UNM Has Made Offers To 2 High School Seniors

Today is the final day of the NCAA men’s basketball spring signing period, and it’s uncertain whether the New Mexico Lobos will announce any signees. But that doesn’t mean they can’t add any scholarship players to their roster prior to the 2012-13 season.

UNM has two scholarships to fill, and has made offers to Cleveland Thomas of Baton Rouge, La., — who made an official visit to UNM this week — and Aaric Armstead of Fresno, Calif.

Both are high school seniors.

But signing an official letter of intent simply protects a school from losing a recruit to another school for one year. Schools can still add scholarship players throughout the spring and summer.

Thomas, whose nickname is “Pancake,” is a 6-foot-3 guard who last fall signed a national letter of intent to play for the University of Louisiana, in Lafayette. Thomas later requested to be released from the letter, and the school obliged, making him eligible to be recruited again.

Armstead is a 6-5 shooting guard. His father told Scout.com that his son’s top three schools are New Mexico, Hawaii and Arkansas.

The Lobos signed three players in the fall signing period: Obij Aget, a 7-foot center from Sudan who plays in La Porte, Ind.; Devon Williams, a 6-8 forward from Dallas; and Nick Banyard, a 6-8 forward from Flower Mound, Texas.
— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal

Annual sports competition gets under way with basketball

An Olympic medal stand, UNM men’s basketball coach Steve Alford noted on Tuesday, has three levels: one for the bronze medalist, one for the silver, one for the gold.

For the New Mexico Games, the state’s annual Olympic-style athletic event, those levels might be defined as follows: participation, competition, victory.

Which among those is gold and which silver and bronze, though, is up to the individual.

	New Mexico Games The games begin May 25 with basketball and continue throughout the summer. A total of 23 sports will be contested. Go to www.nmgames.com for schedules, deadlines and further information.

On Tuesday, longtime executive director Fred Hultberg hosted the N.M. Games’ annual kickoff luncheon – complete with the lighting of a torch – at Balloon Fiesta Park.

The Games begin May 25, with basketball, and continue throughout the summer and even into the fall. A total of 23 sports will be contested.

Last year, about 7,600 people, of all ages and at varying levels of skill and intensity, participated.

At Tuesday’s ceremony, the 2011 New Mexico Games men’s and women’s athletes of the year were honored.

Albuquerque’s Mary Grapentine, 66, didn’t begin swimming competitively until she was diagnosed as having cancer. Hultberg said he can’t remember her ever losing a New Mexico Games race, and she’s had considerable success in the Senior Olympics.

Yet, Grapentine says, for her: “It’s not about winning or losing. It’s about participating.”

She particularly enjoys the New Mexico Games swimming competition (July 15 at the West Mesa Aquatic Center) because all ages are represented.

“I was truly inspired by the little kids,” she said. “I loved to watch them, and I did feel it was good for them to see the older people, as well.”

Ross Aragon, 74, said he was too small as an adolescent to compete successfully in athletics.

Having gotten a late growth spurt, he became an outstanding handball player and an accomplished track-and-field athlete. He’s expected to enter as many as five events at the New Mexico Games track-and-field competition, scheduled June 24 at Milne Stadium.

Participation is great, Aragon said, but added, “I love competing.”

At the 2008 Senior Olympics, Aragon set a state men’s age 70-74 record with a javelin throw of 142 feet, 8 inches – fourth all-time nationally, he said.

He’s looking forward to turning 75 next year.

“I’m already, like, 20 feet over the national record in that age group,” he said. “Hopefully, I can stay healthy and get it.”

Alford owns a basketball gold medal from the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. He spoke at Tuesday’s ceremonies, he said, because he values athletic participation and the fitness it promotes.

But, he added, at any level, you play to win the game.

“There’s a reason why there’s three different platforms that the athletes can stand on,” he said. “One of the highlights of my entire playing career and coaching career is to be able to stand on the highest level to receive a gold medal in the Olympics, something I’ll never forget.”

Hultberg said there have been a few changes this year in the New Mexico Games docket.

Soccer, absent the past four years, will return June 2 and 3 at the New Mexico Soccer Tournament Complex at Santa Ana Pueblo. It’s a 3-on-3 competition.

Bocce, a demonstration sport in 2011, is official this year.

Wrestling and arm wrestling won’t be contested this year, Hultberg said.
— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal

ISLETA PUEBLO — At 36 years of age, having lost four of his last five fights, Joey Villaseñor could be thinking about life after mixed martial arts.

He’s not.

Not at all.

“My weight’s great,” the Albuquerque veteran said Tuesday, at a news conference held to formally announce his June 2 fight against Colorado’s Donnie Liles at the Hard Rock. “I feel good, and I’m looking forward to competing.”

Villaseñor (28-10) acknowledged that the end of his professional career, which began in 1999, might not be too far in the distance. But, he quickly added, there are goals he intends to reach before he walks away.

He has fought for all of the major U.S. MMA organizations except one: the UFC.

“I’ve been real close to getting there before,” he said. “Things didn’t work out. … This fight’s really pivotal to see if I get there.”

Two years and 11 months ago, after a Strikeforce victory over Evangelista Santos improved his record to 27-6, nothing seemed beyond Villaseñor’s reach. But Strikeforce didn’t get him back into the cage for 11 months.

Then, after a loss by unanimous decision to Ronaldo Souza in May 2010, Villaseñor and Strikeforce parted ways.

“Strikeforce can say they cut me,” he said, “but competing just once a year wasn’t enough. … Actually, we opted out of that contract.”

Villaseñor got busier, but not always with the hoped-for results. He lost by decision, first to Danillo Villefort, then to Chris Camozzi, on Shark Fights cards in Amarillo, Texas and Rio Rancho.

After stopping Chuck Parmelee by first-round TKO (punches) at Jackson’s MMA Series VI in Albuquerque last October, he traveled to Nottingham, England, and was KO’d in 48 seconds of the first by Englishman Jim Wallhead.

Far from discouraged, Villaseñor is excited. He believes the move to 170 pounds — this will be his third fight at that weight after campaigning at 185 for most of his career — will pay dividends.

“At this weight,” he said, “I feel great. I feel fast.

“I love rising to the occasion. I love getting tough fights, and to actually do it here at home … is a blessing to me.”

Villaseñor, who trains at Jackson-Winkeljohn Mixed Martial Arts, has lost fights by decision; he has occasionally been caught cold, as against Wallhead. But, he said, he has never been dominated.

“I’ve always told people,” he said, “that the moment I take a fight and I’m dominated in all areas is when I’ll take a look back and say maybe it’s time to hang ’em up. But that moment hasn’t come yet.

“Until that happens, retirement isn’t something that I’m concerned with right now.”

His only concern right now is with Liles (13-5), a submission specialist from Colorado Springs.

Of Liles’ 13 victories, 11 have come via submission.

“We’re definitely working on takedown defense,” Villaseñor said, “and working on getting up from the bottom if he does wind up taking me down.”

