The Pojoaque Elkettes earned their first district win April 14 off strong bats and error-free defense.
Pojoaque shortstop Miquela Lovato led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a home run, beginning a three-run rally that gave the Elkettes a 4-2 lead over West Las Vegas.
Elkettes pitcher Mariah Urbina made the two-run lead stand up as she shut out the Dons over the next two innings. The Elkettes improved to 8-6 overall and 1-2 in District 2AAAA.
After Miquela Lovato’s home run, Amber Lovato singled sharply up the middle and came in to score on Kassandra Martinez’s double to left field. Martinez scored when Christiana Romero’s grounder skipped through the legs of the Dons shortstop and Martinez beat the throw to home plate.
“We were strong defensively and limited our errors,” Pojoaque coach Ricky DeHerrera said. “That was the key.”
Urbina scattered nine hits and struck out just two batters, but the Elkettes made no errors. Lovato fielded nine ground balls flawlessly and the Elkettes had 10 hits off Las Vegas pitcher Marissa Cordova.
“We needed this win, because we’re going to see the meat of our district now,” DeHerrera said.
West Las Vegas may have to forfeit some of its remaining games. The Dons scheduled 31 games and New Mexico Activities Association rules limit teams to just 26 games, DeHerrera said. The Dons are 1-3 in district play and 8-12 overall with 11 games remaining on their schedule — all in District 2AAA competition.
Pojoaque lost both ends of a double-header 12-3, 8-2 at Raton April 18 to fall to 1-4 in district play and 8-8 overall. The Elkettes faced St. Michaels Tuesday in Santa Fe.