NM State Aggies vs Sam Houston Bearkats Baseball 4-19-26

Yesterday’s defeat was bad, but the news that they’d moved up the start time of Sunday’s game to 10:00am felt even worse when I got up. I thought we were playing these games at 11:00am instead of noon, so that we could avoid moving up game times on getaway day. On the way to the ballpark, I heard Boston on the radio and I had More Than a Feeling that Boston Vest would have a great game today. Spoiler: that didn’t happen, but it would have been awesome if it had.

I hit the bathroom when I got there and found AggieVision’s Rito basically taking a shower in the bathroom sink. I’m thinking it was early for him, too. There were some Sam Houston fans with bending Texas accents chatting in there, as well. One of the guys got hassled at the Border Patrol checkpoint. He just wanted to go to White Sands after the game. The other guy had been there and admitted to taking some sand with him.

Okay, they tell you not to do that, because if all of the visitors took some, it will disappear (at least the highly visited parts). Furthermore, you’ll also end up tossing it and wasting it. (That happened in my family.) You’re going to likely end up with some sand in your vehicle, regardless. Don’t take it intentionally.

A cold wind kicked up right after I got there. (Also, White Sands gets really cold. I’m sure there’s a scientific reason for this. You don’t want to visit there if it’s cold.) If possible, it was even colder than last night even with the sun out. It was going to be another long game whatever the score.

I saw Cooper Reese soft tossing on the field, though he was in shorts. I actually beat Fan Michael to the park. I was briefly alone in the SH section before he came. There was a light crowd of 604 there. Among the fans was a guy with a wiener dog and the dog wearing a little baseball cap. There was an adorable little boy in an Aggie jersey hoodie. He was all smiles enjoying the game with his dad. He fell down at one point, as he had probably hadn’t learned to walk too long ago. He popped right back up without any tears.

Destiny, our team photographer, walked by. She’s just a ray of sunshine. Cooper’s sister wasn’t there, but Maggie Lightheart was there with her parents and a couple of Volleyball teammates. (They must be going out with some Baseball players.) Audrey Solorzano, Steve Solorazano’s sister, sung a beautiful Anthem. Even the SH fans were impressed. Everything was friendly on the field with the players, coaches, and umps shaking hands. Solo shook hands with the SH first base coach. Rito’s brother and fellow AggieVision employee, Mando, was on field to let the umps know when they were out of commercial. He shook hands with the SH third baseman was chatting with the ump there. (More on that later.)

I’m a little shocked, but I correctly guessed the number of unearned runs in this game. For once, I was able to think along with the official scorer. There was one postgame edit where the scorer did change his mind after the initial scoring, but did I finally figure out how to get in-game scoring. Then there was the on-field scoring change that changed the game, but we’ll get to that. This game was almost like an opera for the drama.

Jack Turner started for the Aggies and gave up a double in the top of the first, but that was all. The Aggies came out in their half with a walk to Aiden Tacalas and a double by Chris Daniels. Tacalas was going to try to score, but ran into a hard stop sign from the third base coach. He fell down and had to crawl back to the base. He’d come in anyway on a wild pitch that hit the turf hard enough to bounce into the netting in front of the grandstand.

Jonatan Clough followed that with an RBI single. Camden Kaufman singled to move Clough to third. Easton Rulli brought in Clough with a sac fly. The Aggies started off the game with a 3-0 lead.

Turner gave up a single and a walk in the second, but got a couple of strikeouts for another scoreless frame. The Aggies had a 1-2-3 bottom. Caleb Cotton in left field made a great sliding catch for the first out. He even got applause from the Aggie fans. (There would not be Aggie applause for the next great Bearkat play in the outfield, but we’ll get to that.)

The Aggies were shaky in the top of the third. It began with an error at second and then very rare balk call, which moved the runner up. The Aggie infield came back with a double play, which involved a flip to Kaufman, who barehanded it and then threw to first, though that scored a run. Turner then gave up a bunt single. It was a perfect bunt. Turner went for it, but ended up having to duck under catcher Dane Woodcook’s throw. Nathan Fink needed no trickery with a 2-run homer to left center. It was unaffected by the wind, just muscle. Turner ended it with a looking strikeout, but the score was tied at 3.

Tacalas doubled to begin the bottom of the third. (Alternately, it was a single and the centerfielder bobbled it, but wasn’t given an error. The official scorer saw it differently.) Two wild pitches brought Tacalas in for a run. Bearkat starter, Tate Hickman, then gave up two walks, which brought in Collin Aloisio in relief, who finished the inning. Aggies up, 4-3.

