2015 U.S. Bank State Baseball Championships

2015 U.S. Bank State
Baseball Championships
presented by Farmers Insurance Group
Eldorado Wins Eighth Blue Trophy
The Eldorado Eagles capped off a magical state tournament run with a 9-0 win over Volcano Vista in the
2015 U.S. Bank State Baseball Championship game, earning the school’s eighth blue trophy in baseball
and the first for the Eagles since 2001.
Eldorado scored nine runs on six hits in the game, while starting pitcher Austin Treadwell threw seven
complete innings, allowing the Hawks just two hits. It was the Eagles defense that kept the Hawks off the
scoreboard, recording 12 groundouts in the game.
The Eagles finally broke the seal in the top of the third as Treadwell reached base on a walk, advancing to
third on an error by the first baseman. He eventually crossed the plate on a wild pitch, giving Eldorado a
1-0 advantage.
Volcano Vista threatened in the bottom of the fourth but left base runners stranded. In the top of the fifth,
Eldorado added two more runs as Tanner Roberts, who reached on a walk, crossed home plate following
a triple by Andrew Stubbs. Stubbs then scored on a double by Nathaniel Garley, making it 3-0 Eldorado
after four and a half.
The Hawks went down in order in the bottom
of the fifth before the Eagles scored four runs
in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to
7-0. Eldorado batted around that inning, recording three hits. Again Volcano Vista could
not mount an offensive attack going down
1-2-3.
The Eagles added two more insurance runs
in the top of the seventh to push their lead
to 9-0, which proved to be too much for the
Hawks to overcome, as Eldorado captured the
blue trophy.
Chargers Earn 2015 5A Baseball State Championship
The 2015 U.S. Bank 5A State Baseball Championship game proved to be one of the most exciting games
of the tournament as No. 2 seed Goddard faced No. 4 seed Albuquerque Academy for the blue trophy. At
the end of the day, the Chargers took home their third blue trophy in school history, the first since 2009,
with a 4-3 win over the Rockets.
After a scoreless first inning of play, Goddard took control of the game early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second. Gaylan Young led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a single by Ricky
Royball. Both runners would score off a double by catcher Derek Farmer. An error by the Chargers second
baseman allowed Farmer to score from second, giving the Rockets a 3-0 lead.
The Chargers final got on the scoreboard in the top of third, as Ian Russell walked to start the inning and
advanced to third off an error by the right fielder. A sacrifice bunt by center fielder Cody Crosby two batters later allowed Russell to cross home plate and cut the Rockets lead to 3-1 after two and a half.
Neither team could push a run across the plate in the fourth or fifth innings as Goddard maintained a 3-1
advantage.
In the top of the sixth, Albuquerque Academy took the lead with a three run inning, as second baseman
Randal Gurule singled with one out. He then stole second and third before Russell walked to put runners
at the corners. Gurule scored on a single by centerfielder Thomas Sun to make it a 3-2 game. Russell then
stole third and Sun stole second with still just one out. Shortstop Jon Saiz then singled to score Russell and
Sun, giving the Chargers the 4-3 lead.
Goddard threatened in the bottom of the sixth with runners on second and third but the Rockets couldn’t
push them across home plate. The Chargers lead off the top of the seventh with a triple by Jake Wyly but
he was left stranded at third as the score remained 4-3 going into the bottom of the seventh.
Goddard quickly found themselves with two
outs after a strikeout and a fly out to right field.
Second baseman Mitch Naylor drew a walk to
put the tying run on-base and then reached
second on a walk by Roman Garcia but a fielder’s choice ground out ended the game and the
Rockets comeback as the Chargers claimed the
2015 5A title.
Martinez Throws Perfect Game in 4A State Title Game
The 2015 U.S. Bank 4A State Baseball Championship game was highlighted by Sandia Prep’s sophomore
pitcher Joe Martinez, who threw a perfect game as the Sundevils (29-1) defeated Ruidoso (21-9), 5-0.
Martinez threw 79 pitches in the game, 58 of those strikes, while striking out nine straight batters at one
point and 15 total for the game.