The June 2 co-main event matches Jackson-Winkeljohn’s Matt Leyva (8-2) against El Paso’s Mike Chupa (5-6) in a 135-pound bout.

UFC: Jackson-Winkeljohn’s Donald Cerrone (18-4) defeated Jeremy Stephens (20-8) by uananimous decision Tuesday night in a lightweight (155-pound) fight on a UFC card in Fairfax, Va.

All three official judges scored the fight 30-27 for Cerrone.

STRIKEFORCE: Santa Feans Quinn Mulhern and Isaac Vallie-Flag are scheduled to fight on Saturday’s Strikeforce card in San Jose, Calif.

Vallie-Flag (12-3-1), a welterweight, is matched against Brazil’s Gesias Cavalcante (16-4-1). Mulhern (17-2), also a 170-pounder, is matched against Yuri Villefort (6-0) of Pompano Beach, Fla.

The card will be televised on Showtime, though the New Mexicans’ fights might not make the telecast.

The news spread early Tuesday afternoon: The Manny Being Manny nostalgia tour is winding its way this weekend through the Duke City for games Saturday and Sunday at Isotopes Park.

Take Our Poll
Maybe you were one of those who immediately got on the phone to the club to get tickets.
“It’s the Twitter-Facebook world,” Isotopes manager John Traub said in reaction.
Maybe you were one in union with someone who calls himself Mo. His comment to the breaking Ramirez story on the ABQJournal.com website: “Yawn.”
The polarizing, colorful and ultimately controversial slugger, presumably at the back end of a career that has produced Hall of Fame numbers, will be here under circumstances that are largely the same as his first appearance in Albuquerque three seasons ago.
The first time Ramirez came to Albuquerque, he was a Dodger and not just of questions about his steroids use. This time, as a member of the Oakland Athletics, he will be with the visiting Sacramento River Cats, not the Isotopes.
The A’s signed Ramirez to a one-year minor league contract Feb. 20 that is worth approximately $500,000 if he’s added to the big league roster. He is eligible to be reinstated to the majors May 30, which will be his 40th birthday.
Ramirez is allotted 10 “rehab,” to use the term loosely, minor league games at the end of a suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs. He is one of three players to receive two such suspensions under Major League Baseball’s drug policy.
Ramirez retired from the Tampa Bay Rays last season rather than serve a 100-game suspension for a second failed drug test. The penalty was cut to 50 games because he sat out nearly all of last season.
The A’s could have sent Ramirez to Class-A Stockton this weekend and guaranteed their own farm club a big draw at the gates. But Oakland general manager Billy Beane wanted to get Ramirez prepared against the best competition and pitching possible before his return. He is expected to be with the River Cats the entire time until he is activated.
Ramirez’s first appearance here, covering three Isotopes games June 23-25, 2009, was a watershed moment in franchise history. Nevermind that he did little in the few innings he played in the first two games. Then he famously skipped out at the start of the third game, which was played on a night there had been rain, even as fans were filing in. Reportedly neither he nor Dodgers management wanted to risk his injuring himself on wet grass.
ESPN was here to mark every Ramirez step, wet grass or otherwise. So were correspondents from USA Today, The New York Times, several Los Angeles outlets and numerous other national media. And the Isotopes Park turnstiles whirred like at no other time. The 15,321 who showed up for Ramirez’s first night is still a franchise record for a game not on July 3 or July 4. The combined attendance for the three games of 43,480 is also a record..
Ramirez’s return to Albuquerque, and the reaction to it, may be the first test as to whether the career .312 hitter, with 1,831 RBIs, has any cachet, or whether baseball fans have moved on.
Albuquerque’s Carlos Navarro, a big Isotopes and Dodgers fan, predicts that “folks won’t make a special effort to see him like they did back in 2009.” Navarro is holding out hope that some of the wounded Dodgers, primarily superstar Matt Kemp, will make an appearance here as they get ready to come off the disabled list.
“(Today) or Thursday, we’ll get some idea of what the excitement level will be,” said Traub.
In the meantime, Isotopes Park will be plenty busy Saturday as it is. The UNM baseball team plays Air Force at noon, and a celebrity softball team led by “Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston meets an all-star group of Wounded Warriors in a 5:30 contest, prior to the 7:05 Albuquerque-Sacramento game.

UNM Women After Greenwood, Bairstow, Longley

There’s backyard recruiting, and there’s Outback recruiting.

It seems University of New Mexico women’s basketball coach Yvonne Sanchez appreciates both.

Attempting to cash in on existing Albuquerque-Australia ties, Sanchez is pursuing three Aussie players for her program. The last names — Greenwood, Bairstow and Longley — are likely familiar to Lobo basketball fans.

Sanchez, as per NCAA rules, is prohibited from commenting on unsigned recruits. However, she did confirm UNM is recruiting Aussies Josie Greenwood, Stephanie Bairstow and Lily Longley.

Greenwood and Bairstow are the younger sisters of Lobo men’s players Hugh Greenwood and Cameron Bairstow. Longley is the daughter of former Lobo star Luc Longley.

If Sanchez cannot provide any insight on prospects, family members can. Neither Hugh Greenwood nor Cameron Bairstow cared to post odds on whether their sisters will end up at UNM, but both were happy to provide scouting reports.

“Josie’s a very smart player,” Greenwood said of his 5-foot-11 sister, “smarter than I am, I think. She’s more of a wing, maybe a 3 or 4, but she can handle the ball, too.”

Stephanie Bairstow stands 6-2 and is more of a post player, according to her brother.

“I’d have to say she’s a 4,” Cameron said. “That’s a safe bet. I haven’t seen Steph play in a while, but I know she’s good on the boards.”

They reside in different areas of Australia, but Josie and Stephanie both attend the Australian Institute of Sport. They also recently competed against each other in the country’s national age-group tournament.

“Their stats were identical: 10 points, nine rebounds,” Hugh said. “But Cam’s sister won the game, so…”

Should any or all of them decide to attend UNM, the Aussie women’s basketball contingent could begin arriving in 2013. Stephanie Bairstow and Josie Greenwood are 17, and Lily Longley is 16.

Complicating potential arrival times is that the Australian school year ends in December rather than May. While an Aussie player could begin attending a U.S. college at midsemester, they would likely either sit out of basketball or postpone college entrance until the fall rather than lose a year of eligibility.

Such considerations are not in play for Sanchez yet. Josie Greenwood and Lily Longley visited Albuquerque during the recent basketball season but have not committed to returning. Stephanie Bairstow has not been to New Mexico, nor has she decided if she’ll play college basketball, Cameron said.

“Originally, she was going to play in the Australian professional league,” Cameron said. “Only recently she decided she might want to consider college instead. I know she’s been in contact with coach Sanchez, so we’ll see.”

If nothing else, Sanchez has family members aiding her recruiting efforts. Luc Longley said in January he’s “pushing for” his 6-4 daughter to attend UNM. Hugh Greenwood and Cameron Bairstow both said they would love welcoming their sisters to Albuquerque.

