Santa Fe Highs second championship of the 12th annual Jim Pierce Memorial Tournament

A 0-5 start by the Santa Fe High baseball team has turned into a seventh straight win streak following its 8-1 success Saturday over Bernalillo for the 12th annual Jim Pierce Memorial Tournament championship, the second for the Demons at the Christian Brothers Athletic Complex.

The turnaround for the program had junior third baseman Adan Alvarez lead the way as tournament Most Valuable Player, while teammates Nick Sandoval and C.J. Garcia made the all-tournament team with Alvarez, who produced with his bat in the three games.

Sandoval and Garcia were a stellar one-two punch by leading the way to 23 runs in the tourney. Sandoval also excelled on the mound in the title game by retiring the first 18 batters and winding up with 11 strikeouts. He also came away with a hit and scored a run.

“We installed energy.” Alvarez said, “after we had that players meeting when we were 0-5. Now we are playing as a team at the plate, in the field, on the mound, and have much more confidence. Now we look good in 5-5A with the way we turned things around.”

There has been quality hurling as well, with senior righthander Luc Jaramillo owning the fastball heat that’s been reported at about 85 mph. He has come off four seasons as the Demons’ starting football quarterback.

There has also been a 13-year draught for Santa Fe High at the state tournament, and so it’s about time for it to finally make it to state.

In the game for 3rd place, the host Horsemen romped over Kirtland Central, 10-2, with 10 unanswered runs in the second and fourth innings after being behind 4-0. Owen Gruda led the way with a 3-for-3 game that included a home run and a double while scoring three times. He also pitched the first five innings and is now 2-0 from the hill.

Fifth place went to Albuquerque Sandia Prep with a 6-4 win over Portales. Seventh place had Cobre overwhelm Raton, 11-2.