Colts’ comeback falls short, slip in third place game 6-5 to Portales

Left: Nicolas Barcelo went 2-for-4 with an RBI and one run scored against one of the top pitchers in 4A, while Makihi Phillips (right) went 2-for-3 with a triple and one run. (photos courtesy of cadet Sabrina Tanner for NMMI Sports Press)
Left: Nicolas Barcelo went 2-for-4 with an RBI and one run scored against one of the top pitchers in 4A, while Makihi Phillips (right) went 2-for-3 with a triple and one run. (photos courtesy of cadet Sabrina Tanner for NMMI Sports Press)
Posted: Mar 28, 2026

On Saturday afternoon New Mexico Military concluded play at the 32nd annual Sertoma Colt Classic with a narrow 6-5 loss to Portales at the NMMI Ballpark. With the loss, the Colts moved to 3-7 on the season. With the win, the Rams improved to 5-4 overall.

Portales set the tone early, capitalizing on NMMI miscues and disciplined hitting. After a run-scoring error in the first, C. Pfaffenberger extended the lead in the third inning with a towering two-run home run to right field. The Rams’ offense continued to hum in the fourth, highlighted by an E. Najera triple and an RBI single from T. Salgado, pushing the lead to a comfortable 6–0.

On the mound, Pfaffenberger was nearly untouchable through the first five frames. He racked up nine strikeouts, effectively silencing the Colts' bats and leaving NMMI stranded despite several walks.

The momentum shifted in the late innings as the NMMI discipline at the plate began to wear down the Rams. The Colts finally broke through in the fourth via a bases-loaded walk and an error, but their true threat emerged in the bottom of the 7th.

Trailing 6–2, NMMI unleashed a flurry of hits Makihi Phillips and Nicolas Barcelo ignited the rally with back-to-back hits, followed by a series of walks that loaded the bases. Rodolfo Anaya delivered the biggest blow of the afternoon for the Colts, a two-run double to left field that pulled NMMI within one.

With the tying run on third and the winning run on second, Portales reliever T. Salgado locked in. He recorded a crucial swinging strikeout for the second out before inducing a game-ending pop-out to right field, preserving the 6–5 win.

UP NEXT

The Colts return to action on Tuesday, March 31, when they travel to Albuquerque, NM for a 3:00 p.m. matchup with Sandia Prep to open district play. 

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  • Fri, 04/24 | Baseball vs. Midland College W, 7-6 (Final - 7 innings) RC | BX | PH | V
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