Portales junior Zach Blaeser pitches in the bottom of the first inning against Clovis High School at Bell Park in Clovis.

Portales senior Mikey Lovato, right, slides safely into third base during a steal attempt in the top of the third inning. Clovis third baseman Kordell Tindell awaits the throw Thursday in a summer league game at Bell Park in Clovis.

Clovis senior Robbie Coleman is greeted by teammates at home plate after hitting a three-run homer in the bottom of the third inning against Portales at Bell Park. The home run gave Clovis a 6-3 lead.

PORTALES — David Rodriguez has spent the last month juggling football workouts, basketball camps and baseball games.

It’s the life of a multi-sport athlete in May and June once school lets out.

Rodriguez is one six seniors playing on the Rams’ summer league baseball team, which dropped a doubleheader Tuesday at Clovis.

“It’s hard to get everything in,” said Rodriguez, who finished 6-3 on the mound last season while helping the Rams reach the second round of the Class 3A state tournament. Baseball is his favorite sport — “it’s also were the rings are at,” Rodriguez said in anticipation of a title run in 2012.

The Rams are two-thirds through a 24- to 26-game schedule that will end next weekend.

Portales coach Arturo Ontiveros said the summer league games are a time for the players to relax and have fun.

“We want to see some of the young kids that played on the (junior varsity) most of year,” Ontiveros said. “That’s the big thing.

“And we’ve seen a couple kids who we didn’t realize might step in and help us.”

Sophomore infielder Sam Roberts has proved to be a tough out lately while junior Zach Blaeser appears like he can be the No. 2 starter behind Rodriguez, the coach said.

“Some of the young kids have stepped up,” Rodriguez said. “It’s good to see them get a chance to play.”

Ontiveros said with work, vacations and other sports sometimes it’s hard to field a team, which has led him to use a carry a few eighth-graders.

“We have to mix and match,” Ontiveros said. “Sometimes I’ll tell one of the eighth-graders when they get to the game that they’re starting, and their eyes get big.

“But the most important thing is just for them to have fun.”