Haase, Rams blank Farmington in title game

By Eric Maddy
The SCORE

Need a reason why Anthony Haase was the most valuable player of Sal Fuentes Alstate Steel baseball tournament on Saturday?

Here are three: Pitching, fielding and hitting.

The Rams’ senior, who has professional scouts drooling with his 90-plus MPH fastball and variety of off-speed pitches,  fired a four-hitter, drove in the winning and started a double play for the final outs in Rio Rancho’s 2-0 victory over Farmington.

Haase struck out nine and walked only two in his dominating complete-game performance. He threw only 87 pitches and did not allow a runner past second base.

His two-out single in the bottom of the third brought home Robert Rodello with the game’s first run. Rodello, who also named to the all-tournament team, drove in Micah Martinez in the fifth inning for the only other run.

Farmington starter Scott Murray (0-1) was tough in his first outing of the season, allowing only seven hits while striking out six. Only one run was earned, as Rodello reached base on what was ruled as a two-base error when left fielder Brett Wiessbeck struggled with a fly ball in the on-again, off-again windy conditions.

It was a match-up of defending state champions, the Class 5A Rams prevailed over the Class 4A Scorpions for the first time in three years. And for Haase, it was about helping the team and bouncing back from the Rams' only loss against Santa Fe last week.

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