ALBUQUERQUE – The Piedra Vista High baseball team, twice overcoming deficits in Thursday’s Class 5A quarterfinal game against Las Cruces, saved the best for last in a walk-off 7-6 win over the Bulldawgs at the Jennifer Riordan Spark Kindness Sports Complex.
Senior JW Bayless delivered a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the No. 4 seeded Panthers to victory over Las Cruces, sending the Panthers into the Class 5A semifinals Friday against top-ranked Rio Rancho.
The Panthers (24-4) trailed for much of the evening, including a 6-5 deficit heading into their final at-bat. With bases loaded and one out, Bayless lined a single to right field off Las Cruces reliever Gracin Poe. Thayden Santangelo and Tony Reynolds both crossed the plate on the play, sparking a raucous celebration at home plate.
“I’ve got so much respect for Las Cruces. They gave us all we could handle tonight and I’m so proud of my guys,” said Piedra Vista head coach Jeff Kiraly.
The Bulldawgs, the No. 12 seed in the tournament, jumped out to an early lead thanks to an Armando Gonzalez RBI single in the top of the first inning. They extended that lead to 3-0 in the second behind a wild pitch and a fly-ball single from Isaiah Borunda.
Piedra Vista responded in the bottom of the second. Zack Zweschper doubled to center field, driving in Tyler Swarts and Cody Clugston to trim the lead to 3-2.
The Panthers briefly took control in the third. Eliyas Barton cleared the bases with a two-run double to right, and Bayless followed with an RBI single to give Piedra Vista a 5-3 advantage.
Las Cruces refused to fade, capitalizing on a Piedra Vista defensive lapse in the fourth. A fielding error by second baseman Cody Clugston allowed Hunter Parmeter to score, pulling the Dawgs within one.
“We’ve got to play better catch,” Kiraly said after the game. “We hit the ball really well but hopefully defensively we’ll settle in a little better in the next game.”
In the fifth, Las Cruces regained the lead. Aaron Alvarado grounded into a fielder’s choice to tie the game at 5-5, and Devin Alba later doubled to left, scoring Parmeter to put the Dawgs back on top 6-5.
After a scoreless sixth, the stage was set for the seventh-inning drama. Bayless, who also earned the win on the mound, finished the day with four hits and three RBIs, including the game-winner.
Bulldawgs starting pitcher Gunnar Guardiola went 6 1/3 innings and struck out seven hitters. He also gave up 12 hits and a pair of walks while throwing 114 pitches. His efficiency in the seventh inning had diminished while loading the bases before he was replaced on the mound by Poe.
Bayless, who has been the ace of the Piedra Vista staff much of the season, threw a complete game, striking out seven and walking two batters in a 109-pitch outing.
The Panthers will face Rio Rancho for the third time this season when they meet Friday at 4:15 p.m. at Lobo Field. The District 1-5A rivals split their first two meetings this season, with the Rams topping Piedra Vista 9-6 in their most recent contest on April 28.