Anthony Haase, scrutinized by at least four major league baseball scouts, lived up to his billing, chucking a three-hitter at visiting Eldorado Wednesday afternoon.

It was the Rams’ first victory over Eldorado in Rio Rancho since a Rio Rancho Invitational contest in 2003, and lifted the Rams’ mark against the Eagles to 3-7 this decade.

The Golden Eagles, Rams foes in District 5AAAA from 1998-2000 and in 1-5A in 2005, also ended the Rams’ 2001 season with a victory in the regionals in Shiprock in 2001. “Anytime you beat Eldorado baseball you’ve done a good job,” coach Ron Murphy said. “That’s a good program, that’s a great team, with one of the greatest coaches of all time in the state. So anytime you can beat a team like that it’s a great day.”

Murphy said knowing scouts were at the game didn’t hinder Haase.

“I didn’t tell him anything; I didn’t say nothing to him,” he said. “We knew all the scouts were coming. … We just mentioned who (scouts from the Giants, Brewers and Mets among them) was coming; that was it. I get excited when the scouts come, when a lot of people come, because that’s when he pitches the best.

“I hope someday if he makes it to the big leagues he plays for a team with a lot of attendance, and not a poor, one because he plays well when the crowd’s here and when the scouts are here.”

It was baseball at its best: A well-pitched game, errorless play, good weather and completed in two hours.

Eldorado starter Kenneth Giles (0-1) had his fastball working, as he fanned six Rams and allowed three singles in 4-1/3 innings of work. Haase allowed only three balls to be hit out of the infield in his six innings of work. Alex Wehner picked up a save after retiring the Eagles (5-3) in order in the seventh.

Giles’ downfall was his inability to consistently find the strike zone.

The Rams (10-2) left the bases loaded in the first, sandwiching walks to Ethan Gill and Bryer Mueller around a single by Haase.

Robert Rodela led off the second with a single and Chris Wallis drew a walk. Freshman Blake Swihart, serving as designated hitter, bunted, planning to sacrifice his teammates to second and third. Giles fielded the ball but nobody covered first, filling the bases.

A wild pitch from Giles allowed Rodela to score the game’s first run. Micah Martinez later grounded out, making it 2-0.

The game’s final run came in the fifth. Martinez walked and stole second. Gill was hit by a pitch, as was Haase, filling the bases again and ending Giles’ stint on the mound.

David Garcia moved to the mound from the outfield, yielding a sacrifice fly off the bat of Mueller. Garcia retired all five batters he faced, but the damage had been done.

Haase, expected to be Rio Rancho’s second player to be drafted — former ace Steve Solwick was the first— did more than just pitch well. He made a nice play on a slow roller in the first inning, grabbing it before it rolled foul and throwing the ball to Cameron Fafard at first in time to nip the runner. He also picked an Eagle off first base with a perfect peg to Fafard for the second out in the third inning. “He was off a little more than I thought he should have been,” Haase said.

Add in his base hit while batting in the clean-up slot and it was a great day to be a prospect.

“I was trying to make sure I threw hard, and throw strikes to get ground balls. The pitch count didn’t work out very well, but I’m trying to throw again on Tuesday, Haase (4-1) said.

“They were looking to pull me in the fifth. I was trying to work my way through the sixth and seventh, but (Murphy) wouldn’t let me have the seventh,” he said. “I like pitching so it’s good to be out there.”

As a senior, Haase also knows what’s politically correct: “We’re just trying to take it one game at a time,” he said.

“I was a little tired at the beginning; at the end. Toward the end, I got I got a little stronger, actually,” he said of his performance. “I was just trying to throw strikes, obviously, just trying to help the team.”

“I thought he was going to kill me when I pulled him,” Murphy said, laughing.

Extra innings: The Rams were guests of J.P. Murrieta on KOB-TV’s GameDay Friday night.

… The Rams, who played at Albuquerque High Saturday morning, play host to the Duke City’s other perennial power, La Cueva, Tuesday at 4 p.m. The game will be aired on KDEF (1150 AM).

… Former Rams hurler Kyle Hammond, a freshman pitching for New Mexico State University, and his Aggies teammates play the University of New Mexico Tuesday and Wednesday at Isotopes Park. Game time is 6 p.m.