Bernalillo softball puts on offensive fireworks, takes down Pojoaque Valley in doubleheader

BERNALILLO — After a 1-1 start to the season, Bernalillo softball opened up its week with a bang.

Quite literally.

Kylee Herrera’s first-inning home run in the Spartans’ doubleheader against Pojoaque Valley almost put a hole through the left field scoreboard, a perfect symbol of their offensive explosion down on Spartan Alley.

Bernalillo would take down the Elkettes 18-0 and 25-0, improving to 3-1 on the young season.

A 43-run afternoon would feature 25 hits, 34 RBIs and seven home runs. All nine Spartans would record hits on the day, with nine different multi-hit performances across the two games. Bernalillo would waste no time in both contests, scoring 12 in the first inning of game one and 17 in the first frame of game two.

Herrera would finish game one 3 for 3 with four RBIs, including a double, triple and home run. Teyonna Trancosa and Calandria Montoya would also contribute 4 RBI, joining Herrera in the home run club.

In game two, Herrera would smack another home run, along with a blast from Dinea Bowman. They would both post four RBIs, giving Herrera eight RBIs in the doubleheader. 

Ryanna Mortensen followed with three RBIs, including a two-RBI triple. Aasia Duran and LeAndra Valencia posted two RBIs, with two three-baggers from Duran.

But while there were crooked numbers on the scoreboard, Bernalillo’s season milestones came on the other side of the ball, tossing two shutouts in the mercy-rule shortened wins.

Game one starter Calandria Montoya and game two starter Teyonna Trancosa were all business in the pitcher’s circle. Montoya dazzled with nine strikeouts on just one hit, earning every out by way of the K in the three-inning start. Trancosa would follow with two strikeouts and one walk on just four hits in her three innings of work.

Montoya’s nine-strikeout game comes fresh off her 14-punchout victory against a talented Grants team, holding the Pirates to just one earned run in seven innings to help the Spartans take a 9-4 victory.

Bernalillo has not scored 25 runs or more in a game since 2018, when they scored 28 against East Mountain. The Spartans finished that season 25-6 with a district title, as the present-day team has the firepower to potentially find similar results.

Marissa Valencia’s team will look to keep the ball rolling in a tournament at Artesia High before returning home for another double header, taking on Espanola Valley on March 24.