“That would be a dream come true,” Hugh said. “They’ll have to make up their own minds, of course, but I’m all in favor.”

CAMPS SET: The UNM women’s team has scheduled its annual summer camps at the Rudy Davalos Center. Individual Camp, for players ages 9-17, is June 11-13 with sessions from 9am to noon. Cost is $150.

Elite Camp, for high school girls interested in learning advanced skills, is June 21-23 and offers overnight accommodations. Commuter cost is $150, overnight player cost is $275. For more information contact Amy Beggin at 505-925-5787 or email her at abeggin@unm.edu.
> — This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal

Ex-Lobo, Current Lobo Qualify for U.S. Open Sectionals

SANTA ANA PUEBLO — He’s played in six U.S. Opens and made the cut in four of those. But at the start of Monday’s local Open qualifier at Twin Warriors Golf Club, Kent Jones was just another competitor in the field.

Albeit, the most well-known one.

At the end of the day, he was still the most well-known — and the best in the 49-player field.

“I would rather not have to do it,” Jones said with a chuckle, when asked if he minded having to play in the qualifier. “It’s nice to just go straight to the sectionals. But I didn’t qualify, so here I am.”

After shooting a 4-under-par 67 at Twin Warriors, Albuquerque’s Jones, a long-time PGA Tour player, can now go to the sectionals, which are held at 13 sites (11 in the United States). If he is successful at sectionals, he will land a spot in this year’s U.S. Open, June 14-17 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.

Jones was one of three players to advance after Monday’s local qualifier. Eric Johnson, a 28-year-old pro out of Chandler, Ariz., had a 70 on Monday while University of New Mexico golfer James Erkenbeck won a four-way playoff for the last spot.

Erkenbeck, who was a redshirt this year and will be a senior in the fall, beat UNM teammates Alex Estrada and Gavin Green in the playoff, as well as Farmington’s Jeff Roth, the head pro at San Juan Country Club,

All four shot 71, which was par on Monday as the 497-yard eighth hole was reduced from a par 5 to a par 4. Erkenbeck won the playoff with a birdie on the second hole (No. 11).

Albuquerque’s D.J. Brigman had one bad hole and shot a 73. The Clovis native has played on the PGA Tour four years — including 2011 — and the Nationwide Tour for seven years.

“I got off to a good start and was under par, but when I had that bad break happen, it kind of deflated me,” said Brigman, who leaves town this morning to play in a Nationwide event in South Carolina. “It was a terrible break at the wrong time.”

Brigman’s undoing came on No. 8, where he hit a shot that plugged in the lip of a trap.

“I put one foot in the trap, and moved about five cubic yards of sand where my foot was,” Brigman said. “I hit it out, and it rolled into the trough where my foot was. I had to take an unplayable and drop it back in the bunker.”

Brigman made a triple-bogey 7 on the hole.

The 45-year-old Jones didn’t have any such problems. Jones, who is originally from Carlsbad and watched the Cavemen beat Sandia to win the state high school baseball title on Saturday at Isotopes Park, made four birdies and no bogies on Monday.

“I just kept it in play,” said Jones, a former UNM star golfer. “I played solid. I gave myself a lot of chances on the front nine, then started making some putts on the back side.”

Jones has “veteran member status” on the PGA Tour, which allows him into a number of events. As of Monday afternoon, he was the third alternate to get into this week’s Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas.

If he doesn’t get in, he will play at the Nationwide stop in South Carolina.

Jones has played on the PGA Tour every year but one since 1998.

Johnson, who played college golf at North Dakota State, had four birdies and three bogies in his first event at Twin.

Green grabbed the first alternate spot by making an eagle on the third playoff hole while Estrada made a birdie and is second alternate.

Estrada, the reigning Albuquerque City Men’s Amateur champion, said he didn’t feel intimidated by playing against some big-time professionals.

“It’s cliche, but we’re all humans,” said the Hope High graduate. “… The only thing is, they’re playing for money — and I’m going to be playing for money eventually.”
— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal

Lobos, Aggies Take Break From Leagues

The 2011-12 Rio Grande Rivalry will be settled tonight at Isotopes Park.

For the first time in the rivalry’s five-year existence, New Mexico State University has a chance to claim the trophy for sports supremacy between the state’s two Division I athletic programs.

For that to happen, the Aggie baseball team must beat UNM tonight.

	Today New Mexico State at UNM, Isotopes Park, 6 p.m. Radio: KQTM-FM (101.7)Rio Grande Rivalry Down to BaseballLobo junior Mitchell Garver leads the MWC in doubles and total plate appearances. UNM will face New Mexico State tonight.Lobos, Aggies Take Break From LeaguesRio Grande Rivalry Down to Baseball2011-12 UNM 14.25, NMSU 13.5* Lobos won: Men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, women’s soccer, women’s basketball, men’s tennis. Aggies won: Football, volleyball, softball, women’s tennis, baseball. Ties: Men’s basketball, swimming & diving. *Winner of today’s Lobo-Aggie baseball game gets .75 points.

2007-08
UNM 16.25, NMSU 6.75
2008-09
UNM 17.25, NMSU 6.75
2009-10
UNM 16.50, NMSU 10.50
2010-11
UNM 18.75, NMSU 8.50

The Rio Grande Rivalry is a series between UNM and New Mexico State, encompassing sports for both programs. A points system is used based on head-to-head competition between the two schools. 

“Yeah, I’m aware of it,” NMSU baseball coach Rocky Ward said. “If I had my choice, I’d rather beat San Jose State three times (this weekend).

“But (the Rio Grande Rivalry) matters to our students and our alumni, and it would be a nice feather in our cap to get the trophy. It is important.”

To set the stage: Since 2007-08, the University of New Mexico and NMSU have used a point system to score head-to-head athletic competitions between the schools. The school accumulating the most points each school year takes home the traveling Rio Grande Rivalry trophy and keeps it through the ensuing year.

The trophy competition is part of an advertising promotion between UNM and Route 66 Casino. UNM has won decisively each of the first four years, but NMSU could tie the 2011-12 standings with a baseball win tonight. It’s the final scheduled Lobo-Aggie competition of 2011-12, and NMSU won the first three meetings in baseball.

“I have had a few people mention that this week,” UNM coach Ray Birmingham said, “and if we can do our part to keep the trophy here, that’s awesome. I want to beat New Mexico State just like I want to beat everybody else.”

Even so, neither Ward nor Birmingham places undue emphasis on the rivalry game. With the Lobos and Aggies facing important conference series this weekend, midweek pitching can be expected.

“We’ve got to get ready for (next week’s) Mountain West tournament,” Birmingham said, “and we’ve got guys who need to pitch.”

The Lobos (29-22, 13-4) are a game behind TCU in the league standings. Both teams have three games remaining.

NMSU (31-19, 8-8 Western Athletic Conference) can still capture a WAC title if it sweeps San Jose State this weekend and receives some help.

