The Trinidad State baseball team played their final “tune-up” games this past Wednesday as they faced Luna College in Las Vegas, New Mexico. They now head to a playoff series with Northeastern Junior College this weekend.
In the doubleheader with Luna the Trojans took an early lead in the first game but saw it evaporate as the Rough Riders put up four runs in the third inning and six runs in the fifth. TSJC couldn’t come back falling 12-7.
In the second game the Trojans jumped out to an early lead but found themselves trailing heading into their final at-bat. Three runs gave TSJC the hard fought 6-4 victory.
“We won the season series taking five of six. Luna improved a lot over the last time we saw them at home earlier in the season,” commented Coach Scott Douglas. “We wanted to get our relievers some work and got seven of them in there today. We also had a chance to play some of our position players who haven't been in much; we accomplished that and stayed relatively healthy for the weekend. We left a couple of our starting pitchers back in Trinidad rather than have them make an extra bus trip.”
The Trojans finished the season 31-25. They went 15-11 at home and 16-14 on the road. TSJC will now prepare for a best-of-three playoff series with Region IX champion Northeastern starting on Saturday.
“We had our third consecutive 30 plus winning season,” praised Douglas. “I’m proud of our guys since we had 30 road games and 16 conference road games (9-7). Anytime you win a playoff spot you earned it. There isn't a “Comments” column, just a “W” column and an “L” column, you are in or you are out. I’ve never been a fan of tournaments; the regular season should count more with all the travel and grind that goes on for three months. The new season starts this week for four teams. The first to win four games moves on. It could be interesting.”
The Plainsmen roar in on a fourteen game winning streak but the Trojans did take three of four in Sterling earlier this season. Whoever wins the best of three series moves on to face the winner between Lamar and Otero for the Region IX Championship.
Game 1
TSJC 200 212 0 - 7
Luna 004 062 x - 12
Game 2
TSJC 120 000 3 - 6
Luna 000 040 0 - 4
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