The Bearkats tied it in the fourth with a double and single. The Aggie were down in order again in the bottom. Vest took a looking strikeout and was stunned by it. He stood there as the catcher whipped it around the horn. So far, my prediction was going badly. Ryan Franden, who hit the RBI single, made a great play on a grounder and threw out Clough from outside the baseline.

Two coed girls played for a free round of golf for the golf challenge between innings. Wouldn’t it make more sense to grab a couple of middle aged guys for this instead of girls and little kids? Turner had a strikeout in the fifth, but also gave up a double, a single, and a 3-run homer to Wes Baker. It was a high arcing shot to left field that just stayed fair. Jake Carvajal came in to finish out the inning. The Bearkats were now up, 7-4. In the bottom, the Aggies got two on via a walk and an error around three flyouts.

The Aggies couldn’t figure out hitting with the wind today, but Sam Houston did. The Bearkats put one out again in the sixth, as Cade Corcoran hit a 2-run homer to make it, 9-4 SH. Woodcook did throw out a runner afterward. I was wondering where the other catcher was, Brandon Clizbe. He came out to warm up a pitcher at one point, but that’s all I saw of him.

The Aggies finally came back in the bottom of the sixth. After a pair of singles and a double steal, Tacalas came up with a 2-run single. An error at second chased Aloisio from the game for a reliever. A walk and an RBI single by Kaufman loaded the bases with 2 outs. The stage was now set for the drama to unfold.

Rulli came up and hit a dying liner to center. Jeric Curtis made a tremendous diving catch on the play and held up the ball. (The Bearkats posted this video of it.) The second base umpire, the closest to the play, ruled it a safe hit. Rulli stopped at first, but other three runners had taken off and scored. Rulli took second, though the throw there might have caught him. The scoreboard put up 3 runs to put the Aggies in the lead.

Most of the crowd, even Aggie fans, thought it was a catch. The girls behind me were saying it was a catch. A Bearkat dad, perhaps of Curtis, came walking by shaking his head saying, “I missed it.” I don’t think he was in stands when it happened.

On field, the umps conferenced together. After a lengthy delay, one of the umps talked to Coach Angier. Rulli, still at second, shouted the “F” word loud enough to hear in the stands. The runs taken off the scoreboard. The inning ended. Sam Houston was still up, 9-7. The crowd was deflated and quiet. Even the SH fans weren’t celebrating.

Michael, who’d been away the whole time, came back. I asked if he’d seen the play. He’d gone over to be with some fans that were watching the ESPN+ feed. He said the coverage had shown the ball hitting the ground. Oh, boy. I wrote broadcaster Adam Young later, and he confirmed that on slow-motion replay it looked like the ball bounced into the fielder’s mitt.

Mando was talking with second base ump between innings. I wonder if he told him, since I’m assuming Mando was at least hearing the broadcast. That ump is going to be mad whenever he finds out, since I think the other two umpires talked him into changing his call. If he’d called it an out, nobody would have questioned it, so he must have seen something to make him doubt it.

I’m tempted to end this here, but that wouldn’t be the whole story. That was still a good inning for the Aggies to get the score close. JT Price came out to pitch the top of the seventh and only gave up a single. There was a foul ball sprayed into the Aggie dugout that scattered the team. The girls behind me were singing along with Bye, Bye, Bye being played between innings. They were having a good time. The Aggies went straight down in order in the bottom.

Price got the first two batters in the top of the eighth, though Woodcook took a hit on the backswing from Curtis. Curtis immediately asked the catcher if he was okay. Woody just brushed it off after a brief grimace. Then there was a walk and a great bunt down the third base line. Daniels fielded it and threw to first and knew it was a mistake as soon as he threw it, as the ball went down the first base line. It turned into a 3-base error that scored a run. (It was initially scored as a single and a 2-base error.) Price came out and Carson Timmons came in, who promptly gave up a 2-run homer to Fink. The Aggies were back down, 12-7.

I didn’t see the home run. The Coach’s mom came by and talked to Michael and was standing in front of me. She insisted her son isn’t prone to violent outbursts when off the field. Coach Angier had been fairly calm about the overturned call. Between innings after the error, he took it out on the players with a quick team meeting in the dugout. Hopefully, his mom wasn’t within earshot of it.

SH put in a new left fielder, which was odd, since Cotton was hitting and fielding well. Maybe he got hurt legging out that 3-base error. The girls behind us talking about boys, fairly irritated about guys breaking up with them and then calling them back later. I’m not sure if any of them were dating players. Probably. This was more interesting than the Aggies going down 1-2-3 again on the field.