Sandia Prep opened up the first inning scoring two runs as Martinez and catcher Mickey Gangwich crossed
the plate. The Sundevils added three more runs in the third, as Garrett Cleavall opened the inning with a
single. Martinez was then hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Gangwich then singled to score
Cleavall, putting runners on the corners; Gangwich then stole second.
A ground out to third by Beau Williams allowed Martinez to score, advancing Gangwich
to third. Mike Snow then grounded out to third
on the next at-bat, pushing Gangwich across
the plate to make it 5-0.
The five run lead was all Martinez would need
as he retired the next 15 batters for Ruidoso,
completing the perfect game and giving Sandia Prep their first baseball championship since
2011 and the schools fifth overall.
Eunice Wins 17th State Baseball Title
The 2015 U.S. Bank 3A State Baseball Championship game pitted No. 1 Lordsburg vs No. 2 Eunice. The
Mavericks looked to capture their first baseball championship in school history, while the Cardinals sought
a state record 17th blue trophy. In the end, Eunice raised the blue trophy, winning a close game, 8-5.
The Cardinal recorded eight runs on nine hits, while the Mavericks managed just four runs on nine hits.
Eunice took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, as shortstop Bryce Foutz scored on a single by Armando Rodriguez, as Foutz singled and stole second to start the inning. The Cardinals’ lead was short-lived,
as Lordsburg took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the
second.
Alejandro Estrada singled to start the inning for
Lordsburg, advancing to second off a single by
Jeremy Pantoja. Estrada then advanced to third
on a fielder’s choice by Joseph Gonzales, placing
runners at the corners. The Mavericks loaded
the bases after center fielder Jaime Artiaga was
hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Fabian De la O
singled to score Estrada and Gonzales and give
Lordsburg the lead after two complete innings.
The Cardinals tied the game in the top of third. Armando Rodriguez reached first on an error by the shortstop, stealing second to put a runner in scoring position with one out. Bryce Jenkins then singled, scoring
the runner from second, tying the game at two all.
The bats were quiet for both teams in the fourth. Then, in the top of the fifth, the Cardinals regained the
lead as Jose Luis Rodriguez hit a two out double to put a runner in scoring position. Armando Rodriguez
recorded his second hit of the game, scoring Rodriguez and pushing Eunice back on top, 3-2.
Cardinals’ pitcher Roman Acosta took control of the game, throwing three scoreless innings in the fourth,
fifth and sixth as the Mavericks could not get the offense going.
Eunice added four more runs in the top of the sixth on three hits and two errors by Lordsburg, extending
their lead to 7-2 after six innings.
The Cardinals added one more in the top of the seventh to make it 8-2. The Mavericks continued to fight
scoring three runs in bottom of the seventh but it wasn’t enough as Eunice took home the 2015 state
championship.
Melrose Captures A/2A Baseball Championship
The Melrose Buffaloes (14-1) took home their first blue trophy in baseball after defeating McCurdy (18-6)
in the 2015 U.S. Bank A/2A State Baseball Championship game, 12-0. The Buffaloes allowed just two runs
the entire tournament.
Melrose scored 12 runs on nine hits in the game, as shortstop Rowdy Allen was 2-of-5 from the plate,
scoring three runs. Pitcher Wyatt Williams allowed three hits in the game, striking out 15 batters, retiring
the final 15 batters he faced. Williams also helped his team at the plate, going 2-of-5 with four runs scored.
Williams put the Buffaloes on the board first with a triple, scoring on an error by the shortstop two batters later in the top of the first. In the bottom of the third, Allen hit a one out single and scored on a double
by Williams, who crossed the plate for the second time in the game off an error by the third baseman,
making it 3-0 after two and a half.
Three errors and two wild pitches by McCurdy
in the top of the fourth helped the Buffaloes add
four more runs, pushing their lead to 7-0. A tworun home run in the top of sixth by first baseman
Jay Faust extended Melrose’s lead to 9-0 heading
into the seventh.
The Buffaloes continued to score runs in the seventh as Allen blasted a three-run home run with
two outs to push Melrose’s lead to 12-0, proving
to be too much for McCurdy.