Thomas Bolton’s friend was in the stands watching the baseball game.
Before the game, he bet $20 for Bolton to hit a home run. Bolton, a slap-hitting leadoff hitter, did not expect to hit a ball over the fence. But, instead, a misplayed ground ball wound up in his fortune.
“As I was rounding third, that’s all I could think of,” Bolton said. “He owes me 20 bucks.”
Bolton’s home run was part of a big offensive day for McCurdy (6-3) as they beat Estancia (0-11) 26-12 in 4.5 innings in their first home game on April 4. The Bobcats look strong as they head into district play, winning six of their last seven games.
“Our hitting is doing really good,” Bolton said. “We can adapt to pitchers pretty well. If it’s a fast pitcher we can adapt, if it’s a slow pitcher we can adapt.”
McCurdy’s style also relies on aggressive baserunning and putting pressure on fielders while trying to take extra bases.
“Get in a rhythm, get on base, and everybody just follows,” McCurdy coach Roberto DeVargas said.
And despite losing their two main pitchers from last season and leadoff hitter Marcos Gasca, McCurdy continues to play well and is likely a favorite entering district play, though they lost to Mora earlier in the season.
Estancia scored once in the top of the first, but McCurdy started the game with five runs in the bottom of the first, including a triple by Markus Martinez. Martinez missed the end of last season and McCurdy’s state quarterfinal game with a shoulder injury, but is back for this season and should have a big impact. He is batting .586 with a slugging percentage of 1.000.
The Bears took the lead in the second inning, however, with an eight-run inning. Twelve batters went to the plate, and Estancia had six hits, two walks, and two reach on errors, and the inning only ended with an out at the plate. Estancia has not scored more than four runs in any other entire game, but they plated eight in that inning alone.
But McCurdy’s offense responded, adding three more runs in the second inning and retaking the lead with eight in the third, including a two-run hit by Martinez.
And after allowing four runs in the top of the fourth, McCurdy added 10 more in the bottom of the inning, including an inside-the-park from Bolton home run on a ball that got past the right fielder.
“I wasn’t really looking at the field,” Bolton said. “I saw coach say, ‘Turn two’ then ‘turn three’ then ‘go home.’”
Quezada finished Estancia off in order in the top of the fifth for a run-rule win.
Bolton missed last season, but returned for this year and brings a speedy presence to the top of the lineup. He finished 3-for-3 with a walk and hit by pitch. He stole three bases and scored four runs, and left the game after suffering a leg injury. Casey Nevarez pinch ran in his place and scored easily.
“Once he gets on base, he gets the pitchers nervous,” DeVargas said.
After the game, Estancia opted not to play the second part of the doubleheader given the cold and strong winds, and the length of the first game where 38 total runs were scored. Martinez was 3-for-4 with three RBIs, and he struck out while attempting to bat left handed in the fourth inning. Lucas Martinez also reached base and scored in every plate appearance, with two singles, a double and a walk.
McCurdy starts district play Tuesday evening, playing at Questa (1-8-1), and host Peñasco (0-6) for a doubleheader on Thursday.
“We’ll light it up for districts and keep on going,” DeVargas said. “Win district and go to state.”