Seniors Chance Strand (left) and Tyler Zimmerman (right) were joined by their parents on the field during senior appreciation. (Courtesy photo)

ALAMOSA —The Alamosa High School baseball squad (13-4) finished off their league schedule on Saturday by defeating the Montezuma-Cortez Cougars (3-10) at the AHS baseball field.
Senior appreciation and alumni recognition were also a part of the day, as the Mean Moose honored seniors Chance Strand and Tyler Zimmerman. Several AHS alumni were recognized on the field as well.

In game one, Jasen Engel of Montezuma -Cortez took the loss, but kept the Moose off balance, throwing six innings, allowing five runs on five hits and striking out nine.
Caden Alonzo started things in the first inning by hitting a triple to the right field fence, scoring Tyler Zimmerman. Alamosa pulled away for good with three runs in the second inning. Kolten Hillis singled on a 0-1 count, scoring two runs. Engel also gave up a run on a wild pitch, giving the Moose a 5-3 victory.  
Junior John Lujan earned the win for AHS. He lasted five and two-thirds innings, allowing six hits and three runs while striking out 10. Chance Strand recorded the last four outs to earn the save.

In game two, Alonzo would not be denied at the plate when runners were on base. The 3A RBI leader (39) drove in six runs on three hits, including a home run off the scoreboard in the third to lead Alamosa past Montezuma-Cortez by a score of 21-2. The moose tallied 12 runs in the second inning led by Ben Wuckert, Lujan, Zimmerman, Strand and Alonzo.
Zimmerman earned the win for Alamosa surrendering two runs on four hits over five innings, striking out seven and walking one.
Alamosa did not commit a single error in the field in either game.  

“I am super proud of the way the guys have been focusing during the practice week. We are creating personal weekly goals and working every day to improve. Each week we have improved on what we were weak in the weeks before. This was the first series where we did not commit an error; that is a huge accomplishment going into post season. When our pitchers are confident in the defense, the sky is the limit. Especially if we keep hitting the way we have been. I am so proud of these guys, we earned the league championship and are making our goal to continue to show the state what we are made of,” commented head coach Jason Romero.

The Maroons have enjoyed a top-10 RPI ranking for a good portion of the season. But now thanks to a powerful weekend the CHSAA coaches poll is beginning to sit up and take notice of Alamosa. Voted on by coaches and select members of the media the CHSAA poll has Alamosa cracking the rankings at the number ten spot.

The Maroons will wrap up their regular season schedule at home Friday, May 4 hosting the Trinidad Miners in a non-league matchup starting at 2 and 4 p.m.