Otes Come to Cavern City for Game 2, Hobbs on HorizonCavemen Streak by Roswell Coyotes 13-1

By Don Eskins

Coach Mike McGaha’s Carlsbad Cavemen, who’ve been focused on winning another District 4/5A title all season long, took another giant step toward achieving that goal on Tuesday afternoon, April 21, in Roswell.

The Cavemen, behind the six-hit, 11-strikeout pitching performance of junior Wade Cozart, and an eight-hit offensive assault that included Cozart and third baseman EZ Lopez going yard, CHS routed the Otes 13-1.

Swinging the biggest bats in CHS’s eight-hit attack were catcher Jayden Carter and second baseman Anthony Hernandez, each of whom collected two hits.

The victory was a big one for the Cavemen. With it, they remain alone atop the conference standings at 3-0. Hobbs, following an earlier 13-11 loss to Roswell High, sits one game back at 2-1.

Despite Carlsbad’s 13-1 drubbing of the Otes, McGaha says there’s no way his charges will be looking past Roswell when they storm the Tom Forni Cavemen Corral for game two of the conference series on Friday, April 24.

“Although we defeated Roswell 13-1, they’re still a very capable ball club. The fact that they split with Hobbs also says so,” said McGaha. “For us, and our goal of repeating as District 4/5A champions, there’s a lot riding on the outcome of the game.”

With a win over the Coyotes, the Cavemen could put an immense amount of pressure on the Eagles. In order for Hobbs to have any chance at all to have a shot at the 2026 conference championship, they’d have to sweep Carlsbad.

However, with a victory over Roswell on April 24 and a win over Hobbs in Carlsbad on Tuesday, April 28, CHS could wrap up this year’s District 4/5A title.

Cavemen 14, Clovis 13

For the Carlsbad Cavemen, the bats have been silent for a large part of the season. Carlsbad’s hardballers have been winning with defense and good pitching.

However, that wasn’t the case for them against the Clovis Wildcats on Friday, April 17, in Clovis.

Banging out 17 hits—two for home runs by Brock Wright and Wade Cozart—the Cavemen slipped past the Cats for a 14-13 win.

The win upped their overall record to 12-10 and kept them perfect in the race for this year’s conference title at 2-0.

Carlsbad, who had ridden Evan Ortiz’s four-hit, six-run performance (three earned) through five innings, was seemingly in control of the game. However, after sitting Ortiz down in the bottom of the fifth, the Cavemen ran into trouble getting outs.

“We were up 13-4 after six innings, and 14-8 going into the bottom of the seventh. However, getting outs in the seventh was really tough,” said McGaha. “But we got a great job of relief work from sophomore Joe Martinez to secure the win.

“Joe, who hadn’t had a varsity appearance on the mound all year, took the ball with one out,” added the Cavemen coach. “He got an out on a ground ball to second, and then, with a runner on third, retired a Wildcat hitter for the final out of the game, with a strikeout to get the save.

“Winning in Clovis has always been tough for us,” said McGaha. “But our kids sucked it up and did what they had to do to get the win. Our staff was so proud of them all.”

District 4/5A Race

School District Yr.

Carlsbad 3-0 13-10

Hobbs 2-1 12-11

Roswell 1-2 10-12

Clovis 0-3 11-12

District Schedule:

April 24, Friday

Carlsbad vs. Roswell

Clovis vs. Hobbs

April 28, Tuesday

Carlsbad vs. Hobbs

Clovis vs. Roswell

May 1, Friday

Carlsbad @ Hobbs

Clovis @ Roswell

CHS @ Roswell

April 21, Tuesday

CHS 13

RHS 1

Leaders: Jayden Carter, 2-5; EZ Lopez, 1-3, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB; Wade Cozart, 1-3, 1 R, 4 RBI, 1 BB; Brock Wright, 0-2, 2 R, 1 BB; Ricardo Herrera, 1-4, 1 R; Mitchell Espinda, 1-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB; Mike Davis, 0-2, 1 R, 1 RBI; Anthony Hernandez, 2-3, 2 RBI; Extra Base Hits: J. Carter, 2 B; EZ Lopez and W. Carter, Home Runs; Total Bases: EZ Lopez, 4; W. Cozart, 4; J. Carter, 3; A. Hernandez, 2; M. Espinda, 1; R. Herrera, 1; Hit by Pitch: B. Wright, 2; M. Davis, 2; A. Hernandez, 1; Stolen Bases: B. Wright, 1; EZ Lopez, 1; M. Espinda. 1; WP, Wade Cozart, 7 in, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 11 Ks. (Game Changer Stats)

CHS @ Clovis

April 17- Friday

CHS 14

Clovis 13

Leaders: Jayden Carter, 3-4, 2 RBI, BB; EZ Lopez, 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI; Conner Roberson, 3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB; Wade Cozart, 2-4, R, 4 RBI, BB; Brock Wright, 1-3, R, RBI; Ryley Hernandez, BB; Ricardo Herrera, 1-3, RBI, 2 BB; Mitchell Espinda, 2-3; Anthony Hernandez, 2-4, 2 R; Mike Davis, 1-4, 2 R; Doubles: E. Lopez, 2; C. Roberson, 1; R. Herrera, 1; Triples: M. Davis, 1; Home Runs: B. Wright, W. Cozart; Total Bases: W. Cozart, 5; B. Wright, 4; C. Roberson, 4; E. Lopez, 4; J. Carter, 3; M. Davis, 3; A. Hernandez, 2; M. Espinda, 2; R. Herrera, 2; Hit by Pitch: B. Wright, 1; EZ Lopez, 1.

Pitching: WP Evan Ortiz 5 in, 4 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 Ks; Augie Venegas, 0.2 in, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, K; Ricardo Herrera, 0.1 in, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K; Aren Hernandez, 0.1 in, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K; S Joe Martinez, 0.2 in, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K. Team, 7 in, 11 H, 13 R, 10 ER, 5 BB, 9 Ks. (Game Changer Stats)