With its 2022 campaign hanging in the balance, Cleveland’s offense caught fire Saturday to put away Centennial.
The Storm did more than enough damage on the hitting end, outlasting the Hawks 11-10 over eight innings in Game 1, then followed up with an 11-1 win in Game 2.
Cleveland’s Logan Kinter prolonged the best-of-three playoff series opener with some clutch moments in Game 2 Saturday at the Shock Yards.
First, he ripped a two-run double deep into left field to make it a 6-6 game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Then, he hit a walk-off RBI single to cap off a ferocious comeback. The Storm trailed 10-6 entering the bottom of the eighth.
Kinter, who took the mound for the second game — but he wasn’t done swinging the bat.
He had an RBI-triple in the first inning as the Storm (18-10) took a 2-0 lead.
Although he didn’t have another hit in the five-inning victory, he allowed just two hits to the Hawks (17-12).
No problem: Shortstop DJ Sandoval went 4 for 4 and drove in four runs, while catcher Braylen Elzy socked a three-run homer in the second and singled sharply in the bottom of the fifth to send Sandoval – and the Hawks – home.
“It feels great to have an amazing day,” Kinter said, “(and) finally do something for my team. It was amazing. … Pitcher can hit, yeah.”
CHS coach Shane Shallenberger said he couldn’t keep track of how many runs his team had scored, but he knew it hadn’t scored any FRiday evening, a 9-0 loss to the Hawks.
Then 22 runs on Saturday?
“I’m just knowing we were up one, winning in dramatic fashion — giving up four runs in the eighth and to come back with five? I just knew what we needed to do,” he said. “I’m proud of them, showing resiliency.”
The Storm meet No. 3 La Cueva (22-5), which eliminated Piedra Vista in two games, in a 4 p.m. 5A quarterfinal game Thursday at Santa Ana Star Field (aka Lobo Field) in Albuquerque.
“Definitely a great team, obviously. Well-rounded. They’ve got great pitching, they can play good defense and they can swing the sticks,” Shallenberger said. “We played them earlier in the year, and at this time of year, anything can happen.”
The Bears beat the Storm 6-4 at the Shockyards on April 13.
The winner of the La Cueva-Cleveland contest will meet the winner of the Rio Rancho-Sandia quarterfinal (played Thursday at 7) in a semifinal Friday at 4 p.m. at Santa Ana Star Field.
Semifinal winners meet in the 5A championship game Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Isotopes Park.
Observer Sports Editor Gary Herron contributed to this report.
Photo descriptions are listed below, starting with the first one on the screen:
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Cleveland’s Austin Barela fires a pitch against Centennial in Game 2 of the 5A state baseball playoffs series opener on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Cleveland High School.
Centennial’s Kory Gresham fires a pitch against Cleveland in Game 2 of a 5A state baseball playoffs series opener on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Cleveland High School.
Cleveland’s Jace Dominic darts across third base and scores a run against Centennial in Game 2 of a 5A state baseball playoffs series opener on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Cleveland High School.
Centennial’s Andrew Evans turns the corner at third base and scores a run on a fielding error against Cleveland in Game 2 of a 5A state baseball playoffs series opener on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Cleveland High School.
Cleveland’s Malachi Jaramillo looks to get a quick out at first base against Centennial in Game 2 of a 5A state baseball playoffs series opener on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Cleveland High School.
Cleveland’s Logan Kinter reacts to hitting a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning against Centennial to tie the game 6-6 in Game 2 of a 5A state baseball playoffs series opener on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Cleveland High School.
Centennial’s dugout celebrates a two-run double by fellow Hawk Jason Ortega in the top of the eighth inning against Cleveland in Game 2 of a 5A state baseball playoffs series opener on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Cleveland High School.
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Photos by Rio Rancho Observer staff writer Matt Hollinshead.