Timmons gave up 2 singles in the top of the ninth, but picked one of them off first. The Aggies rallied in the bottom of the ninth. A single and walk a prompted a Bearkat pitching change. Rulli singled to load the bases for Meluskey. He pounded a line drive into right field corner to clear the bases. At this point, there were still no outs. However, a strikeout, a foul out, and a groundout ended the game. Not at least getting Tommy in from third with no outs is going to precipitate another angry tirade from the Coach at the team. Sam Houston wins, 12-10.

Ouch. That was a three-game sweep at home by a, frankly, lousy Sam Houston team. No bitter shade. I’m just looking at your record, Bearkats. Certainly, the Aggies aren’t that great either. You guys hung in there and outlasted us. Still, we could have wished for some justice over that overturned call in the sixth.

I’m suddenly a bit worried about Coach Angier’s job at the end of the season. The team was playing hard, but he could lose them with another bad series. I’m also concerned about Steve Solorzano. He followed up not having a good Saturday with an 0 for 6 performance today. The teams lined up and shook hands afterward. Michael was pissed enough about the game, then his big cowbell broke in the ninth. It was a bad day for Aggie Baseball, but at least it was an entertaining game.

Gameballs. The Bearkats had some good hitting today. Cade Corcoran went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI’s from a home run, Nathan Fink was 3 for 4 with 4 RBI’s off of a pair of 2-run homers, and Wes Baker had a 3-run homer. For the Aggies, Aiden Taclas was 2 for 4 with a 2-RBI single and he scored 3 times, twice on wild pitches. Tommy Meluskey had the big 3-run triple in the ninth. Unlike last night, it was a tough day for the pitchers, but I’ll note JT Price for working an inning and 2/3 with 1 hit and 2 unearned runs, 0 earned.

It was a long game at 3 hours and 12 minutes. I tried calling dad about lunch, but he was taking a nap during the call. I went to Burger King solely because I had a coupon and didn’t have a hankering for anything better. It was okay and the service was excellent. The weather got nicer after the game, of course. We’ll be back, weather permitting, for the home finale of ***Aggie Softball.***

NM State Aggies vs Sam Houston State Bearkats Baseball 4-18-26

Let’s catch-up on Aggie Baseball.    Since their sweep of Delaware (4-4-26), the Aggies took a beating at Arizona, 13-3, and dropped 2 of 3 to WKU.    The Aggies won the final game, 10-7.    Jake Carvajal and Julio Ramos pitched two scoreless innings of relief.    Brandon Clizbe went 3 for 4 with 5 RBI’s and a home run.   

On Tuesday, the Aggies played the Lobos.    I didn’t take the day off for it.    I was sort of glad I didn’t because of how much work would have piled up in my absence.    Then again, it was a 6-1 win for the Aggies.    Pitching was a highlight tonight with JT Price, Hazen Wright (the winner), Carvajal, and Carson Timmons locking it down.    Offensively, Chris Daniels was 3 for 4, with 2 RBI’s and a home run, and Easton Rulli was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI’s.   

There was a great crowd of 982 and it was a quick game at two and half hours, which started at 4:00pm.    (So, it would have been a nice pleasant way to spend an early evening if I had gone.) The Aggies had beaten an undefeated UNM in March (3-8-26 was when I wrote about it).  The Lobos are still a good team at 22-13-1 (a tie?) and leading the Mountain West at 8-3-1 in conference (a tie? Really?).    Somehow, the Aggies have their number this season.

Friday night, the Aggies began their next conference series against Sam Houston State. Aggie pitching did not get off to a good start giving up 8 runs to start the game. After those first two innings, the relief corps did lock it down and Aggie hitting got to work. They closed up the score and got it to 8-7 in the ninth. The Aggies had tying run at second, but he was left stranded to end the game. Jonatan Clough had the big blow in the comeback with a 3-run homer. Brayden Barnes, Ramos, and Timmons each had a scoreless inning of relief.

That brings us to Saturday night. It was breezy, but sunny in the afternoon. I had no excuse not to go other than I really didn’t want to go to a night game. As soon as I got there, the wind picked up and got cold. Instantly, I was regretting my decision. At least, I was wearing a thermal top and had a light jacket with me.

At the stadium going up the stairs, I ran into broadcaster Adam Young. He was being mobbed by some other fans praising his game call. Good for him. I met up with Fan Michael. He was wearing an Aggie Baseball jersey he’d gotten at the Aggie gear sale that I missed. I missed out on a whole bunch of stuff there, but he did tell me that it wasn’t being given away cheap. His jersey was $35. Michael me that he’d talked to Coach Angier before the game. He told the Coach, “No playing from behind tonight. Catch-up is for French fries.”

