ALAMOSA – The Alamosa High School needed one thing when it hosted eighth-ranked Bayfield in its quest for first place in the Intermountain League. The thing the Mean Moose needed was a sweep of the Wolverines.

Alamosa was successful as it won both ends of the doubleheader. The Mean Moose had to come from behind in both games but ended up winning by scores of 11-8 and 6-5 to take over first place Saturday at Ortega Middle School’s field.

“The boys just stuck together and never gave up,” said Alamosa coach Tony Kechter. “They had a no-quit attitude and I’m very proud of them. We had some kids that had a bad at-bat the last time and came up big next time.”

Game 1

The Mean Moose struck early by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Evan Sowards singled and stole second and he came around to score on Kasey Jones’ triple.

Kasey Jones came home on Hayden Shawcroft’s infield single, and Shawcroft took second on a wild pitch. Michael Madril then singled home Shawcroft for a 3-0 lead.

The Wolverines tied the score on the top of the third. Nic Twedt drew a walk, and Austin Twedt reached on an error. Isaac Ross also walked to load the bases, and Noah Chamblee cleared the sacks with a triple.

Bayfield took the lead with a two-run fourth. Nic Twedt received his second straight walk, and Austin Twedt was hit by a pitch. Ross singled home Nic Twedt, and Austin Twedt came home on a wild pitch for a 5-3 Wolverines’ lead.

Bayfield put three more runs on the board in the fifth. Devin Avery walked, and Jackson Queen got to first on an error. Nic Twedt then tripled to score both runners and Austin Twedt singled home Nic Twedt, and the Wolverines led 8-3.

The Mean Moose started their comeback with three runs in their half of the fifth. Kasey Jones and Donovan Ramirez both drew walks with nobody out, and Shawcroft singled to bring home Kasey Jones. Madril then singled to load the bases, and both Kiko Ruybal, who was courtesy-running for Ramirez, and Shawcroft both scored on groundouts to close the deficit to 8-6.

Alamosa took the lead with a five-run sixth. Sowards led off with a single, and Kasey Jones drew a walk. Ramirez doubled home Sowards, and Shawcroft singled to plate Kasey Jones with the tying run.

After Madril walked to again fill the sacks, Jayden Mizokami brought home all three runners with a triple.

Bayfield put a runner on base in the top of the seventh but could not bring him home.

Kade Jones started on the mound for Alamosa but he did not figure in the decision. He allowed eight runs and six hits and he struck out seven, walked six and hit one batter. Madril finished the game and he took the win. He gave up no runs and no hits and he had two strikeouts and one walk.

The Mean Moose had 11 hits and they were led by Shawcroft, who went 3-4 with three RBIs, Madril, who went 2-3 with one RBI, and Sowards, who went 2-4. Mizokami led in RBIs with four.

Game 2

After a scoreless first inning, Bayfield took the lead with a run in the second. Queen was hit by a pitch with two out, and Dante Candel was safe on an error. Nic Twedt then singled home Queen.

The Wolverines scored another run in the third. Lance Mazur reached on an error and he scored on Caden Wood’s double.

Bayfield scored one more time in the fifth. Ross drew a leadoff walk, and Chamblee was safe on an error. Mazur then singled home Ross for a 3-0 Wolverines’ lead.

The Mean Moose scored all six of their runs in the bottom of the fifth. Shawcroft led off by reaching first base on an error. Madril singled, and Mizokami was also safe on an error to load the bases. Gus West singled home Shawcroft, and Madril and Ryan Higareda, who was pinch-running for Mizokami, both scored as Carlos Garcia was also safe on an error.

Kade Jones then tripled to bring home West and Garcia, and Kade Jones scored on Kasey Jones’ groundout.

Bayfield scored twice in the top of the sixth. Nic Twedt was hit by a pitch, and Austin Twedt received a base on balls. Chamblee drove home both runners to close the Alamosa lead to 6-5.

The Wolverines then went down in order in the top of the seventh to end the game.

Tracen Rothermich was the Mean Moose’s starting pitcher but he did not figure in the decision. He gave up three runs and two hits and he struck out three, walked five and hit one batter. Madril again finished the game and again earned the win. He allowed two runs and two hits and he struck out three, walked two and hit one batter.

Alamosa collected seven hits and it was led by West, who went 2-3 with one RBI. Kade Jones and Garcia led in RBIs as both had two.

What’s next

Alamosa (10-6, 5-1) will look to wrap up the league title on Wednesday as it will host Montezuma-Cortez. The first game begins at 3 p.m. at Ortega Middle School’s field.

“We still have to get the job done on Wednesday,” Kechter said. “Nothing is secure but if we win both of those and we’ll win the league.”

Alamosa 11, Bayfield 8

Bayfield 003   230   0 –   8    6   2

Alamosa 300   035   x – 11  11   5

Queen, Mazur (5, L) Band N. Twedt. Kad. Jones, Madril (6, W) and Ramirez.

Alamosa 6, Bayfield 5

Bayfield 011   012   0 – 5   4   4

Alamosa 000   060   x – 6   7   2

Ross, Wood (6, L) and N. Twedt. Rothermich, Madril (5, W) and Ramirez.