AZTEC – Clinging to a one-run edge in the seventh, Aztec High senior Cadin Anderson came through to strike out the side as the Tigers overcame an early six-run burst from Bloomfield and held on for a tense 11-10 win Thursday night at Fred Cook Stadium.
The win avenges a 14-12 loss to the Bobcats earlier in the regular season district schedule.
Anderson, the third pitcher used by Aztec, earned the victory with a commanding relief appearance, allowing one run on a single hit while striking out nine across 3 1/3 innings.
Bloomfield jumped ahead quickly, capitalizing on early miscues. A misplayed fly ball by Anderson in the outfield opened the door for Troy Jaramillo to score the game’s first run. The Bobcats kept pressure on as Manuel Chavarria reached on a ball that slipped past Aztec’s defense, loading the bases.
Johnny Yates followed with a two-RBI double to center, and Gavin Pecotte added an RBI single to extend the lead. Yates and Pecotte paced Bloomfield’s offense throughout, each collecting two hits and scoring twice.
By the time Aztec starter Cory Douglas exited after surrendering six runs on three hits, the Bobcats had seized full momentum.
Another defensive lapse allowed Yates to cross the plate for a 5-0 advantage before Aztec managed to halt the inning, though not before Bloomfield pushed the lead to 6-0.
Jace Archuleta sparked Aztec’s rally with a base hit and aggressive baserunning, eventually scoring on a line-drive single from Christian Holmes, who turned in a perfect 4-for-4 night with two runs scored.
“(Holmes) had a great approach and just went in and attacked,” said Aztec head coach Colter Faverino. “He’d been very passive lately and I told him to go in and be aggressive, earn those counts, and get something he can handle so he was good.”
While Bloomfield’s bats cooled in the second, Aztec took advantage of defensive lapses to flip the game. Tyler Ray’s three-run double ignited the comeback, scoring Archuleta, Jadyn Brooks and Anderson to cut the deficit to 6-4. Holmes followed with a two-RBI double to tie the game, and Douglas delivered an RBI double of his own to give Aztec a 7-6 lead.
A sacrifice fly from Hayden Eaton stretched the margin to 8-6 before the inning ended.
Aztec carried that momentum into the third, tightening defensively while continuing to produce at the plate. Kale Watson and Holmes each drove in runs, and another Bloomfield error allowed Holmes to score, pushing the Tigers ahead 11-6.
Drayton Higgins sparked a Bobcat rally by stealing home, and the Bobcats chipped away with timely hits from Munoz and Chavarria to pull within 11-9. With pressure mounting in the fourth, Aztec turned to Anderson, who immediately delivered, striking out key hitters to limit further damage.
Bloomfield’s defense steadied behind pitcher Cable Carruth, who surrendered five runs on three hits with two strikeouts, as the Bobcats mounted a final push to trim the deficit to 11-10 on Pecotte’s RBI single to far right field, but with runners in scoring position, Anderson shut the door by striking out Garcia and Higgins to preserve the lead.
“(Anderson) came in and had a little more fire under him tonight,” said Faverino. “So, he came out and shoved really well.”
In the final inning, Anderson struck out the side to seal the win. The result leaves both teams records tied atop the district standings at 7-1.
“This propels us into the playoffs, so our guys are ready,” Faverino said about the win’s impact. “They’re hitting good right now and our defense is okay – it could get a little better – but on the mound we’re looking really well and I’m proud of our guys.”
With two games left in the regular season schedule, Aztec (18-6 overall, 7-1 district) looks to keep their momentum intact when they host Gallup next Tuesday at 4 p.m. while Bloomfield (15-8, 7-1) returns home to face Kirtland Central at the same time.
Junior Eliyas Barton delivered the decisive moment Friday night, driving in the go-ahead run with a fourth-inning double to lift Piedra Vista to a 2-1 win over Cleveland in a District 1-5A clash at Ricketts Park.
On senior night, starting pitcher JW Bayless set the tone. Bayless went the distance, allowing one run on five hits while striking out four over seven innings. He also contributed an RBI.
“(Bayless) has been one of our best players in the program,” Piedra Vista head coach Jeff Kiraly said. “Every time he takes the mound, our team feels like we’re going to win, and he goes out and performs great. He’s a special player.”
Cleveland struck first behind leadoff hitter Anthony Del Angel, who finished 3-for-3. Del Angel opened the game with a base hit to left, worked his way around the bases and stole home on a series of passed balls to give the Storm a 1-0 edge. Bayless quickly settled in, retiring the next stretch with two putouts and a strikeout.
Storm starter Trevon Polanco matched Bayless with a complete-game effort. Polanco surrendered just two runs on three hits while striking out seven.
Piedra Vista (21-3, 6-2 District 1-5A) answered in the opening frame when Kade Aragon ripped a double to deep left. Courtesy runner Tony Reynolds later scored on a Cleveland error, as an errant throw by Francisco Hernandez allowed him to cross and even the score at 1-1.
Cleveland managed just one hit in the second inning and left a runner stranded, while Piedra Vista’s defense held firm despite quiet bats. The pattern held in the third, with Del Angel providing Cleveland’s lone hit as both teams worked around walks but failed to capitalize.
The breakthrough came in the fourth when Barton, who finished 2-for-3, lined a double to center field. He then took advantage of a defensive miscue when Storm catcher Benjamin Herman overthrew third base. Barton raced home on the error, giving the Panthers a 2-1 lead.
“(Polanco) was really good and has been all year,” Kiraly said. “And (Barton) has been big for us all year – he’s been in the five, six, seven hole – and has done a great job for us.”
Cleveland threatened late. In the sixth, Del Angel reached second on a sacrifice bunt but was picked off trying to steal third, ending the Storm’s best chance to draw even. Piedra Vista couldn’t extend its lead despite another Barton hit, as a flyout from Cody Clugston closed the inning.
In the seventh, Bayless struck out Herman before his defense backed him up with a flyout and a routine putout to seal the win.
“We just played better defense, and we threw strikes and played better catch behind it,” Kiraly said, referring to the team’s improvement from an earlier 9-7 loss to Cleveland.
With the win, Piedra Vista claims second place in the district. The Panthers close the regular season against top-ranked Rio Rancho on Tuesday. Cleveland (21-3, 5-3) returns home to face Volcano Vista.