But first, there’s the Rio Grande Rivalry to settle. If UNM wins tonight, the trophy stays put in Albuquerque. If NMSU wins, a tiebreaker becomes necessary.

The official tiebreaker is a random drawing with all sports placed involved. The first sport drawn in which one school captured all possible points will determine the rivalry champion.

The uninspired procedure didn’t suit either baseball coach.

“That’s silly,” said Ward, who advocated waiting to see if UNM and NMSU might square off again in NCAA baseball.

Birmingham offered another suggestion.

“Couldn’t we have the two athletic directors mud wrestle?” he said. “Now that would be a tiebreaker.”
See RIO GRANDE on PAGE D2TodayNew Mexico State at UNM, Isotopes Park, 6 p.m. Radio: KQTM-FM (101.7)Rio Grande Rivalry Down to BaseballLobo junior Mitchell Garver leads the MWC in doubles and total plate appearances. UNM will face New Mexico State tonight.Lobos, Aggies Take Break From LeaguesRio Grande Rivalry Down to Baseball2011-12UNM 14.25, NMSU 13.5*Lobos won: Men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, women’s soccer, women’s basketball, men’s tennis.Aggies won: Football, volleyball, softball, women’s tennis, baseball.Ties: Men’s basketball, swimming & diving.*Winner of today’s Lobo-Aggie baseball game gets .75 points.2007-08UNM 16.25, NMSU 6.752008-09UNM 17.25, NMSU 6.752009-10UNM 16.50, NMSU 10.502010-11UNM 18.75, NMSU 8.50The Rio Grande Rivalry is a series between UNM and New Mexico State, encompassing sports for both programs. A points system is used based on head-to-head competition between the two schools.

Rio Grande Rivalry
— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal

Warren, Lujan, House Chosen

A warehouse complex perched atop on a northwest Albuquerque mesa might seem an unlikely spot to find national-level volleyball talent.

Likely or not …

The no-frills New Mexico Juniors practice facility was positively jumping with some of the nation’s top junior players late last week. USA Volleyball bestowed that status on metro-area players Julia Warren, Kaira Lujan and Cassie House, who have been chosen to compete in its Junior National program this summer.

Warren and Lujan are among 24 players named to the 2012 US Junior National Training Team. House is one of 22 selected for the 2012 US Junior Continental Team.

The selections are both honors and opportunities for Warren, Lujan and House, who have been prep rivals and club teammates the past few years. Warren is a junior at La Cueva High School, Lujan a graduating senior at Albuquerque Academy, and House a junior at Cleveland.

Considering just 70 players are selected for three US Junior National squads, the odds of three New Mexicans qualifying seem slim.

“You really wouldn’t expect that much from a small state like New Mexico,” House said. “It’s pretty exciting. I guess we’re becoming a state to watch.”

New Mexico Juniors club players certainly have captured the attention of college coaches. Warren and House have verbally committed to play at the University of New Mexico starting in 2013, while Lujan has signed to play at Dartmouth College.

Texas-bound Cleveland High senior Sara Hattis also competed for NM Juniors, and coach Ben Wallis expects several more of his current players will land on Division I rosters.

“We’ve got a group that’s kind of put New Mexico on the volleyball map,” Wallis said. “This program’s going to be feeding college teams for a while, which is pretty impressive when you think about it.”

Warren and Lujan will first have an opportunity to represent their country on an international stage. Both will head to Des Moines, Iowa, in June for a two-stage training program that concludes with competition in the US High Performance Championships. Afterward, 12 Training Team members will be named to the US Women’s Junior National Team that competes in the NORCECA Continental Championships in Nicaragua in August.

Both Warren and Lujan have participated in Junior National events before, but this will mark the highest level they have attained.

“I feel super honored just to be included,” said Warren, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter. “I know I’ll be nervous because I really want to make the 12-spot team and go to Nicaraugua. Just the idea of representing the U.S. is an amazing thought.”

Lujan, a 6-4 middle blocker, agreed. Like Warren, she has played in USA Volleyball’s A-2 program previously.

“Getting to play teams from other countries is very cool,” Lujan said. “It’s very competitive on the court, but when you see the girls in the hotel and elsewhere, everyone’s very nice. We’re all there for the same reason, and we all love volleyball.”

Playing on the Continental Team will be House’s first national-level experience. The 6-1 outside hitter will report to Des Moines in late July for training and competition. Members of the Continental Team are considered alternates for the A-2 and Training teams.

“It’s such a great opportunity to work and train with the best players in the country,” House said. “Hopefully, I can take advantage of it and represent New Mexico well.”
— This article appeared on page D2 of the Albuquerque Journal

Tuesday At Salt Lake, 10:35 a.m.
Radio: KTBL-AM (1050)
Probable starters: Isotopes RH John Ely (3-2, 4.28) vs. Bees RH Eric Hurley (2-3, 7.64)
Monday: Salt Lake’s Andrew Romine laid down the suicide squeeze bunt to score the eventual winning run in the seventh inning as the Bees defeated Albuquerque 3-2.
The Isotopes tied the game 2-2 in the seventh on a leadoff home run by Jerry Sands.
Sands also doubled and scored in the fifth inning.
Stephen Fife (3-3) took the loss despite allowing only two earned runs in seven innings.
This and that: The Isotopes have the best record in the Pacific Coast League when scoring first.  The ’Topes are 15-3 when drawing first blood for a winning percentage of .833 that leads the league. The next closest is New Orleans, which has a 12-3 record (.800) when getting on the scoreboard first.
Coming up: Albuquerque begins a 12-game homestand Thursday.

ISOTOPES BOX
Monday—Salt Lake City
BEES 3, ISOTOPES 2
ALBUQUERQUE          SALT LAKE
ab    r    h    bi         ab    r    h    bi
Angle CF     3     0     0    0     Romine SS     3     0     0    1
De Jesus 2B     4     0     1    0     Rosario C     3     1     2    0
Fields 1B     4     0     1    0     Diaz C     0     0     0    0
Baisley DH     3     0     0    0     Calhoun CF     4     1     2    0
Cruz SS     4     0     0    0     Navarro 1B     3     0     2    0
Sands LF     3     2     3    1     Jimenez 3B     4     0     0    0
Federowicz C     3     0     1    0     Long 2B     3     0     0    1
Henson RF     2     0     0    0     Deeds RF     3     1     1    0
Becker 3B     3     0     0    1     McAnulty DH     3     0     0    0
Lucas LF     3     0     1    0
Totals                29 2     6     2     Totals            29 3 8 2
Albuquerque    000    010    100—20
Salt Lake    000    200    10x—3
E—Cruz (6). DP—Albuquerque 1, Salt Lake 2. LOB—Albuquerque 9, Salt Lake 5. 2B—Sands (6), Navarro (10). HR—Sands (7). CS—Henson (1). S—Henson, Romine.
IP    H    R    ER    BB    SO
Albuquerque
Fife (L, 3-3)     7     7     3     2     2     1
Tolleson     1     1     0     0     0     1
Salt Lake
Richards (W, 4-1)     7    4     2     2     5     2    Rincon (H, 3)     1     1     0     0     1     1
Brasier (S, 5)     1    1     0     0     2     0
WP—Fife. T—2:37. A—5,569.

