Cats improve to 4-1 with sweep

Junior Juan Rivas went 5-for-6 with three triples and two walks Tuesday as Clovis High swept Roswell High 12-3 and 13-3 in a baseball doubleheader at Bell Park.

Rivas was 3-for-4 with a pair of three-baggers in the opener, including one during an 11-run Cats third inning, which also included a three-run homer to left-center by catcher Brenden Graham, RBI doubles by Emery Sierra and Jordan Hill, and a two-run single by Tanner Massanari.

Senior right-hander Jake Burrell went six innings for the win, allowing three hits and three runs (two earned), all coming in the top of the fourth. He walked three and struck out five.

Clovis (4-1) pounded out 16 hits, with Burrell going 4-for-5 with a double and Hill finishing 3-for-4 with three RBIs.

Catcher Randy Rodriguez hit a two-run single in the fourth for the Coyotes (1-6).

Left-hander Stephen Encinias went the distance on the mound in the nightcap, striking out 11 and allowing six hits. Again, all of Roswell’s runs came in the fourth (two earned).

Clovis built a 6-0 lead in the third in chasing Coyotes starter David Herrera.

Rivas singled, tripled and walked twice in the contest, while Sierra finished 3-for-5 with two doubles and Massanari and Matthew Encinias each had two hits.

Massanari’s RBI single capped a four-run sixth that ended the game on the 10-run rule.

“Our pitchers threw well, and our bats really came alive,” Clovis coach Greg Hill said. “Juan hit the ball well. We have some guys like Juan and Jordan and Emery, if they can get on base they have some speed and can cause problems (for the opponent).”

Herrera went 2-for-3 with a double for the Coyotes. Gabe Garcia hit a two-run single in Roswell’s three-run fourth.

Clovis returns to action on Tuesday with a 2 p.m. doubleheader against Amarillo Palo Duro at Bell Park. Coach Hill said the games have been moved up two hours because both schools are on spring break.