Sports in brief

It’s tougher to lay your hands on a badge to Augusta National Golf Club than any Super Bowl, World Series or U.S. Open.

But, the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce is lowering the odds for the average person to a reasonable 600-to-1.

The chamber is selling raffle tickets, at $100 a pop, with the prize a trip for four to the 2014 Masters in Augusta, Ga.

The trip, valued at about $20,000, includes four entrance badges to the third and fourth rounds, plus a three-night weekend stay at a private home in the area.

There are only 600 raffle tickets up for grabs, and tickets will continue to be sold until July 26. The winning ticket will be drawn at the end of the 2013 chamber golf tournament, which is being played July 26.

Those who buy a ticket do not have to be present to win.

Even more importantly, this raffle is open to anyone in the general public and not just members of Chamisa Hills Country Club, where the chamber tournament is being played.

The winner also gets round-trip transport between Augusta National and the private home.

Four $500 travel vouchers are included, although airfare is not.

For more information, contact the chamber at 999-1835 or visit www.rrrcc.org. Raffle tickets are available for pickup or delivery from the chamber office.

Rams, La Cueva meet in Metro final

The Rio Rancho High School baseball team will play at La Cueva at 10 a.m. today for the Albuquerque Public Schools Metro Championship.

The fourth-seeded Rams (10-1) beat No. 1 Sandia — Class 5A’s last remaining undefeated team — by a 7-4 score in Thursday’s semifinals in Albuquerque.

Brandon Garcia, Evan Offutt and Marcus Martinez all hit home runs for the Rams in the victory.

Brendan Wanchek went five innings to earn the victory. Eli Cappello went the final two to get the save.

Cleveland’s baseball team whipped West Mesa 8-1 on Thursday in consolation bracket action. Kyle Anderson had a double, a triple and two RBIs for the Storm. Chris Foster homered and drove in four.

The Storm (6-3) met Albuquerque Academy on Friday in both teams’ final game of the metro tournament.

Both Rio Rancho and Cleveland will be at the Rams’ Sal Puentes Invitational starting Thursday. The field includes La Cueva and Carlsbad.

TRACK AND FIELD: The Rio Rancho boys and girls track and field teams are at Milne Stadium today for the Buddy Robertson Invitational.

The Cleveland boys and girls are in the other half of the Robertson Invite at Wilson Stadium.

STATE SPIRIT: Rio Rancho, Cleveland and Bernalillo will finish competing today at the State Spirit Championships at the Santa Ana Star Center.

Murray Invite continues at Pit

The Ty Murray Invitational continues at the Pit tonight and Sunday afternoon.

Today’s action begins at 7:50 p.m., with a 2 p.m. start Sunday.

Tickets start at $15, and are available at www.unmtickets.com, 877-664-8661 or 505-925-5858.

The Murray Invite is part of the Professional Bull Riders Tour.

Blades registering for spring sessions

Blades Multiplex Arenas in Rio Rancho is registering skaters for spring sessions of Learn to Skate.

Classes — available for figure skating and hockey — begin March 26. They run Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The cost of the eight-week session is $125.

In addition to a 30-minute lesson, all students will receive 30 minutes of supervised practice before or after their class, and a punch card for eight additional free public sessions.

Those interested can register in person, over the phone or online. For more information, contact Blades at 892-9222 or visit www.bladesnm.com.

Blades is also offering a four-week introductory skating skills class for figure skating and hockey.

Those classes also begin March 26, and the cost is $64.

Stars open season with road victory

The New Mexico Stars will visit Amarillo in a Lone Star Football League indoor game tonight.

The Stars opened their 2013 season last weekend with a 60-42 win at San Angelo, Texas.

New Mexico won’t stage its home opener at the Santa Ana Star Center until April 6, against Laredo.
— This article appeared on page 23 of the Albuquerque Journal