The Los Lunas High School baseball team took second place at the Rio Rancho Invitational on Saturday, losing the championship game to the host school 13-5.
One day earlier the Tigers were on the other end of an identically scored game when they topped St. Pius X in the semi-finals.
Much like what would happen to them the next day the Tigers jumped out to an early lead against the Sartans, scoring five runs in the first inning and four more in the second. The Tigers led 9-2 when they added another four runs in the fifth to take a commanding lead.
Matt Baca led Los Lunas’ offense, going 2 for 4 with four RBIs, a run, and a home run.
In Saturday’s title game, the Tigers (3-4) were unable to climb out of an early hole against Rio Rancho (4-1) which jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning.
The Tigers tried to claw their way back into the game, scoring two runs in the top of the second. But the Rams, who lost to Los Lunas, 5-4, in last year’s title game, kept piling up the runs. The Rams scored in each of the first five innings while the Tigers were able to put up runs in only the second and fourth innings.
Christian Rael led Los Lunas, going 2 for 3 at the plate with a run scored. Carlos Castillo and Josh Hernandez each went 1 for 3. Castillo scored twice and knocked in a run.
Los Lunas played at Valley on Tuesday (no score was available at News-Bulletin press time). Next up for the Tigers is a road game at Belen on Tuesday, March 19.
TIGER
Baseball
The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.
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April 18, 2024