Friday night’s attendance was a good 745. Saturday night it was 698. Maybe some other people were smarter about the weather conditions. SH brought quite a few fans with them. Other fans in the crowd included a guy in a cool El Paso Chihuahuas jersey, several kids in Cubs shirts, and girls in tank tops and shorts in spite of the cold. (Anything to attract the attention of the Baseball players.) The Anthem was delayed and then started suddenly, which caught everyone by surprise. Up on the scoreboard, some lights were noticeably out. We gotta get a new scoreboard.

Things added up on the scorecards mostly because of a lack of scoring and on-field weirdness. I made one mis-score that I had to white-out. Connor Wylde started for the Aggies. The wind made many flyballs in the game exciting. Camden Kaufman battled the wind on a popup on the infield for the second out. Jonatan Clough caught the final out as the ball curled away from him. In Cade Corcoran’s at bat, he fouled a ball hard off his foot that required some attention. A sympathetic SH fan shouted, “Walk it off!” He’d double and be joined on base with a walk, but they’d be left stranded.

In the bottom of the first, Steve Solorzano curled one flyball at pole foul. The crowd was shouting for it to go fair. Solo then fouled a shot directly into the visiting dugout. He finally flied out to Sam Houston’s relief. The Aggies would end up leaving two on base without scoring, as well.

Clough started off the second with another acrobatic catch. Wylde only yielded a walk in the frame. Sean Bazmore in right field for SH ran down a liner to start the bottom of the second. (Pretty much every flyball tonight was an adventure. I’m just listing the best plays.) After that catch, SH starter, Tyler Ryden, ran into trouble. After a single and a walk, Boston Vest singled in a run and Solo sac’d in a run from third. The Aggies loaded the bases with 2 outs, but left them stranded. Aggies up 2-0.

A leadoff walk began the top of the third and was sac’d over. The infield fly rule did come into effect on a popup to second. (No weirdness ensued like a ***recent Chihuahuas game on 4-17-26***.) On the final out, Vest was screened at short by the runner going by. Vest made a heads up running throw to get the runner out at third. The Aggies went down in order in the bottom. Ryan Franden at third made a great play on a liner.

In the top of the fourth, Wylde notched a couple of strikeouts. He gave up a single on a high bouncer to second. Kaufman got it, but overthrew first base, though the runner stayed put. I was asked by a fan why that wasn’t an error. The official scorer likely thought a good throw still wouldn’t have gotten the runner and since he didn’t advance on the overthrow, there was no error. (The threshold for an error is “ordinary effort.”) The Aggies only managed a walk in the bottom.

Hazen Wright came in for the top of the fifth. He threw 6 balls in a row, which prompted a visit from the Coach. Wright came back from 2 walks to get 2 strikeouts. Then, he gave up another walk to load the bases and Bazmore cashed in 2 runners with a double. Tommy Meluskey made a running grab on liner in center to end the inning. We were tied at 2.

The Aggies again only managed a walk in the bottom of the inning. Of more importance, I finally noticed in the stands that Nellie Reese was there. Her mom and dad, I’d find out later, were out-of-town on family business. With Nellie was her Volleyball teammate, a newly blonde, Tess Fuqua. It’s a good look. I’m rethinking my lack of commitment to Aggie Sports next season. I got a smile and a wave from Nellie on my way back from the bathroom. She’s really happy now not playing Volleyball and having a boyfriend. (I got a confused look from Tess when I waved at her.)

The wind and the cold had me going to the bathroom 4 times while I was at the stadium. I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t hold it. There was a rare line at the bathroom between innings. I spoke to SH pitcher Ryden’s father there. He was cold and nervous about his son pitching. I told him it was 95-degrees here three weeks ago. That didn’t help.

For the sixth, the Bearkats singled and the Aggies went down in order. Much of the crowd was deserting with sun down and it getting colder. At least the players were obligingly playing quick. In the top of the seventh, Wright got 2 outs, but then a ball went under Kaufman’s glove at second. An error was initially charged, but changed immediately to a hit. Those fans weren’t there to ask me to explain that, which is good, because I wouldn’t have been able to. Wright picked the runner off anyway. The Aggies went down in order in the bottom with 2 strikeouts by a reliever just brought in.

In the top of the eighth, Wright was hit on the ankle on a comebacker. He fell down, but still threw out the runner. Wright walked the next batter. The crowd was incensed since it happened on a close pitch. Coach Angier went ahead and took Wright out for Dylan Weekly.

Weekly got the second out, but gave up a single next and a stolen base put both runners on scoring position. The SH coach called a conference with the runners and the hitter. This was almost unprecedented. I don’t know what clever strategy they were planning, but ultimately, a wild pitch brought the runner in from third. There was a play at the plate and the runner just slid under the tag. The crowd was mad about the call. I had a pretty good view of it. He looked safe. Another single brought in the other runner to give Sam Houston a 4-2 lead.