Coyotes Coach Not Pleased With Effort

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The last time the Los Angeles Kings played the Phoenix Coyotes in Jobing.com Arena, they suffered one of their most demoralizing losses of the season – a 5-4 shootout defeat Feb. 21 after blowing a 3-0 lead.

On Sunday night, they had one of their most exhilarating victories in franchise history, beating the Coyotes 4-2 in the opener of their Western Conference finals series.

Los Angeles is 9-1 this postseason, including 6-0 on the road. The Kings already are the first eighth seed in NHL history to eliminate a No. 1 (Vancouver) and No. 2 (St. Louis) in the same postseason. Now they’re taking aim at third-seeded Phoenix.

	Tuesday Los Angeles at Phoenix TV: NBCSN, 7 p.m. Series: Kings lead 1-0Today Los Angeles at Phoenix TV: NBCSN, 7 p.m. Series: Kings lead 1-0 Today New Jersey at N.Y. Rangers TV: NBCSN, 6 p.m. Series: Conference finals opener

Coyotes coach Dave Tippett was in a sour mood afterward.

“We got beat in every facet of the game,” he said. “Hopefully we can learn a lesson from it.

“As the playoffs go on, the bar is set higher and higher. We didn’t have enough guys rise with the bar tonight.”

Indicative of Los Angeles’ dominance was that it outshot Phoenix 48-27. But that’s nothing new to Coyotes goalie Mike Smith, who late in the regular season made 54 saves in a shutout against Columbus.

Los Angeles was especially potent in the first period, outshooting Phoenix 17-4, even though it read 1-1 on the scoreboard.

“That means we probably had a lot of missed opportunities,” said Kings coach Darryl Sutter. “That’s the way it goes some nights.”

Los Angeles scored the winning goal at 2:11 of the third period when captain Dustin Brown skated in on a partial breakaway and wristed the puck between Smith’s legs. Phoenix’s Rostislav Klesla was half a step too slow on defense. It was Brown’s seventh goal of the playoffs.

“He’s taking the next step,” Sutter said. “He’s a playoff-time player.”

When the Kings’ Dwight King scored into an empty net with 48 seconds left, that sealed the victory and sent the “Whiteout” crowd of 17,134 pouring through the exits.

Phoenix captain Shane Doan was at a loss for answers as to why the Coyotes didn’t bring their “A” game in such a crucial event.

“We have to find a way to win the next one,” he said. That’s what we’ve been talking about. Once the game is done, we have to get ready for the next one and continue moving forward.”

Los Angeles opened the scoring at 3:53 of the first period on a goal by Anze Kopitar, his fourth of the playoffs. Phoenix, meanwhile, didn’t even get its first shot on goal until three minutes later.

But at 13:26, Phoenix tied it on perhaps the worst goal allowed by goalie Jonathan Quick this season. Derek Morris teed up the puck on the red line along the side boards and scored stick side on the startled netminder, who entered the game with a sensational .949 save percentage and 1.55 goals-against norm.

The Kings regained the lead at 8:02 of the second period when King scored his first goal of the night, and third of the postseason, on a back-hand shot of a rebound of a Mike Richards shot on Smith.

Phoenix’s Mikkel Boedker tied it again, at 18:05 of the period, on a tap-in out front when Doan dug the puck out behind the net.
— This article appeared on page B1 of the Albuquerque Journal

Other Albuquerque Fighters Stumble

On balance, the past weekend was a tough one for Albuquerque-based mixed-martial-arts fighters.

Donald Sanchez won his fight, but Travis Marx, Coty “Ox” Wheeler and Monica Lovato all tasted defeat.

Saturday, at Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino in Pojoaque, Sanchez (26-13) defeated Warren Stewart (10-17) of Austin, Texas, by unanimous decision in a 145-pound bout. Sanchez, who fights out of Albuquerque’s FIT-NHB gym, retains his King of the Cage title at that weight.

On the same card, FIT-NHB’s Lovato (5-3) lost by split decision to Sarah Alpar (3-1) of Amarillo, Texas. Lovato, essentially fighting on her home turf — she’s a native of Española, some 10 miles up the road — fell short in her attempt to win the KOTC women’s 125-pound title.

Like Lovato, Wheeler (14-5) was the hometown favorite against Lux (6-1), of Tucson, in the main event of a Saturday card at the Inn of the Mountain Gods near Ruidoso. Wheeler hails from nearby Mescalero.

But the Jackson-Winkeljohn fighter fell victim to first-round rear naked choke and was forced to submit.

On Friday in Atlantic City, N.J., Jackson-Winkeljohn’s Marx (19-4-1) was ousted from the Bellator bantamweight (135-pound) tournament by Brazil’s Marcos Galvao. Marx lost via unanimous decision, all three judges scoring the fight 29-28 for the Brazilian.
— This article appeared on page B5 of the Albuquerque Journal

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Josh Melendez and Troy Porras each had three hits and two RBIs to lead the New Mexico baseball team to an 11-7 Mountain West Conference victory over UNLV on Sunday.

The Lobos scored nine of their runs with two outs, including five in the ninth inning.

UNM (29-22, 15-6 in the MWC) is one game behind TCU with three games to play in the regular season.

	Tuesday New Mexico State at UNM, Isotopes Park, 6 p.m. Radio: KQTM-FM (101.7)

In the rubber match of the series, New Mexico pounded four UNLV pitchers for 16 hits as everyone in the starting lineup got at least one.

Mitch Garver, who is on the Johnny Bench Award watch list, went 7-for-15 in the series with eight runs scored and five RBIs. He had 14 total bases in the series and has 30 multi-hit games this season.

The win all but assures UNM of a winning season, which would be the 21st in the last 22 seasons for head coach Ray Birmingham. His overall record, counting his stints at College of the Southwest and New Mexico Junior College, stands at 976-458-2, a .680 winning percentage

All the run support made a winner of Gera Sanchez (7-2), who entered the game with a 1.77 era. He went seven innings, allowing six hits and five earned runs, throwing 105 pitches.

The five earned runs allowed by Sanchez were the most he has allowed this year, and his ERA jumped to a still stellar 2.29.
— This article appeared on page B2 of the Albuquerque Journal

Monday At Salt Lake, 6:35 p.m.

Radio: KNML-AM (610)

Probable starters: Isotopes RHP Stephen Fife (3-2, 6.03 ERA) vs. Bees RHP Garrett Richards (3-1, 4.66)

Sunday:  Jerry Sands homered in a four-run first inning and added a two-run shot in Albuquerque’s three-run fifth as Albuquerque defeated Salt Lake 10-7.

Ivan De Jesus added an RBI triple for the ’Topes in the first.

All nine members of the Albuquerque starting lineup had at least one hit.

