Moriarty Victory Sets up Title Tilt with Los Alamos

MORIARTY, N.M. — The Moriarty Pintos moved one step closer to a potential district title Wednesday, using a relentless offensive performance and a dominant outing from Scott Batie to defeat Pojoaque Valley 11-4.

The win improves Moriarty to 13-8 overall and 9-1 in District 2-4A play. The Pintos remain tied for the top spot in the standings with Los Alamos, setting up a massive winner-take-all doubleheader at home this Friday.

High-Speed Offense

Moriarty’s “Pinto Power” was on full display as the team manufactured 11 runs on 10 hits, while taking advantage of four Pojoaque errors. Micah Kamplain and Cash Klein led the charge, both finishing 3-for-4 at the plate.

Kamplain was the primary run-producer, driving in three RBIs and wreaking havoc on the bases with three stolen bases. Klein proved equally difficult to retire, smashing two doubles and scoring three times.

The Pintos jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning and, after a scoreless second, broke the game open with a five-run explosion in the bottom of the third. Tyler Denomme contributed to the rally with two hits, including a double and an RBI. Wesley Francis also remained perfect on the day, going 1-for-1 with two hit-by-pitches and an RBI.

Moriarty showed patience and grit at the plate, as Raiden Scribner, Mario Romero, Nick Kamplain, and Francis were all hit by pitches to keep the carousel moving. In total, the Pintos swiped eight bases, with Trey Denomme adding two steals to the team’s tally.

Batie Controls the Mound

On the hill, Scott Batie provided the stability Moriarty needed. Batie earned the win, pitching 5.2 innings and racking up eight strikeouts. Despite navigating four walks, he limited the Elks to just two earned runs.

Oscar Shuck entered in the sixth to close the door. Shuck was nearly perfect in relief, throwing 1.1 innings of hitless baseball to preserve the victory.

Championship Friday

The victory ensures that the District 2-4A crown will be decided in Moriarty. The Pintos host the Los Alamos Hilltoppers on Friday in a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. With both teams entering the finale with identical 9-1 league records, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Moriarty squad.