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Portales freshman shortstop Jasmine Vega makes the putout throw in the second inning of the second game of a Friday night District 4-3A doubleheader against Ruidoso. Vega went 0-for-1 in the 16-1 Portales win, but walked twice and scored both times.
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Portales baserunner Vanessa Olivas is safe at the plate as Ruidoso catcher Shelby Walker tries to make the tag and pitcher Destry Vincent backs up the play in the first inning of the second game of a Friday night District 4-3A doubleheader against Ruidoso
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Portales coach Robbie Crowley talks with freshman catcher Simi Flores between innings in the second game of a Friday night District 4-3A doubleheader against Ruidoso. Laurenz was 7-for-7 in the two games, 11-0 and 16-1 wins for Portales.

Portales had few slipups on its way to a District 4-3A showdown next week.

Junior Kelsey Laurenz allowed just four singles in the Friday doubleheader, including a five-inning no-hitter, as the host Rams swept Ruidoso 11-0, 16-1 at Wheeler Park.

“Kelsey really hit her spots well today,” said Portales coach Robbie Crowley, whose only complaint was a need to be better defensively.

Sorina Flores had a two-run homer in the nightcap, and freshman catcher Simi Laurenz went 7-for-7 in the twin bill with six runs scored and a three-run homer to close out the first game for Portales (16-6, 5-1 district), which stayed tied with Lovington for the district lead heading into Tuesday’s 4:30 p.m. doubleheader against the Wildcats.

Other than taking a 1-0 lead in the nightcap when Maryjanel Vigil singled in Catherine Landry, little went right for Ruidoso (8-14, 0-8). The Warriors never got another runner to third on the night.

“We’ve practiced these situations ... but then we got into the game (and struggled),” Ruidoso coach Sal Beltran said. “I don’t know where to find that little spark that gets them going.”

The Rams’ doubleheader at Lovington will determine the district champion. The teams split a doubleheader April 21 at Portales, with the Rams winning the opener 9-2 and Lovington taking a 5-0 win in the nightcap.

Either team can take the district title with a sweep, and in the event of a split the district championship goes to the team with the best run differential in their head-to-head matchup. Portales currently leads at plus-2.