Pack finishes out of the money after sweep by Regis

The ThunderWolves saw their playoff hopes go up in flames Saturday as the visiting Regis Rangers scored a sweep over the Pack, winning the first game 11-3 before scoring a 6-0 win in the second game.

The sweep eliminated the Pack from RMAC playoff contention while delivering an RMAC Plains Division title to the Rangers.

The ThunderWolves, who needed to win three games of their four-game set with Regis this weekend to keep pace with New Mexico Highlands for the RMAC's final playoff spot, saw their chances disintegrate quickly, giving up nine runs in the first inning of Saturday's first game, later losing to the Rangers 11-3.

By the time game two started, the ThunderWolves' fate was already sealed as Highlands scored a win over Colorado Christian in the early game of their Saturday doubleheader, their third and playoff-clinching win of the series.

But implications aside, the Pack still had to play baseball, and there were some encouraging performances up and down the lineup, most notably on the pitching staff.

After game one starter Jesus Hernandez was shelled, last just 2/3 innings after giving up the nine first inning runs, Aaron Lewis came up in the mop-up role and excelled.  The Pack junior have up just two runs in 6-1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and striking out three.

Despite that, the Regis pitching was simply to dominant to allow many Pack runs.

Starter Gerard Mohrmann only allowed two of the Pack's three runs in game one, and in the second game, Dan Kozloski four-hit the Pack.

In a nutshell, it was simply a silver-lining game in a season full of them, one that caused ThunderWolves head coach Stan Sanchez to do the inevitable - look toward next year.

"We've had a tough go of it this year, and things just haven't gone our way," Sanchez said.  "But I like our kids that we have here and I think we'll get right back on top next season."

The Pack loses five seniors, but only one offensive starter to graduation.  Those five, which include pitchers Steve Snyder, Matt Davitt and Joe Proto, as well as shortstop Nick Balentine and infielder Mike Jasperson, will be honored Sunday as the ThunderWolves recognize their outgoing seniors in the team's final game of the 2008 season.  First pitch is 5 p.m.