The St. Michael's Horsemen will square off against the Portales Rams at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
St. Michael's usually-dominant pitching crew will be looking to make up for Monday's struggle, when Espanola Valley hitters got past them. The Horsemen blew past the Sundevils 19-10 on Monday. The Horsemen's win was nothing new given the team hasn't lost yet this season.
Nadia Cedillo
| 03/31/25 @ Espanola Valley | 3 |
| 03/29/25 vs Valley | 4 |
| 03/27/25 @ Pojoaque Valley | 1 |
| 03/27/25 @ Pojoaque Valley | 1 |
| 03/25/25 vs Taos | 4 |
| + 3 more games |
Nadia Cedillo was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over four innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off five hits (and only one walk). Cedillo was even better at the plate, scoring four runs and stealing three bases while getting on base in four of her five plate appearances. Cedillo is crushing it when it comes to stolen bases: she's snagged at least one every time she's taken the field this season.
In other batting news, St. Michael's got a massive performance out of Mariella Ruiz, who scored four runs and stole a base while going 4-for-5. That's the most runs Ruiz has posted since back in May of 2024. Karolina Ruiz was another key player, going 2-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple.
St. Michael's was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .447. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .350 or higher in six consecutive games.
The home team had won the previous four meetings between Portales and Clovis, and Portales kept the tradition alive. The Rams put the hurt on the Wildcats with a sharp 11-1 victory on Wednesday. While the Rams didn't have the best season last year (they finished 10-16), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Annaleah Lujan made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out ten batters over six innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits. With that strong performance, she is now averaging an impressive 5.2 strikeouts per game. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with one triple, one double, and one RBI. That triple marked the first that she hit this season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Myleigh Banda, who went 2-for-4 with one home run, two stolen bases, and three runs. Another player making a difference was Addyson Mayberry, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with two RBI and one double.
Portales pushed their record up to 6-4 with the win, which was their fourth straight at home. Those home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.5 runs on average over those games. As for St. Michael's, their win bumped their record up to 8-0.
Tuesday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. St. Michael's has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .588. However, it's not like Portales struggles in that department as they've averaged .504. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
