Rams run-rule Mayfield 11-1
By Eric Maddy
The SCORE
ALBUQUERQUE -- It was a blowout in more ways than one.
The Rio Rancho Rams eliminated Las Cruces Mayfield 11-1 in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state high school baseball tournament Wednesday, using two big innings to take control on a day where winds were howling at Lobo Field.
Rio Rancho escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the first inning, then exploded for six runs in the top of the second to establish control. Robert Rodela and Bryar Mueller launched home runs into the jet stream that was a wind gust estimated to exceed 30 mph, Mueller's shot a two-run homer. David Wald, Josh Walker, Ethan Gill and Anthony Haas each also had singles in the inning, with Walker and Gill stealing second to get into scoring position for RBI hitters behind them.
The Rams added three runs in the fourth inning when designated hitter Micah Martinez was hit by a pitch and scored on a triple by Gill. Haas doubled Gill home and Rodela brought in Haas with a double.
Rio Rancho exceed the 10 run rule margin with three scores in the top of the sixth. Haas hit a shot to right center that was last seen rolling across the street in the University Stadium parking lot, a good 500 feet from home plate, with one out in the inning. Rodela doubled to center and his couresy runner, Kris Martinez, came home on a a single by first baseman Blake Swihart.
Mayfield tried to rally in the home half of the six. Tony Soto's line drive took a strange bounce off the left field wall and bounced past left fielder Micah Martinez, who moved from designated hitter to left field for the inning. Soto motored around the bases for an inside-the-park homer to narrow the margin to 11-1, but Anselmo Garcia struck out to end the game.
Rio Rancho starting pitcher Alex Wehner went five strong innings, striking out four and walking two, both in the first inning. Fhe free passes came after a one-out hit by second baseman Luis Quinones and jammed the bases, but Wehner ame back to get Garcia to ground out to end the inning. After that, the Rio Rancho offense took over.
Wehner allowed only three hits and no walks the rest of the way. Mayfield threated in the third with back-to-back singles by Quinones and Isaiah Dominguez, but Wehner picked Dominguez off first and struck out Freddy Young to end the inning. After that, he retired six of the next seven batters he faces.
The Rams continue the defense of their 2007 state championship at 11 a.m. Thursday against Onate, which rallied from a 7-1 deficit in the seventh inning to eliminate Carlsbad 8-7 on a wal-off grand slam by Ariel Perez. Eldorado and La Cueva advanced in the ohter semifinal bracket and will play at UNM after the Rio Rancho-Onate game.
WILL BE UPDATED WITH QUOTES.