Clough led off the bottom of the eighth with a double. He was moved to third with 1 out and Coach Angier called a conference with the runner and the batter. Again, this doesn’t normally happen. Easton Rulli had an RBI fielder’s choice to bring in the run. (Was that the plan?) 4-3 SH.

The Bearkats began the top of the ninth with a single, but catcher Dane Woodcook made a good play on foul popup behind the plate and the next two batters went down. Woodcook singled to begin the bottom of the ninth and was sac’d over to second by Vest. Unfortunately, a lineout to first by Solo and a strikeout by Chris Daniels ended the game. Sam Houston wins, 4-3.

The final strike was on a check swing. Michael was furious. Apparently, Friday’s game had ended on a questionable call. Coach Angier briefly got into the umpire, but the ump pretty much walked away. I had a pretty good view. It looked like he swung.

Given the low-scoring game, all of my Gameballs are going to pitchers tonight. For Sam Houston, starter Tyler Ryden went 6 innings giving up 2 runs and reliever Connor Mondey pitched 3 and gave up 1 run. For the Aggies, starter Connor Wylde pitched 4 scoreless innings.

The game went 2 hours and 52 minutes. It wasn’t quick enough given the conditions, but it was interesting, if disappointing. (I’m not coming back to any more night game unless the weather conditions are perfect.) A low-hanging thin crescent red moon hung in the sky with Jupiter shining nearby. I went home and wished I hadn’t drunk all my hot chocolate a week ago. I skipped writing when I was home so I could play Command and Conquer: Zero Hour. I beat the final USA mission on the hard level. It was time well-spent. Oh, and tomorrow’s game starts at 10:00am.

Baseball Journal: Puppy Chow

4-8-26

Day Baseball today, unfortunately both games were on at the same time.    The Chihuahuas came on first with their game against the Isotopes in El Paso.    The pups were roughed up yesterday in their home opener, 8-4.    It wasn’t that close.    They went down early in today’s game and I switched over to the other game mostly and checked back in occasionally.    It was 10-0 Isotopes in the fourth. I felt good about my early ejection from the game.   

There was a bit of a comeback.    After an RBI fielder’s choice, Mason McCoy hit a 3-run homer to make it, 10-4, in the bottom of the fourth.    That was as close as it got.    Broadcaster Tim Hagerty started talking about calling a game in Wyoming game that was delayed for a huge snake.    It was removed by a coach with a sack for running on to the field and for not paying admission.    The Chihuahuas loaded the bases in the ninth, but lost 13-5.

Meanwhile, the Rangers were facing the Mariners in home game.    The Rangers won the first two games in the series, but with really low scores. In the first inning, Ranger starter, Mackenzie Gore, had a two-true outcome inning.    M’s players either walked or struck out.    Gore threw over 20 pitches.    It was still scoreless in the third, when Rob Refsydner robbed Josh Smith of a home run.    Broadcaster Matt Hicks awarded that the Whataburger Play of the Game, though it was against the Rangers.  

   

Last week, the Angels’, Jo Adell, stole 3 home run balls against the M’s in a 1-0 win.    The last one, he caught the ball, then fell over the low outfield wall into the crowd.    It was still a catch, because he caught it before he went over.

Gore struck out the side in the fourth and didn’t give up a hit until the fifth.    In the bottom of the fifth, the Rangers loaded the bases.    Connor Joe, called up from Tacoma (where he was playing against the Chihuahuas), threw home on a grounder, but threw high and 2 runs scored. Corey Seager sac’d in a run to make it, 3-0. The Rangers won by that score.    Gore got the win with 5 scoreless innings and 9 K’s.  Smith still had 2 hits in the game, even with the stolen homer.    Oddly this game ended before the Chihuahuas’ game finished, though it started a half hour later.   

4-10-26

The Chihuahuas had lost three in a row for their home opening series against the Isotopes and were down 5-0 in the fifth tonight.    The pups finally busted out in the bottom of that inning with a 12-batter, 7-run frame to take a 7-5 lead.    Mason McCoy doubled in 3 of those runs.   

The Isotopes came back in the seventh with back-to-back homers to tie it and took a 1-run lead in the eighth.    The Chihuahuas got two on in the bottom of that inning, but didn’t score.    Broadcaster Tim Hagerty had to make a change to his scorecard after a clarification in the official scoring was made.    Even the pros don’t always get the scoring right.    In the bottom of the ninth with two on, pinch hitter, Marcus Castanon, walked it off with a 3-run homer.    The dogs win their first home game, 10-8.

