 a.m. to meet Valley.

… The Rams’ only game this week is on Friday, when they play at Sandia at 4 p.m. Next week, RRHS also has just one game: Thursday vs. Manzano at 4. The District 1-5A opener is April 16 at Cibola.

… Rio Rancho Public Schools Athletic Director Bruce Carver said Cleveland’s baseball stadium will be getting lights in time for the Storm to play three night games this season; the state baseball tournament will be able to have evening games there, too. That’s good, because isotopes Park will be the sight of just two state championship games in May: classes 2A and 5A.