Elian Herrera, who has a 17-game hitting streak, did not play.

This and that: In his last 10⅔ innings, Wil Ledezma has not allowed a run. In five outings in May, the lefty has held batters to a .167 average.

… De Jesus is starting to find his form again after recovering from a strained oblique that he suffered in spring training and wiped out his first month of the season. In his last four games, he has gone 7-for-18 (.389) with three doubles, a triple and six RBIs. The Isotopes are also 8-1 in games De Jesus has started.

… The ’Topes are 9-2 in one-run contests.

Coming up: Albuquerque begins a 12-game homestand Thursday.

The University of New Mexico has selected FieldTurf as its new synthetic playing surface at University Stadium.

Pending approval from the state Board of Finance, athletic director Paul Krebs said on Friday, the turf will be installed in time for this season’s Sept. 1 football opener against Southern University.

The university will appear before the Board of Finance sometime late this week, Krebs said.

	Sept. 1 Season opener: Southern at New Mexico, University Stadium, time and TV TBA

Tim Cass, UNM’s senior associate athletic director, said an Albuquerque firm, Westwind Landscape Construction, Inc., actually submitted the winning bid for installation and is subcontracting with FieldTurf.

Several companies manufacture artificial playing surfaces, but FieldTurf arguably is the most prominent. UNM already has FieldTurf in its Indoor Practice Facility and is planning to have it installed in its renovated baseball stadium.

An expenditure of $1.38 million was approved for the purpose in April. The project is being funded by 2012 severance bonds.

Synthetic turf at the football stadium was expected to cost around $1 million. Cass said he didn’t have a precise price tag because UNM also is installing new turf, natural or synthetic, on several other athletic fields, with more than one firm involved.

Cass said Mountain West Golfscapes, Inc., located in Peralta, was the low bidder for installation of new natural turf at the UNM soccer field.

THE SHRINKING O-LINE: Lobos offensive lineman Bryan Oldenkamp, a sophomore junior college transfer from California, will be ineligible this season.

That leaves the Lobos with seven eligible offensive lineman who participated in spring practice. Three freshman O-linemen are expected in the fall.

Normally, junior college transfers are eligible immediately.

“I don’t want to go into the details,” Lobos coach Bob Davie said, “but (Oldenkamp’s situation) is kind of unique.

“It wasn’t something that blind-sided us; it was something we knew.”

Oldenkamp will sit out the 2012 season as a redshirt and will be a sophomore when he regains eligibility in the fall of 2013.

WALTON IS A RED RAIDER: Former Lobos quarterback Dustin Walton says via Twitter that he’ll transfer to Texas Tech.

Walton left the UNM roster at the end of spring practice, saying he felt the Lobos’ new offense was a bad fit for him.

“I am so excited to run the Shotgun Spread again here at Tech!” Walton tweeted.

Walton is expected to be a walk-on at Tech, at least for the time being. He’ll have to sit out the 2012 season as a transfer, having already redshirted last fall at UNM. He’ll then have three years to play three seasons.

THE TV GAP: Davie said he was neither surprised nor overly concerned when it was announced that a 25-game Mountain West Conference national television package included none of the Lobos’ 13 games this fall.

“I think it’s such an ever-changing thing,” he said, “in the fact that the conference package really isn’t complete yet, and that the local package isn’t complete.

“I expect some of our games to be televised.”

Davie noted that the Lobos play twice in the state of Texas, against Texas on Sept. 8 and against Texas Tech on Sept. 15, followed by New Mexico-New Mexico State in Las Cruces on Sept. 22.

Texas and New Mexico, he said, are UNM’s prime recruiting areas.

“I would think all three of those games would have the opportunity to be televised,” Davie said.

Davie spent the past 10 years as a game analyst for ABC and ESPN before being hired at UNM last November. He noted that Boise State, which has won 38 games the past three seasons, will be on national television 10 times in 2012. The Lobos have won three games during that span.

“One thing I learned at ESPN,” he said, “is that if a team’s worth watching, if they think people want to watch that team, (the networks) will find a way.

“That’s our first priority, to put a team out there that people want to watch.”

PAYS THE SAME: Krebs said UNM will get the same payout from the Mountain West’s television package that every other MWC school will receive, regardless of the number of appearances.

“Whether you’re on TV or not doesn’t determine your revenue,” Krebs said. “Our conference shares revenues equally, whether it’s TV or shares of NCAA basketball (tournament) revenue that we generate.”

SCHEDULING: Conference realignment continues to poke holes in UNM’s nonconference schedule for upcoming years.

New Mexico had a home nonconference game scheduled with Nevada for this season, but the Wolf Pack are now a conference rival. With Nevada’s assistance, UNM filled that hole in its schedule with Texas State (Oct. 6).

Now, the Lobos have nonconference games scheduled at San Jose State in 2013 and at home against the Spartans in 2015. But SJSU recently was admitted to the Mountain West and will join the league in the fall of ’13.

“So,” said Cass, “we’re seeking a (nonconference) opponent for ’13, and we’ll be seeking one for ’15.”
— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal

The Portales baseball team celebrated its 60th anniversary in style Saturday afternoon.

The Rams claimed their first state championship in school history with an 8-3 victory over Cobre in the Class 3A final at Isotopes Park.

“We were talking about it last night — 1952 was when we started our baseball program, so this is huge for us back home,” Rams coach Arturo Ontiveros said. “This is definitely nice.”

Portales (25-6), the No. 3 seed, got a stellar performance from David Rodriguez in relief to overcome a 3-1 deficit after three innings.

“It was the first time we ever played on this field, so we were kind of jittery and nervous a little bit,” Rodriguez said. “But as soon as we calmed down and started playing our game, this was ours.”

Rodriguez tossed four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out one.

“I just thought ‘I’ve got to win this game,’ ” said Rodriguez, who was called in despite pitching seven innings Friday in a 1-0 semifinal win over Sandia Prep. “I know my job, and my job today was to win.”

With one out in the fourth, the Rams’ A.J. Marquez was hit by a pitch and Kyle Bonem drew a walk. After Brandon Lovato struck out, Zach Blaeser delivered an RBI single to left field that Nick Salas booted for an error, enabling Bonem to score and tie the game at 3-3.

Rodriguez singled with one out in the fifth. Courtesy runner Wyatt Legler then stole second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch to put Portales ahead 4-3.

“It seemed like once we got David on the mound, and he’s been like he’s been all year, lights out,” Ontiveros said. “He shut people down, and we were able to get some runs across pretty regularly from then on.”

The Rams added four insurance runs in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Blaeser, Ryan Schmidt’s RBI fielder’s choice and a two-run single by Jesus Acosta.

Rodriguez then worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the seventh. Cobre’s Felix Nuñez lined out to a leaping Ryan Schmidt at first base, and Trey Sanchez grounded out to Rodriguez to end the game.

Cobre (27-4) scored all of its runs in the third inning. Regan Ramos had an RBI triple, and Salas and Sanchez added RBI singles.

