Willing to fight like a cornered, well, bobcat, the Ignacio Bobcats made sure to make their last-inning at-bats Friday afternoon as fierce and productive as possible.
Unfortunately, visiting Monte Vista was already too far gone in both games of the nonleague doubleheader at IHS Field, for junior Gabe Archuleta’s fourth-inning RBI triple in game one, and fifth-inning RBI singles by junior Stoney White Thunder and senior Cole Wagner in game two to truly have the needed prolonging effects.
After Wagner’s knock up the middle plated Archuleta, bringing the home team back to within a dozen runs, junior Ambrose Valdez went down swinging against MVHS’ Michael Hensley, and Easton Smith did likewise – with catcher Kaden Madrid retrieving the dropped third strike, then throwing it to first baseman Landon Sanchez to complete a 17-4, 14-2 sweep.
White Thunder and Smith each went 1-for-3 in game two – which was actually tight through three innings, with the Pirates leading by just a 2-0 margin – and Wagner was 1-2 with a walk. Archuleta went 0-2 with a walk and a run scored, while Joseph Atencio drew two walks and finished 0-0 with a run.
One run was enough to gain IHS the lead after one frame in the first game, but Monte Vista responded with two in the top of the second and then broke things wide-open by scoring six runs in the top of the third. Valdez and White Thunder each ended up 2-for-3, with Valdez credited with two RBI and White Thunder one (plus a run scored). Archuleta (2 R) and Wagner each finished 1-3, and Max Mendoza went 0-2 but reached via error and scored once.
Having defeated 2A/1A San Juan Basin League rival Dolores 13-3 on Tuesday, Ignacio slipped to 1-2 overall (1-0 SJBL) in the still-young 2025 season. Coming to town rested from, but still motivated by a 2-1 showing at the March 21-22 Crowley County/Fowler Tournament, Monte Vista improved to 4-2 overall.
The Bobcats will resume league play hosting Dove Creek (0-2 overall) at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, then visit DHS on April 5 for a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.
