Warriors Go To State Tourney

By Nicky Romero

The Socorro Warriors baseball team will play as a No. 7 seed in the 2010 NM State Baseball Championship Tournament and will host Ruidoso on Friday, May 7 starting at 4 p.m.
Coach Alan Edmonson said, “Ruidoso is a very good ball club. They're definitely better than a ten spot. They've had some kids missing for various reasons, so there's a good possibility that they win their district. I feel like in terms of athleticism and baseball players they're definitely one of the one of the better four or five teams in the state. We will definitely will have our hands full come Friday night.”
Socorro ended the regular season in second place in District 3-3A. Ruidoso (13-10, 10-6) finished in third place in District 4-3A.
If Socorro wins, it will travel to Rio Rancho to play in a quarterfinal game on Wednesday, May 13 at 2 p.m. They will play the winner of No. 15 Robertson vs. No. 2 Bloomfield.
Socorro (14-11, 7-2) completed its regular season with a doubleheader sweep of the Hot Springs Tigers on April 30 and a five-game winning streak.
The Warriors won the games 9-4 and 12-5.
Edmonson said, “I am pleased to come out with two wins. We've won six out of the last seven games. We're playing much better baseball than we were at the middle of the season. Going into playoffs, this is the time you want to be playing your best baseball.”
Six Warrior seniors also played their last regular season home games. They were Kenneth DeCosta, Jonathan Dibartolomeo, Brandon Garcia, Irving Gomez, Justus Jaramillo, and Charles Savedra.
In the first game, Hot Springs (7-11, 1-8) took its only lead of the game 1-0 in the first inning. After giving up this one run on a cold and windy day, starting pitcher Michael Chavez warmed up and allowed only three more runs the rest of the game.
Socorro quickly got back the lead in their part of the first. Chavez doubled to right-center field. Jaramillo singled to right field to bring in Chavez and tie the game. Jaramillo later scored on a steal and on a throwing error to third base to take the lead.
The Warriors added a run in the second for a 3-1 lead. Hot Springs came back and tied the game with two runs in the third.
Socorro took the lead back in the fifth on a double to left-center field by Freddy Martinez who brought in two runs. Decosta singled to center field to score Martinez and give Socorro a 6-3 lead.
In the second game, Hot Springs again took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Warriors scored two of their own on an RBI single by starting pitcher Charlie Savedra. Jaramillo ran home on a throwing error to center field.
Ibrahim Maiga added a run in the second for a 3-1 lead. Hot Springs tied the game in the third.
Socorro took the lead for the final time in the third with Jaramillo scoring on a passed ball. Zack Binger hit a double to right-center for the other RBI of the inning and a 5-3 lead.
Socorro's big inning was in the fifth where they scored five more runs. Savedra pitched a full six innings for the win. Martinez came in for relief duties in the seventh.
“I'm pleased with everyone's performance today,” said Edmonson. “We hit the ball pretty good. My pitchers threw well---Michael and Charlie. My catcher Justin Padilla was outstanding. He's just improved as the season has gone on. Every week we've noticed he's got a little bit better.”

Warriors Go To State Tourney