— This article appeared on page D4 of the Albuquerque Journal

Three-Peating Piedra Vista Is Getting Used to the Routine

For better or worse, the Piedra Vista Panthers had been here before.

Such became obvious after PV rolled to its third straight Class 4A baseball championship Saturday at Isotopes Park.

When the final out was recorded in their 15-1, six-inning win over Miyamura, most of the Panthers simply smiled and walked out of the dugout to shake hands with their opponents.

What, no celebration?

“I know,” senior outfielder Shilo McCall said. “The third one’s just as sweet as the others, but the dogpile is my favorite part and we didn’t have one. Kind of anticlimactic.”

McCall said a number of PV’s players believed there to be no 10-run mercy rule in a championship game.

“Some of the guys didn’t think it was over,” McCall said with a shrug.

Still, the business-as-usual postgame was justified for a team that has become the state’s premier 4A baseball team. Nor could Saturday’s win have come as a surprise, considering Piedra Vista had mercy-ruled Miyamura in two previous meetings this season.

“Winning a championship never gets old,” Panthers coach Mike McGaha said. “Unfortunately, this one didn’t have an exciting finish, but it ends the way it ends.”

Piedra Vista (28-3) scored three first-inning runs and led all the way. It was a 7-1 game until the fifth, when the Panthers erased all doubt with an eight-run rally that included Kholeton Sanchez’s three-run homer to left.

“That felt great,” Sanchez said. “I wasn’t sure it would leave the yard, but I guess the wind died at the right time.”

Saturday’s game marked the first championship appearance in any sport for Miyamura, which will graduate the school’s second senior class this month. This one will have to be chalked up as a learning experience.

“We had an excellent season,” said Patriots coach Bryan Silva, whose team finished 22-6. “But PV’s a great team. We knew they were going to hit, and we had to do the same. Unfortunately, we couldn’t.”

That had much to do with Panthers pitcher Cody Scaggari, who allowed just two hits over five innings and struck out eight. Reliever Ian Doughty completed the gem with a strikeout in the sixth.

Piedra Vista got all the runs it would need in the top of the first, when McCall hit a two-run triple and later scored on a Sanchez ground-out. McCall and Sanchez combined for five hits and seven RBIs. Jeremy Johnson also finished 3-for-4.

“I’m just glad we get to ride the bus back with a championship trophy,” Sanchez said, “especially my senior year.”

Earlier Saturday, the Patriots had to complete a suspended semifinal against Valencia, which had been stopped because of rain and lightning Friday.

Miyamura got two-run homers from Johney Montano and Kevin Arviso to build a 6-1 lead, then used a couple of key defensive plays late to pull out a 6-4 victory at Valley High School.

Five hours later the Patriots were on the field at Isotopes Park.

It was a rough debut for the Patriots, who committed five errors and suffered through their share of jitters. Still, Silva had no regrets.

“If I had it to again, I’d start the same lineup,” Silva said. “Everyone counted this team out since the beginning of the season and we just kept on chugging.

“The big thing is we stepped on Isotopes Park and played here. It’s a thrill for these kids and we have a good core returning. I’m excited about next year and the future of this program.”

Johney Montano had an RBI single, and Nars Baca picked up the other hit for the Patriots.

— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal

About the only problem the Piedra Vista softball team seemingly has these days is figuring out new ways to celebrate softball titles — and douse coach Kevin Werth.

On Saturday morning, the Panthers won their seventh straight Class 4A New Mexico State Championship, beating Aztec 6-1 at Lobo Field. Soon after, Werth was covered from head to toe with Silly String.

“On (cool) days like this, it ain’t too bad,” Werth said, wiping the string from his multicolored face. “When you’re in (Las) Cruces, the water’s kind of nice. But here, this is OK.”

Werth and his Panthers have had plenty to celebrate since 2006. So has Aztec, just not nearly as much — mostly because of their pesky District 1-4A mates.

“We have every chart of theirs, every scouting report that we could possibly have,” said Aztec coach Jose Santistevan. “We know everything about each other. It was just a matter of making plays, and we didn’t make enough today.”

Nor in any of the four meetings the Tigers had with Piedra Vista this season, including two in the double-elimination state tournament. On Friday morning, the Panthers beat Aztec 5-0, sending the Tigers (23-6) into the losers’ bracket. Aztec survived by beating top-seeded Artesia on Friday night for a second time in the tournament, but could never find a way to solve second-seeded Piedra Vista (24-7) and pitcher Krissy Fortner.

“It was really nerve-racking, because it’s such a big thing,” Fortner said of the title game. “But it’s fun, it’s always fun, and we were prepared. So there was nothing to worry about.”

The Piedra Vista defense made a number of spectacular plays, while the Panthers’ offense provided 14 hits. Sophomore Tabor Woosley had three hits, while senior Briana Gauthier added two, including a two-run single for the game’s first runs in the top of the second.

“It feels great again,” said Gauthier, who has been a part of the past five titles. “I didn’t want to see the streak end as a senior.”

Fortner, a junior who is a finesse pitcher, had five strikeouts. She allowed six hits, but got into trouble in only two innings and didn’t allow a run until the sixth. She kept the Tigers in check with a variety of pitches and let her teammates back her up.

“It’s a simple game,” said Werth, whose team closed the season on an 18-game winning streak. “People make it way harder than what it is. You’ve just got to play catch.”

Second baseman Gauthier said: “We just never want to let a ball hit the ground. We try to get under everything. That’s how we play.”
— This article appeared on page D5 of the Albuquerque Journal

Slumping Aggies Routed at Home

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — With teammates out of position, and starter Josh Walker struggling on the mound, Mitch Garver put the UNM baseball team on his back Saturday. Garver went 4-for-5 with two home runs, four RBIs and five runs, and Rudy Jaramillo allowed two earned runs over 5â…” innings of relief as the Lobos picked up a 10-7 win over UNLV.

Jaramillo (5-3) entered the game in the third inning behind starter Walker.

The win kept UNM a game behind TCU for first place in the Mountain West standings. TCU handily defeated Air Force 17-2 earlier in the day.

The heroics of Garver and Jaramillo helped overcome UNM’s patchwork defensive lineup, which has almost everyone playing out of their normal positions due to a variety of injuries. They committed six errors Saturday.

The rubber match of the three-game series is today at 2:05 p.m. on The Mtn. Gera Sanchez (6-2) pitches for the Lobos.

FRESNO STATE 14, NMSU 7: In Las Cruces, visiting Fresno State clubbed the fading Aggies 14-7 on Saturday, marking the eighth defeat in its last nine games for NMSU (31-19, 8-7 Western Athletic Conference). The only victory in that stretch was 2-1 over Fresno State in 12 innings Friday in Game 2 of a doubleheader.

The Aggies are back in action Tuesday at UNM in the last of four games against the Lobos. NMSU has won the first three.

Aggie third baseman Robert Lecount went 3-of-5 with two home runs and six RBIs, but Fresno State pounded 18 hits and handed Michael Ormseth (7-2) the defeat.

