Texas-sized Sweep: Rams baseball opens season 3-0 in Lone Star State 

EL PASO, Texas — In the heart of the Lone Star State, they say the stars at night are big and bright.

This past weekend, there were no stars bigger than the Rio Rancho High School baseball team.

Heading to Texas for a three-game weekend to kickstart their season, the Rams swept their neighbors to the east and returned home with a 3-0 record.

Sweeping a Saturday doubleheader against Montwood High and El Dorado before a Sunday matinee victory against Eastlake High (getting revenge for the football team from this past fall), Rio Rancho now has a shot at a 4-0 start for the first time since 2021.

Opening up against the Montwood Rams, Rio wasted no time getting the bats started, scoring 11 runs in just five innings to win 11-2. This offensive momentum would carry over into the nightcap with a seven-run display in their 7-3 win over the El Dorado Aztecs.

Seniors Anthony Knoll and Wyatt Tinker headlined the box score, combining for three home runs across three games to start their final seasons.

Rio outscored their opponents 18-5 in the doubleheader, tallying over 20 hits across the combined 10 innings.

While the bats appeared to be scorching in their season debut, that would change on Sunday in a pitcher’s duel against Eastlake.

It would be just a three-run afternoon for the Rams, but it would be all lefty junior Logan Sunstrom and company would need to secure win number three. 

Rio’s pitching staff would come together to post their first shutout of the season, making it a successful all-around weekend for the program.

Next up: back to New Mexico. After hosting their home opener versus Rio Grande to close out February, the Rams will take on another loaded weekend with a tournament on the weekend of March 7.