The Bernalillo Spartans will be taking part in a tournament against the Capital Jaguars at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday. Bernalillo will aim to continue their three-game streak of scoring more runs each contest than the last.
Last Tuesday, Bernalillo was able to grind out a solid victory over Grants, taking the game 12-9.
Ryan Mortenson
| 03/05/26 @ Espanola Valley | 3 |
| 03/17/26 @ Grants | 2 |
| 03/17/26 @ Grants | 2 |
| 03/07/26 vs Shiprock | 2 |
| 02/28/26 vs Aztec | 2 |
| + 4 more games |
Ryan Mortenson made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out eight over four innings pitched. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two hits in three consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 1-for-4 with two runs and one RBI. He has become a key player for Bernalillo: the team is 5-1 when he posts at least two runs, but 3-4 otherwise.
In other batting news, Anthony Garcia was a standout: he got on base in four of his five plate appearances with two runs, one triple, and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Ulisses Castro, who went 3-for-5 with four RBI, one run, and one double.
Bernalillo kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least 11 hits in three consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Capital can bid farewell to their four-game losing streak thanks to their game on Saturday. Their pitchers stepped up to hand McCurdy a 21-0 shutout. Considering the Jaguars have won five matchups by more than seven runs this season, Saturday's blowout was nothing new.
The team relied heavily on Josh Langwell, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with three RBI, one run, and one double. The team also got some help courtesy of Cesar Marquez, who got on base in both of his plate appearances with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
Bernalillo's win bumped their record up to 8-5. As for Capital, the victory got them back to even at 6-6.
Thursday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Bernalillo has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .470. However, it's not like Capital struggles in that department as they've averaged .547. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Bernalillo's way against Capital in their previous matchup back in March of 2025, as Bernalillo made off with an 8-2 win. Will the Spartans repeat their success, or do the Jaguars have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
