East Mountain Sweeps Ruidoso in District Doubleheader

SANDIA PARK — The East Mountain Timberwolves (13-1. 3-0) flexed their offensive muscles and showcased late-game poise Thursday, sweeping a critical District 4/5 doubleheader against the Ruidoso Warriors (5-8. 1-2).

After fending off a late surge to take the opener 7-6, the Timberwolves maintained their momentum to secure a 10-5 victory in the nightcap, completing the home conference sweep.

Game 1: East Mountain 7, Ruidoso 6

In a back-and-forth thriller, East Mountain leaned on the long ball and a gutsy relief performance from Luke Stoerner to secure the win.

Trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the fourth, the Timberwolves exploded for four runs to take a lead they would not relinquish. The power surge was led by senior Ty Rector and Stoerner, who both homered in the contest. Stoerner was a force at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, and two runs scored.

Ruidoso mounted a late comeback, scoring three runs across the final two innings, but Stoerner proved just as valuable on the mound as he was at the plate. Coming on in relief of starter Quinlan Gwyther, Stoerner threw 2.1 innings, striking out three and allowing only one unearned run to slam the door. Gwyther earned the start, striking out five over 4.2 innings of work.

Other key offensive contributors included Charles Birdwell, who went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, and Brandon Johnson, who added a hit and an RBI. Dalton Springall was perfect in reaching base, officially going 1-for-1 with two walks and a run scored.

Game 2: East Mountain 10, Ruidoso 5

The Timberwolves’ bats remained hot in the second game, powered by a massive performance from senior Charles Birdwell. Birdwell nearly hit for the cycle, finishing 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, five RBIs, and two runs scored.

East Mountain took control early with a five-run second inning. While Ruidoso attempted to chip away at the lead, scoring in each of the first four innings, the Timberwolves put the game out of reach with a four-run fifth.

Christopher Moya and Quinlan Gwyther provided significant support in the lineup. Moya finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Gwyther went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Dalton Springall continued his productive day, scoring two runs, while Brody Johnson and Stace Davis each crossed the plate once.

On the mound, Cole Darnell earned the victory, pitching a solid game with a 2.80 ERA for the outing. Moya provided stability in relief to earn the save, maintaining a 3.50 ERA over his appearance to ensure the sweep.

With the pair of wins, East Mountain solidifies its standing in District 4/5 play, backed by a roster that saw contributions from Ryan Moorhead, Ty Rector, Aidan Madrid, and Brandon Johnson throughout the afternoon.

Game 1 Totals:

• Ruidoso: 6 Runs, 10 Hits, 2 Errors
• East Mountain: 7 Runs, 8 Hits, 1 Error

Game 2 Totals:

• Ruidoso: 5 Runs, 7 Hits, 1 Error
• East Mountain: 10 Runs, 10 Hits, 5 Errors