Driving home from work, I was listening to Fox Sports Radio. They were actually talking about baseball.    Of course, the host was just glazing the Dodgers.    (No.    It wasn’t Ben Maller.)    The host was saying that this Dodgers team was probably the greatest baseball team ever.    “Some might argue that some older teams were better, but they won segregated championships.    I don’t even count those.”    They’ll just give anybody a microphone, won’t they, as long as they prop up The Agenda?

4-11-2

ESPN Radio is committed to broadcasting baseball, even if ESPN on TV isn’t, and was broadcasting the Diamondbacks playing the Phillies this morning.    I missed the pregame and wasn’t quite sure who was playing.    Phillies starting pitcher, Taijuan Walker, got in immediate trouble in the first inning.    The crowd started booing instantly.    I should have been able to guess just from that that they were in Philadelphia.   

The broadcast was interesting.    There was some talk about the patterns on the field.    When putting light and dark patterns down, the groundskeeper has to make sure to not put grooves in the field that would influence ground balls.    Brandon Pfaadt, one of the Diamondbacks players, was wearing pink shoelaces.    It was a gender reveal for an expected baby to family members watching the game.   

In the third, Kyle Schwarber hit a 3-run homer and Bryce Harper followed with a solo shot to make it, 4-2.    In the eighth, the D-Backs scratched out a run to make it, 4-3.    The crowd collectively grumbled.    Really.    It came right over the crowd mics.    In the bottom, pidgins visited the booth.    This prompted a discussion about pidgins.    You never know what you’re going to get on baseball radio broadcast.    Jhoan Duran closed it out for the Phillies’ 4-3 win with a 100-mph strikeout.     

Later in the evening, the Chihuahuas lost, 4-0, to the Isotopes.    At least the crowd got fireworks afterward.    I was sorry I stuck with that game when there were two other games on, which I joined in progress.    The Rockies were at the Padres with the bases loaded with 2 out and the tying run at the plate for the Rox in the ninth.    A flyout ended it with a 9-5 Padres win.    I flipped over to the Rangers at the Dodgers with 2 on and the tying run at plate for the Rangers in the ninth.    Wait.    What?    A strikeout ended it anyway.    6-3 Dodgers win.

4-12-26

I was listening to the Chihuahuas versus the Isotopes while at Aggie Softball today.    I was having issues hearing the radio over the in-person game noise.    It was 6-0 Isotopes in the second inning.    According broadcaster Tim Hagerty, there was the first “fielder’s balk” ever at the ballpark.    I had to look that term up on the Internet, because it’s not in my rule book.    If a fielder is not in the field of play before a pitch, it’s a balk.    (I think.    I can’t find that rule in the book, either.)    However, it was called on Sung-Mun Song, who is a second baseman.    In the box score, there was an enigmatic “Shift violation” listed, which might be the offending play.

   

By the bottom of the seventh, the Chihuahuas had fought back to 8-5 Isotopes, after back-to-back home runs.    One went 457’.    The wind must have been blowing out.    Song then drove in a run.    Marcus Castanon drove in two more runs with Song diving headfirst across the plate to tie it at 8. Castanon would score on a wild pitch for a 9-8 lead.    It was a 6-run inning.

The Isotopes tied it in the ninth, though Song threw out the go-ahead run at home.    I went home after the Softball game to hear the rest of this one.    The top of the tenth started off with an Isotopes’ 2-run homer that went 440’.    It only got worse from there.    There was a run scored on an error on a sac bunt and a wind-aided 3-run homer.    I stopped keeping track at that point, but they scored 10 runs in the inning.    The Isotopes nearly batted around before the first out was recorded. The Chihuahuas scored 3 in the bottom, but the final was 19-12 Isotopes.    The pups dropped 5 of 6 in their opening homestand.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers were playing the Rangers on Mexican TV.    It was Jacob deGrom versus Roki Sasaki.    Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff homer in the game, which I heard about at the Softball game from a couple of fans chatting.    However, the Rangers didn’t allow scoring after that for most of the rest of the game.    The Rangers put up 2 in the third for the lead. They’d go on to win it, 5-2.   

I would have liked to have just watched all of it, but I’d told dad I’d come by and watch the end of the Masters with him.    (Also on TV at the same time, a new movie channel started broadcasting this weekend, Movie Sphere Gold.    They were showing Dredd, one of my favorite recent movies.)    I tried to listen to the baseball game on the radio while at dad’s apartment, but had even worse reception than I did at the ballpark.    I ended up watching Gameday for the bottom of the ninth.    

There was more baseball in the evening.    NBC was showing a Sunday night game with the Braves versus the INDIANS!    The game got out-of-hand about halfway through and the broadcast started focusing on nostalgia, though they wouldn’t even use the term “Indians” historically.

