McCurdy’s bats came alive in the third inning, and propelled them to an 8-4 victory over the defending state champions in the first round of playoffs.
The second time through the order proved to be fruitful in catching up to the velocity of Texico’s Tristan Chavez, and a rally started by an Adrian Maestas walk and highlighted by five hits including a two-run single by Kordero Talachy was the difference in the game.
“My guys settled down,” said McCurdy coach Roberto DeVargas. “It took them a couple innings, but they settled down. And, I guess the nerves, they calmed down.”
The Bobcats (16-9) defeated Texico (11-13) in the first round of the state tournament, defeating last year’s state champions (though the Wolverines had a very different team from last year) and setting up a rematch of the 2021 tournament.
“Got to beat the best to be the best,” said junior outfielder Damian Quezada, whose two hits and strong baserunning sparked momentum.
McCurdy, as the No. 7 seed, were able to close out their home field with a win.
“You can see all the people who watched us grow up in the stands,” Talachy said. “It’s just really a cool moment that I’ll never forget.”
The road Wolverines struck first in the opening inning, with a hard-hit triple starting the game. Freshman right-fielder Jeremaya Roybal misplayed the wind on the fly ball, but he learned from that and had a number of big catches through the remaining innings.
McCurdy started cold on offense, while Texico threw out two runners stealing. But the four-run third gave them a lead, and Marcos Gasca added another in the fifth with an RBI-double, reaching a streak of 14 straight hits (which ended the following at bat with an RBI fielder’s choice).
The Bobcats added three more runs in the fifth inning, with RBIs from Maestas, Roybal and Gasca, knocking Chavez out of the game and stretching to a comfortable lead.
Talachy, the starting pitcher, settled in while the defense made big plays, striking out five while only walking one, and allowed just two unearned runs through the rest of the game. Andres Borrego came in for the close with one out in the seventh, and quickly retired the last two batters.
It was as simple as throwing inside fastballs, Talachy said, and letting the defense do the rest of the work.
“He’s just so calm,” DeVargas said. “We miss a fly ball or we miss a grounder, it doesn’t really get to him.”
On the bad side for McCurdy, they potentially lost star pitcher and catcher Markus Martinez, who injured his shoulder while sliding into a base during the third-inning rally.
The game was potentially the final one at the newly-renamed Roberto DeVargas field, with its future uncertain while rumors swirl about the land potentially being sold or converted to housing.
The Bobcats will play in the quarterfinal against No. 2 seed Rehoboth Christian (20-1), who had a bye in the first round. That game will be on Thursday (5/12) at 3 p.m. at Eldorado High School in Albuquerque.
Last season, the Lynx knocked out the Bobcats in Española in the first round of an 8-team field in a tight 6-3 game. McCurdy was within a run entering the seventh inning against a team with much more visible size and strength, but let up three runs in the seventh and could not rally a comeback.
Both teams bear a strong resemblance to last year’s, and the players who had the decisive hits will likely be in the same roles.
“Just keep on playing,” DeVargas said. “Don’t give them second-chance outs. And I think we can go a long ways there.”
Should McCurdy advance, the semifinal is Friday afternoon at Rio Rancho High School, and the final is Saturday at 1 p.m. at University of New Mexico’s Santa Ana Star Field.