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Journal North: Home | Sports | Opinion | Obits | Entertainment
Sunday, April 03, 2011
SFIS, Pojoaque Valley Split
By Vince Kong
Journal Staff Writer
Pojoaque Valley coach Ricky DeHerrera knew his lineup could handle Santa Fe Indian School ace Demetria Magdalena — it was just a matter of convincing his players.
So after five innings and one mercy-rule loss later, Elkettes shortstop Kiana Vigil said she and her teammates had their Eureka moment.
"Mentally (in that first game), we thought that she was too fast," Vigil said. "But once we got that first hit, we all started hitting."
Pojoaque Valley (10-6, 1-1 District 5-3A) salvaged a doubleheader split after dropping Game 1 10-0 (five innings), with an 8-5 victory in Game 2 against the Lady Braves (8-4, 1-1) on Saturday in both teams' district opener.
"The girls just came with more energy and heart in that second game," DeHerrera said. "Getting the split was nice. If we would have gone down two games in this district, that would be tough. But give credit to (Magdalena) in the first game — she really shut us down."
The Lady Braves freshman right-hander tossed five no-hit innings — and was two walks away from a perfect game — while the SFIS offense scored early and often against the Elkettes in the opener.
SFIS put up four runs in the first inning, two in the fourth and ended the game with a four-run fifth, before the tide turned toward Pojoaque Valley. And the Elkettes believed that their best chance to avoid the sweep would be to get to Magdalena early.
They were right.
"After the first game we knew we needed to stay ahead of them because if we didn't we'd get down on ourselves," Elkettes pitcher Kassandra Martinez said. "So in between games, coach told us that if we didn't play with confidence, we're not going to get anywhere."
That message was received loud and clear as Pojoaque Valley racked up three runs off three hits after its initial at-bat, and went up 4-0 in the second inning to chase Magdalena from the rubber.
But it wasn't just Pojoaque Valley that had a change of attitude in Game 2. While Magdalena couldn't be touched in Game 1, a blister had developed on the tip of her middle finger, forcing her to adjust her strategy against opposing hitters.
"It was really hard to throw because it hurt when I touched the seams," she said. "I don't think I was able to control the ball as good."
Kandyce Garcia pitched in relief, tossing two scoreless innings with the Lady Braves having closed to within a run, 4-3, of the Elkettes.
But that would be as close as SFIS could get, as Pojoaque Valley racked up three hits and three more runs off Magdalena before a comebacker in the seventh inning finally ended her day.
Magdalena suffered a bruise on her right thumb after being struck by the ball but isn't expected to miss any time.
"Our errors and the blister were just compounded by how young (Magdalena) is," SFIS coach LeRoy Valencia said. "I had to take her out in the middle of the game to settle her down. She is up and coming, but she has a lot to learn. She'll get it, though; she's a hard worker."
In all, SFIS committed six errors in the second game, including two in the first inning that resulted in Pojoaque Valley's first two runs.
Kassandra Martinez earned the complete-game win, allowing five runs off six hits while striking out three. Magdalena gave up seven runs off six hits through 4-1/3 innings.
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