Jason Benetti led the broadcast with three color analysts and Bob Costas there.    CC Sabathia, sitting in a dugout, was keeping a scorecard.    He wouldn’t let the rest of the crew see it.    (If he had the kind of issues I had at Softball, I can understand why.)   

A couple of amusing things happened at the end of the game.    Ronald Acuna Jr. was grazed at the waist on a pitch.    It unbuckled his belt.    The game got so lopsided that catcher, Austin Hedges, pitched in the bottom of the eighth.    This was awesome!    He did get the final out.    This was his ninth MLB pitching appearance.    The Braves, keeping their great name in defiance of The Agenda, throttled the Cleveland Traitors, 13-1.   

NM State Aggies vs UTEP Miners Softball 4-12-26

Since their last home series against WKU, Aggie Softball dropped two of three to Jax State on the road. They lost the first game, 6-3. Faith Aragon took the loss pitching all 6 innings. Kendal Lunar and Lauren Johnson both homered in the game. The Aggies took the next game, 5-3. Faith got the win in that one and went 3 for 4. Kendal had a home run and her and Skye Johnson both had a pair of RBI’s. The rubber game was a 6-2 loss. Taryn Bennett took the loss. Faith pitched in relief. Lauren homered in the game.

I’d meant to take Friday off to see the rivalry game between the Aggies and the UTEP Miners and go to the Aggie Football equipment sale and Fan Fest. (I missed the Football guys taking penalty kicks against the Soccer girls. NCAA rules won’t let the football team actually scrimmage for the fans anymore.) Things were really busy at work and the forecast for that night was never good. The predicted rain did not materialize in Las Cruces, though it did in nearby El Paso, which delayed a Chihuahuas’ game.

There was, however, a haboob here to start the Softball game, indicating that a storm was on the way somewhere in the area. The girls played through it. It was an 8-3 win for the Aggies. Destan Burks had the big blow with a 3-run homer. Faith went the distance for the win.

I’d had a long week. On Saturday, I just wasn’t in the mood to go to an evening game. Helping a neighbor move in likely exhausted me a bit, as well. There was some threatening weather in the area, though it never actually rained. If it had been an earlier game, I might have gone. The Aggie Football equipment sale was still going on Saturday morning, but I just couldn’t get myself to go.

The game was another Aggie win, 3-0. Faith had another 7-inning effort and she doubled in a run. Destan and Kendal each had solo home runs. It was a very quick game at just over an hour and a half. Maybe they were worried about the weather, too. The sun had barely gone down when they’d finished. There was a great crowd of 795. They didn’t need me there.

Sunday morning, I was in a better mood, or at least complaining less. I left early for lunch at Whataburger. I wanted to use that free fry coupon. It was great, though I ordered a large drink and was shocked by the size of it. I thought I’d been ordering large drinks all this time. This thing was like 50% bigger than that.

When I got inside the stadium, Faith Aragon’s dad was there with some other fans holding court. He was saying, “We gotta win today.” I was listening to the Chihuahuas versus the Isotopes game on the radio I brought with me. Disappointingly, I could just barely hear it while I was inside the stadium. I was 45-minutes early and there was already a crowd inside. Attendance was listed at 563, but seemed bigger. The fans were more enthusiastic than usual. There was a sizable UTEP contingent.

It was cool and breezy and partly cloudy. It was fairly nice out. On field, the Miners were wearing Old-Timey looking loose, dark blue tops with high socks for their warm up. They switched to orange tops to play in. Mackenzie Jones was having fun and grooving in the Aggie horseshoe pregame ritual.

I think the scoreboard was on when I came in, but it was off for the entire game. I kind of hoped nothing weird would happen in the game for my scorecards. (That didn’t happen.) The ump should have been showing the count on every pitch and the PA should have been giving the score every inning. (Those things only happened occasionally.) A couple of fans asked me what inning we were in, since I was there with the scorecards.

Nobody should have been asking me about the game. I really screwed these up. I can’t even blame the scoreboard being off for my problems. I lost track of the lineup twice. I don’t know what happened. It’s so embarrassing.

It was a good sign in the top of the first, as Taryn Bennett had her good stuff working for a 1-2-3 inning. We had some delays between innings waiting on the TV coverage. Mondo with AggieVision, son of one of my co-workers, was on field and would signal to start play.

Ryann Presswood, with a full mane of lush long, shiny, blonde hair started for the Miners. Faith led off the bottom of the first with a sneaky bunt single. After two outs, Madi Bachman came up and hit her first pitch out of the park to center. This 2-run shot was done against the wind. 2-0 Aggies. That was all we saw of Presswood, as part of a steady stream of new Miner pitchers every inning.

