For the first time this season, Melrose will have a chance to prove themselves in a conference matchup. They are taking a road trip to square off against the Dora Coyotes at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Melrose took a loss when they played away from home on Friday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Saturday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 10-8 victory over Tucumcari. The Buffaloes' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
The team relied heavily on Aiden Bodine, who went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI. Those hits were his first of the season. Jordan Zamora was another key player, going 1-for-4 with three RBI, one triple, and one run.
Meanwhile, Dora hadn't done well against Elida recently (they were 0-9 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Monday. The Coyotes narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past the Tigers 10-8. The victory was familiar territory for the Coyotes, who have now won three matchups in a row.
Timmy Neal made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits over four innings pitched. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in three consecutive appearances. He was also stellar in the batter's box, going 3-for-5 with one home run and three RBI.
In other batting news, Dora let Isaac Jasso and Rylan Harris run wild. Jasso went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and one double, while Harris went 3-for-4 with three RBI, two doubles, and one run. Jasso has been hot recently, having posted two or more stolen bases the last three times he's played. Another player making a difference was Carson Kircher, who went 2-for-3 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run.
Dora always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .625. That was just more of the same: they've now posted an OBP of .625 or higher in three consecutive contests.
Melrose's first win this season bumped their record up to 1-6. As for Dora, they now have a winning record of 3-2.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Friday as neither team is afraid to steal. Melrose has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.7 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Dora struggles in that department as they've been averaging 8.2 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Melrose couldn't quite get it done against Dora when the teams last played back in April of 2025 as they fell 9-6. Can the Buffaloes avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
