Colts open 32nd annual Sertoma Colt Classic with a 13-2 win over Gateway Christian

Left: Rodolfo Anaya went the final three innings to get the win, giving up just one hit and one earned run. Right: Freshman catcher Brock Spear slides in safe at home after a single by Grant Maloney in the bottom of the third inning to give NMMI a 10-1 lead. (photos courtesy of cadet Sabrina Tanner for NMMI Sports Press)
Left: Rodolfo Anaya went the final three innings to get the win, giving up just one hit and one earned run. Right: Freshman catcher Brock Spear slides in safe at home after a single by Grant Maloney in the bottom of the third inning to give NMMI a 10-1 lead. (photos courtesy of cadet Sabrina Tanner for NMMI Sports Press)
Posted: Mar 26, 2026

On Thursday evening New Mexico Military Institute took down Gateway Christian 13-2, after five innings at the NMMI Ballpark. With the win, the Colts improve to 3-5 overall. With the loss, Gateway Christian opens the season with an 0-1 mark.   

The Warriors threatened early in the first inning when Z. McCracken and J. LaDuca both singled, but NMMI’s defense held firm, catching McCracken advancing to third to end the threat. In the bottom half, the Colts showcased their speed. Despite not recording a hit, Brock Spear and Grant Maloney drew walks and executed a double steal; Spear swiped home to give NMMI a 1–0 lead.

Gateway Christian fought back in the second inning. After B. Sills reached on an error, the Warriors loaded the bases on consecutive walks. J. LaDuca was then hit by a pitch, forcing Sills home to tie the game at 1–1.

However, the momentum shifted permanently in the bottom of the second. NMMI capitalized on Gateway’s defensive struggles and a flurry of walks. Makihi Phillips stole home on a passed ball, followed by an RBI single from Rodolfo Anaya. Nicolas Barcelo then helped his own cause with a two-run line drive to right field, extending the Colts' lead to 6–1.

The third inning saw NMMI break the game open. Scoring four more runs on just two hits, the Colts utilized tagging up on pop-outs by Michael Ortega-Hernandez and Rodolfo Anaya, alongside RBI singles from Brock Spear and Grant Maloney. By the end of the third, the score stood at 10–1.

Gateway managed a second run in the fourth inning when McCracken doubled and later scored on a sacrifice pop-out by S. Waide. NMMI quickly answered in the bottom half as Konstantino Scopelitis stole home and Caden Carter drove in two more with a sharp line drive to right, pushing the lead to 13–2.

Rodolfo Anaya closed the door in the fifth inning, inducing a series of fly outs and ground outs to retire the Warriors and finalize the decisive win for the Colts.

Head Coach Brad Blackwell on the win, “it feels good to play in front of our crowd and finally have a home game. We started off just a bit slow but I think we moved past those nerves and found some momentum,” Blackwell said. “We had both Barcelo and Anaya pitch good for us but there is definitely some stuff to clean up. We got two more days so we’re going to use every out to get better,” Blackwell said. 

UP NEXT

The Colts return to action on Friday, March 27 when they host St. Michael’s at the NMMI Ballpark, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

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