In the top of the second, Taryn issued a walk to the second batter of the inning. Madi went out for a talk. Taryn seems to have a good attitude in the circle, but can be rattled. The next batter hit a blooper. The wind held the ball up and Sky Johnson in left field dove for it for the catch. The final out was a fielder’s choice. Destan Burks fed Tamara Carranza covering second. The ball was bobbled, but she held on. Tamara’s reward was getting her foot stepped on. She was hopping around after the play. In the bottom of the inning, the bottom of the Aggie order only managed a walk.

Behind me, there was a guy and a girl, I think a former player, talking about nothing but baseball and softball for the whole game. It was super refreshing. In the top of the third, Taryn deflected a high bouncer back at her trying to grab it. Behind her, Destan stayed with the ball and got the out. For better or worse, Taryn is always thinking with her glove on field, but she’s handy pitching, too. A pair of strikeouts ended the inning.

Some guys that I presume were Football players came in to watch. Destan had been moved up in lineup to second thanks to performance over the weekend. On the first pitch of the bottom of the third, Destan hit a sky high home run to left with the wind swirling. After a walk to Kendal, Madi had a sky-high hit to center. The wind knocked it straight down. The centerfielder had started back and then had to run back in. Two other fielders converged, but the ball fell in between all of them. Kendal was shot by a sniper rounding third on the play and had to go back, otherwise she might have scored.

Arianna Flores got a looking strikeout for the Miners the first out of the inning, but was relieved right after. In the break, a huge yellow butterfly floated around watching the game. Security attempted to apprehend the butterfly for not paying admission, but she flew off. Tamara came up and drove in the two baserunners with a double. Johnna Aragon then hit a liner that hit third base and deflected away from the defender. I had it as a tough error, but it was scored a hit.

Mackenzie came in to pinch run for Johanna and promptly stole second. Flores accidentally deflected the throw from the catcher trying to get her and Tamara scored on the error. The Aggies were now up, 6-0.

To the top of the fourth, Taryn got the first two batters, but a grounder took a bad hop on Tamara at short for an error. A worse error happened on my scorecard, as I noticed that I was out-of-order on the lineup. Taryn then gave up a single, but knuckled down and got the final out. In the bottom, Destan doubled and Madi drove her in on a fielder’s choice. 7-0 Aggies.

Madi was delayed getting out on field in the top of the fifth, since she was on the basepads. The Aggies didn’t run out a backup catcher to warm up Taryn. (Maybe they don’t have another player available.) Instead, Taryn got some additional instruction by the dugout from Madi’s sister, pitching coach, Paige Bachman. The Miners got a leadoff single, as Tamara nearly great catch on the soft liner, but couldn’t hold on to it. Tamara did get two other popups in the inning. And my scorecard lineup is screwed up again! I can’t believe it!

A food vendor came in and handed out a couple of leftover hot dogs to Football guys. (They’re obliviously underfed.) A couple of little girls were running around up front in different Spider-Man t-shirts. Is he their favorite superhero? And it was real Spider-Man, not that fake one, they keep pushing in the animated movies. The girls are being raised right.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Aggies loaded the bases on a couple of walks and a single with one out. Faith, with Coach Rodolph looking on and shouting encouragement, came up and tried another bunt, but it dribbled in front of plate. The catcher got it and lunged out to tag the runner from third. However, it was only a temporary reprieve for UTEP. Destan came up and singled up the middle past two defenders reaching for the ball. Johnna scored to make it 8-0 Aggies for a run rule win.

It’s a sweep! (And for my scorekeeping ego, thank goodness it’s over.) The game only went for 1 hour and 24 minutes. I was still listening to the Chihuahuas and decided to go home to finish the ***rest of it.*** Outside, there wasn’t a bus. I wondered how the Miners got here, but then I noticed two little shuttle busses in the parking lot.

Today’s Gameballs are all for the Aggies. (Sorry, UTEP. You ladies did not have a good game.) The first one goes to Taryn Bennett for the 5-inning shutout. That was great to see from her. It was the kind of performance I knew she was capable of. Tamara Carranza had 2 RBI’s on a double and Johnna Aragon went 2 for 3. Madi Bachman had a great game going 2 for 3 with 3 RBI’s and a 2-run homer. Destan Burks was also great going 3 for 4 with 2 RBI’s and a home run.

This would have been a good series to see all of for an Aggie fan. It’s unfortunate, I wasn’t able to. I’ll consider finally going to night game ***next Saturday*** with Aggie Baseball, as I’m running out of excuses.

Well deserved honors for Destan Burks.