Carlsbad Cavemen run-rule Ruidoso Warriors in Caveman Classic Tournament

Carlsbad Current-Argus

Maddux Edmonson throws his first varsity pitch against Ruidoso in the Caveman Classic on March 6, 2020. Edmonson pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings leading the way for Carlsbad's 8-0 victory.

The Carlsbad Cavemen got off to a great start in the 2020 Caveman Classic with an 8-0 run-rule win against the Ruidoso Warriors on Friday morning, getting a no-hitter thrown by a pair of freshmen to set the tone of for the rest of the tournament.

Carlsbad (2-1) sat out the first day of the Caveman Classic due to one team canceling at the last minute. To make up for this, Carlsbad played two games both Friday and Saturday. The morning game took place in the consolation bracket against Ruidoso (0-3). Carlsbad's evening game will take place in the winners bracket against Lovington, who run-ruled Ruidoso, 10-1 on Thursday.

How it happened

Ruidoso's Richardo Garcia pitches while Carlsbad steals a base during their game on March 6, 2020.

Carlsbad gave the ball to freshman pitcher Maddux Edmonson who kept the Warriors off the scoreboard for the first 3 2/3 innings before handing the ball over to freshman Mack Mabrey for the final 1 1/3 inning of work. This was the first varsity game for both Edmonson and Mabrey. Their dual stat line included no runs, no hits, two walks and nine combined strikeouts.

Turning point

Carlsbad had a 2-0 lead heading into the fifth inning when Ruidoso fell apart. Multiple fielding and throwing errors in the bottom of the fifth inning allowed Carlsbad to put up six additional runs, forcing the game to be called via the eight-run mercy rule in a tournament.

They said it

"The first couple innings we had a hard time figuring out the pitching. Ruidoso kept keeping the pitching slow, slow and slower on us. We got out on a lot of stuff and didn't hit it hard. Defensively we made some great stops. Nolan Perry was solid up the middle. He's had a great three games for us and turned that double play in the first inning.

"It's great to see those youngsters get out there on the mound. Maddux and Mack are young but they've got some skills and gave everybody a little taste of the young guys we've got coming up. Hopefully this all compliments our seniors when it's their time (to pitch). A great game all-around."

– Alan Edmonson, Carlsbad head coach

Ruidoso head coach Chris Galbraith declined to comment.

Stat leaders

Ben Cole went 1-for-2 with a two-RBI triple and scored off a throwing error to end the game in the fifth inning. Anthony Echavarria went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and Nolan Perry went 1-for-2 with a double and scored one run.

What's next

Following the conclusion of the Caveman Classic both teams head to Roswell to compete in the Goddard Invite. Ruidoso will play host Goddard at 10 a.m. while Carlsbad faces Alamogordo at 4 p.m. Both games take place on March 12.

Matthew Asher can be reached at 575-628-5524, masher@currentargus.com or @Caveman_Masher on Twitter. Support award-winning local journalism. Subscribe to the Current-Argus today.