Traveling Tuesday, April 21, to Montrose County, Ignacio took one of two games in a critical doubleheader at Nucla, and by doing so retained first place in the 2A/1A San Juan Basin League.
Able to overcome the hosting Mustangs’ five-run fifth inning, putting IHS down 7-5, the Bobcats countered with five runs in their half of the sixth and then put the day’s opener away in the top of the seventh inning with six more unanswered runs, finishing with a 16-7 win.
Senior Sonny Flores (3-5, 3 R) and Evan Maez (2-5, 2 R) led the charge offensively in the victory, with each totaling three RBI. Max Mendoza went 3-5 with two runs and one batted in and Gabe Archuleta doubled and finished 2-5 with two runs and freshman
Freshman Stephen Romero (W; 4.2 IP, 7 R, 4 BB, 2 HB, 7 K) ended up 1-4 with a run and an RBI. Fielding lapses also helped the Mustangs shoot themselves in their own collective hoof; Nucla reportedly committed a dozen errors as Ignacio’s pressure intensified.
In Game 2, however, NHS again showed a knack with the bat and led 6-5 after just two innings. Nucla then put up three more in the home half of the third, before IHS answered with as many in the top of the fourth. Yet again, the Mustangs struck back with three runs, rebuilding their lead to 12-8, and then one-upped the ’Cats, 3-2, in the fifth to make the score 15-10.
Ignacio then put up two runs in the sixth inning, but Nucla answered with three and left the guests needing to equal their earlier seventh-inning output just to potentially force extra innings. The 2A ’Cats (9-4 overall, 7-2 league), however, were unable to do so as the 1A Mustangs (6-8, 1-5) prevailed 18-12 and notched their first SJBL win this spring.
Even with the loss, IHS stayed atop the league standings. 2A Dolores (6-8 overall) stood 6-3 in SJBL play and 1A Dove Creek (4-10 overall) 1-5.
Archuleta belted a homer as he went 1-3 in Game 2 with a walk plus a hit-by-pitch, three runs scored and one RBI. Loudenburg (2-5, 2B) and Flores (2-4, 2B, BB, 2 R) each tallied three RBI, while Atencio (3-5, 2B, 2 R) plated two. Maez (2-4, HBP) did likewise, and Romero finished 1-2, drew two walks, was plunked by a pitch and scored twice.
Having already pitched in relief during Game 1, Atencio gave up nine runs in Game 2 while lasting 2-1/3 innings. Given 3-2/3 frames of mound time, Flores also surrendered nine runs as the two combined to fan four but issued five walks and tagged three Nucla batters.
Ignacio will play on Saturday at home against Olathe. First pitch of the varsity single against the Pirates, part of the 2A Western Slope League, is set for noon.