Rams baseball team moves into 1st place

RIO RANCHO — A five-run second inning at Cleveland High’s Shock Yards on Friday afternoon led to visiting Rio Rancho assuming first place in District 1-5A after a 16-4 rout of the Storm.

Jarren Villa, who’d recently fanned 19 opposing hitters in a game, had trouble finding the strike zone, walking two Rams and hitting two others before being lifted in the disastrous second inning, was tagged for the first seven runs and suffered the loss.

Rio Rancho (17-3, 3-0) scored twice in the first, on a bases-loaded walk to Jordan Sena and an RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Ryan Lewis. The Rams then sent 13 batters to the plate in the second, highlighted by a two-run double by Sean Vigil.

Joseph Stevenson, the first of four CHS relievers, pitched a scoreless third, and the Storm made things interesting for a little while, scoring four runs off Rams starter Dean Ellison, also briefly wild and walking two Storm batters, who both scored.

Brandon Hennessy’s sacrifice fly drove home the first run, and Silas Hilton added a two-run triple.

After the Rams made it 8-4 in the fifth, and Ellison settled down, an eight-run top of the sixth led to the mercy rule-shortened Rams win.

Javier Vasquez, Gabe Nelson and Noah Tillotson pitched for the Storm, with Nelson unable to retire a batter, and Tillotson getting the final out by striking out Bryson Martinez.

By then, the damage had been done: Wyatt Tinker had a two-run double, and Casen Savage socked a two-run homer in the outburst.

Savage relieved Ellison in the sixth and retired the Storm (15-5, 2-1) in order.

Ellison, 3 for 4 at the plate and driving in two, scattered five hits in his five innings of work, striking out two.

“You know, honestly, the change-up was my best pitch today,” the sophomore southpaw said.

Reminded the Storm’s first two runs were scored by batters he’d walked, he noted, “I got ahead on them, too.

“I wasn’t in the pitching mindset that inning,” he admitted. “I like pitching, but I love hitting. … The only two hitters we were worried about were Jaden (Davis) and (Anthony) Del Angel.”

The scouting report was right: Del Angel had two hits; Davis had an RBI double.

Joining Ellison with three hits for the Rams were Lewis and DiGregorio, who was 3 for 5. Savage, Vigil and Tinker had two hits apiece.

Cleveland 6, Volcano Vista 1: A six-run explosion in the second inning was more than enough to carry host Cleveland to a District 1-5A baseball victory on April 9.

The Storm sent a dozen batters to the plate, needing just six hits to provide the runs. VVHS starting pitcher Dominick Maese hit three batters with pitches and walked another before he departed in favor of Alijah Romero, who got the inning’s final out and went the rest of the way.

Villa singled home the first run, Hennessy doubled home two more, Silas Hilton singled to send a teammate home, and pitcher Jaden Davis doubled to make it 5-0.

Malachi Jaramillo, the first Storm batter of the inning who had been hit by a pitch, then reached on an RBI single to make it 6-0.

Meanwhile, Davis was in charge on the mound, allowing only two hits, striking out six and walking four. The Hawks’ only run came on a walk, wild pitch, stolen base and throwing error by catcher Owen Bishop in the fifth inning.

“My slider was working well today,” said Davis, who threw 108 pitches and is committed to pitch for New Mexico State next season. “Today I just battled. I knew my defense would help me.”

Bishop’s overthrow of third baseman Nelson was the only defensive gaffe. Earlier, when the Hawks (16-4, 1-2) had two on base and nobody out in the first inning, Nelson snagged a line drive and stepped on third to complete a double play.

“I felt pretty good at the plate,” Davis added, as he and Hennessy were the only CHS players with two hits in the game. “I went up there thinking it’s all right if I strike out because I’m up on the mound.”

Rio Rancho 10, Cibola 3: On the afternoon of April 9, Brandon Segal pitched into the seventh, when Dylan Archuleta came in to get the final two outs via strikeouts.

Martinez was 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs; DiGregorio and Tinker also had two hits, and Tinker had two RBIs.

Extra innings: With their second win of the season over the Storm, the Rams are 21-18 all-time vs. their City of Vision diamond foe. They meet again at 4 p.m. April 30 at RRHS.

… This week, the Rams host Volcano Vista Tuesday and head to Atrisco Heritage Academy at 4 p.m. Friday.

… The Storm are at AHA Tuesday and home Wednesday to meet La Cueva, the APS Metro champ, which beat Cleveland 5-0 in a Metro semifinal at La Cueva on March 22.