Golf

NCAA WEST REGIONAL: In Erie, Colo., the Lobo women finished the season on Saturday in 18th place at the NCAA West Regional. The Lobos shot a 303 to end at 49-over 913 (303-307-303) at the Colorado National Golf Course (par 72, 6,575 yards). Top-ranked UCLA and No. 7 LSU shared the team title at 873.

The Lobos had to finish in the top eight of the 24-team field to advance to the NCAA Championships later this month in Franklin, Tenn.

Sophomore Sammi Stevens was the top Lobo, finishing in a tie for 45th at 9-over 225 (72-77-76).

Aggie sophomore Demi Mak shot a 1-over-par 73 Saturday, tying for 61st with a 228 (79-76-73)

Track and field

MWC CHAMPIONSHIPS: In Colorado Springs, the UNM men finished third of six teams, and the UNM women were seventh of eight as the conference meet concluded.

It was the lowest the women had finished in the meet since seventh in 2004.

As for the Lobos’ highlights, sophomore Sam Evans (3:56.25) edged Colorado State’s Alex Balsinger (3:56.65) to earn New Mexico’s third-ever MWC title in the men’s 1,500-meters.

… Lobo freshman Beejay Lee ran 21.04 to snap TCU’s streak of six straight champions in the men’s 200. Lee also finished second (10.49) in the 100 to TCU’s Charles Silmon (10.25).
— This article appeared on page D2 of the Albuquerque Journal

Volcano Vista Snags 2nd Straight Title

For Volcano Vista, it was all worth the wait.

For Carlsbad, it was all for naught.

After a brutally long couple of days affected by weather delays, top-seeded Volcano Vista finally put away second-seeded Carlsbad by sweeping two games against the Cavegirls on Saturday to win the Class 5A New Mexico State Softball Championship.

The Hawks, whose 52-game winning streak was snapped by Carlsbad early Friday morning in the winners’ bracket, came through the losers’ bracket and needed to beat the Cavegirls twice Saturday at Lobo Field. Volcano Vista (29-1) did just that by scores of 6-1 and 5-3.

“It was a long two days, but we just tried to fight,” said Volcano Vista senior Katera Eltsosie. “We all really wanted to win state, and we worked our hardest just to get there.”

After losing to the Cavegirls (26-5) on Friday morning, the Hawks had to wait all day — and then an extra 90 minutes early Friday evening because of lightning and rain delays — to play again in the double-elimination event. Volcano Vista then made the most of its second chance by beating Las Cruces 8-2 to advance to Saturday against the well-rested Cavegirls. After upsetting the Hawks, Carlsbad didn’t have to play again until Saturday.

The Hawks cruised in Saturday’s opener and led 4-3 with Carlsbad batting in the top of the fourth of the “if game” when Mother Nature made herself known the day before Mother’s Day.

Another rain and lightning storm hit. This one lasted more than two hours and seemed to take the wind out of the Cavegirls — who had rallied from an early 4-0 deficit — and appeared to give the Hawks new life.

“(Friday) was cold, and it was tough because they got us on the field with only 10 minutes to warm up,” said VV coach Cheryl Johnson. “But (Saturday), I think the delay benefited us. We were starting to choke up, but I think having the practice of the rain delay the day before helped us regroup. I kid you not. We came out recharged and stronger.”

Carlsbad coach George Frederick made no excuses.

“We were getting on a roll, but I don’t know (if the delay hurt),” Frederick said. “We got opportunities to hit. … We just didn’t get the hit at the time we needed a hit, and they did.”

The Hawks got big hits early in the second game. Catcher Jade Gray and second baseman Marleyna Piñon opened the bottom of the first with singles, and Eltsosie ripped a three-run bomb into the left-field stands off Carlsbad senior pitcher Mary Jo Granger.

“She threw a change-up, and I just swung my hardest and I hoped it was going over,” Eltsosie said.

Eltsosie, part of the Hawks’ stellar 1-2 pitching punch, started and threw the first three innings of each game. Senior Kelsey Stevens threw the last four of each.

VV added another run on singles by sisters Victoria and Vanessa Castro in the second before Carlsbad got three runs in the third. Samantha Modrell had the big blow with a two-run single.

But the Hawks added a run in the fifth on the way to a second straight crown.

VOLCANO VISTA 6, CARLSBAD 1, GAME 1: The Hawks got three runs in the third and three more in the sixth to win the first game.

Carlsbad loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the first, but Eltsosie then struck out Linzy Granger.

The Cavegirls had base runners in the second and third, but failed to score each time. They loaded them again — this time with one out — again in the fifth.

But Stevens got out of the jam with a strikeout and a ground-out.

Gray and Piñon opened the bottom of the fifth with singles, and both scored when Eltsosie singled to make it 6-0.

— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal

With just 60 feet between her and the end of her softball career, Davi Martin felt the emotions building.

The Silver High senior stood on third base with one out in the bottom of the seventh of the Fighting Colts’ tie game with Portales at Lobo Field in Saturday morning’s Class 3A title game in the New Mexico State Softball Championships.

Another 60 feet, and her prep days would end on a high note.

“Coach told me when I was on third, ‘If you score, this is it,’ ” Martin said. “I knew I was going to score because I knew Hannah would come through.”

Hannah, as in sophomore Hannah Altamirano, did just that.

Altamirano launched a long fly to right field. Martin tagged up and just beat the throw to the plate to give the Colts a 4-3 win and their second straight title.

“Davi is really fast,” Altamirano said. “I knew I just had to hit it out of the infield. I did, and I said, ‘Please, just let Davi score.’ ”

The run capped the Colts’ comeback in a game they trailed 2-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth.

The top-seeded Rams (28-3), who had to fight through the losers’ bracket Friday to get to Saturday’s title game, got a solo homer from pitcher Kelsey Laurenz in the top of the fourth. They added another run when Sorina Flores doubled and scored on a passed ball.

The score remained that way until Silver (22-7) capitalized on three errors in the bottom of the sixth to score three runs.

“They’ve battled all year, and they kept battling,” Portales coach Robbie Crowley said of her girls. “But we had errors that we don’t normally have. I don’t know, maybe the nerves got to us.”

Silver coach Duane Trewern said he was impressed with the Rams.

“My hats off to them,” he said, “coming back from the losers’ bracket. We’ve been there and know how tough that is. We had the luxury of knowing we still had another game if we lost. I really feel we didn’t win this championship today; we won it by winning (Thursday and Friday in the opening rounds).”

The Rams battled back to make it 3-3 in the top of the seventh. Laurenz singled to drive in the tying run.

Had Portales won, it would have forced an “if-game” later in the day for the title. But Martin hit a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh, then went to third on Angie Helton’s single and a Portales throwing error.

Altamirano then got the game-winning RBI.

Martin said she won’t soon forget her last high school game.

“When I got across the plate, if felt unreal,” Martin said. “It’s a great way to go out.”

— This article appeared on page D5 of the Albuquerque Journal