The McCurdy Bobcats baseball team clinched the District 2A-AA championship April 29 by holding off the Questa Wildcats 8-7 in Española.
Questa had clawed its way back from a 7-0 deficit to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.
“These one-run games that we keep on winning,” McCurdy coach Roberto DeVargas said. “I love’m.”
The Wildcats scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning on a McCurdy error, a double by pinch hitter Dominic Apodaca and a triple by Danny Enciso, who later scored on a groundout to short. With two out in the bottom of the seventh and final inning, McCurdy scored the winning run without getting a base hit.
Bryan VanderVossen reached base for McCurdy by getting hit with a pitch, but the next two McCurdy batters struck out. Leadoff hitter Ryan Bustos was hit by a pitch and a groundball to shortstop was bobbled to load the bases. With a full count on Fernando Avila, he stroked a slow grounder to short that Felipe Sanchez fumbled and then threw wildly to first, allowing the winning run to score.
“These one-run games are helping us get better,” Bustos said. “I’d rather win these than a 10-run blowout.”
McCurdy finished 6-0 in district play after beating Peñasco 11-3 May 1 on the road. The Panthers ended its district season in the cellar at 1-5. Mesa Vista finished in third place with a 2-4 record in District 2A-AA, while Questa sits alone in second place with a 3-3 district record.
“This is something we talked about since the beginning of the season,” DeVargas said. “It’s beautiful for the kids because they worked so hard and they deserve it.”
With the exception of a 13-2 victory April 20 over Mesa Vista, McCurdy’s four other district wins were one-run games. The Bobcats defeated Peñasco 8-7 April 13, held off Questa by the same score two days later and started last week with a 10-9 win April 27 against Mesa Vista.
Against the Trojans, the Bobcats jumped out to a 9-0 lead after two innings, only to see the Trojans come back and tie the score 9-9 in the top of the sixth. Avila delivered the game-winner in the bottom of the sixth, singling in Bustos, who had singled on a 3-0 pitch and then had stolen second.
Mesa Vista is on the bubble for a spot in the Class AA state playoffs. The Trojans are 8-8 overall.
“I feel good,” Mesa Vista coach Clifford Richardson said. “We beat Pecos and Mora and a (Class AAA) school (Cuba).”
The Trojans are not ranked in statewide coaches top-10 poll. Ten teams will be selected to participate in the Class AA playoffs.
McCurdy is ranked third in the Class A poll behind Gallup Catholic and Floyd. The Bobcats are 11-5 overall, while Gallup Catholic is 11-4 and Floyd is 10-7. The Bobcats are assured a spot among the 10 teams in the Class A state playoffs, and McCurdy has set its sights on a Class A state title.
“One goal down and one more to go,” Bustos said. “Now we need to go get it done in Albuquerque.”
The 10 teams in the Class AA playoffs and the 10 teams in the Class A playoffs will be selected and seeded Wednesday (5/5). The opening round of the playoffs will be held Friday and Saturday.