Junior Issac Roybal bats in winning run as Pojoaque Valley wins its first District 2-4A baseball game in eight innings over visiting West Las Vegas Tuesday
By Arnie Leshin | April 20, 2017
Loss puts the Dons further behind first-place St. Michael’s in district, and who they visit Tuesday
Not only did the Pojoaque Valley baseball team gain its initial District 2-4A victory of the season, but Tuesday’s 5-4, extra-inning success over visiting West Las Vegas also hurt the Dons in the standings.
For the Elks, 9-11-1 overall, it put them at 1-5-1 in district after junior Issac Roybal lined a bases-loaded, walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning. Roybal came to the plate after senior Andres Romero singled, senior Jason Quintana doubled, and an intentional walk was given to sophomore Alejandro Atencio.
WLV, 11-7-1 overall, dropped to 5-3-1 in district and lost ground to first place St. Michael’s (4-1), who it visits in the final regular-season game.
Before that, the Dons play a doubleheader at Taos (11-6, 4-5) Saturday, and on Tuesday head for St. Michael’s for a single game.
As for Pojoaque, which had already lost 3-2 at West Las Vegas in game one of a doubleheader, and in game two played a 4-4 tie that was called after nine innings, it is at the Horsemen for a Friday (3 and 5 p.m.) doubleheader, follows that with a contest at Las Vegas Robertson, and is then home to Taos. In an early game at home, the Elks lost 6-5 to St. Michael’s.
West Las Vegas scored once in the top of the first and Pojoaque answered with a run of its own. In the fourth, the Dons tallied twice for a 3-1 lead, but the Elks went in front 4-3 with three sixth-inning runs. In the seventh, WLV knotted the score at 4-4.
Then came the eighth and the heroics of Roybal.
Pojoaque started senior Nate Aguilar, and he was relieved in the sixth by Romero. But Aguilar returned to the mound in the eighth and pitched a scoreless frame to earn the victory. He struck out 10.
At bat, Aguilar came through with three hits and scored twice. Romero added three safeties and batted in two runs.
St. Michael’s is 11-7 overall and plays a non district game tonight at neighborhood rival Santa Fe High. Also in district, Robertson is 4-5 and is 15-8 overall. Taos stands at 4-5 and 11-6.
Overall, Pojoaque has outscored its opponents 144-117, but in district it is 40-53. This was its third extra-inning contest, losing the other, 12-10, in eight innings to Robertson, as well as tying the Dons.