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Win(d) some, lose some/district begins with wild conditions
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Wild spring weather, featuring high winds and snow, played an April Fools’ Day joke Tuesday, impacting baseball and softball games in and around Valencia County. In advance of the predicted challenging weather, games between Belen and St. Pius were postponed.
Valencia completed its softball game against Grants, but the Jaguars’ baseball game at the defending 4A champions was called off mid-contest because of snow.
Los Lunas went ahead with showdowns against Atrisco Heritage Academy on the LLHS campus, with conditions kicking up dirt, blowing off caps and helping or hurting fly balls, depending on the direction of the howling wind.
Baseball
Valencia (8-8, 0-1) had a most unusual situation when the Jaguars visited Grants on Tuesday. The game was postponed in the second inning because of a snowstorm. VHS and Grants quickly rescheduled the game for Wednesday, with the Pirates rolling to a 25-1 victory.
Last week, the Jaguars played in the Aztec Invitational, posting a 1-2 record.
Belen’s game at St. Pius has been rescheduled for Thursday, followed by a home contest Friday against Highland.
BHS (9-5, 0-0) had a seven-game winning streak snapped Saturday, losing 3-0 to Hope Christian in the Moriarty Invitational championship contest. The #9 Eagles had scored in double digits in each game during that string.
The only area baseball team to complete a game was Los Lunas (9-7, 1-0), which handled Atrisco Heritage Academy in the District 5-5A opener. The Tigers posted a five-inning 16-1 victory over AHA (3-12, 0-1), a newcomer to the district.
A first inning wind-blown home run by Josiah Byers started the romp, with an eleven-run third inning sealing the victory. JJ Utash had a home run and six rbi’s to lead the Tigers’ attack. Matthew Castillo was the winning pitcher.
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LLHS, which lost Saturday 11-1 to number one ranked Sandia, hosts West Mesa Friday.
Softball
Valencia (4-10, 1-0) ended a seven-game losing straight Tuesday, downing Grants 19-14 in a wild affair to start District 5-4A. VHS had home runs from Jaden Martinez and Lauren Brandt. Kourtney Tafoya drove in five runs, including three on a bases loaded triple in the sixth inning to put the Jaguars in front for good.
Valencia returns to action Wednesday at St. Pius.
The much anticipated showdown between District 5-4A rivals Belen and St. Pius must wait until Monday at BHS.
Before that, Belen will be on the road Thursday at Highland and Friday at West Las Vegas. Last week, the eighth-ranked Eagles captured their third straight title in the Moriarty Invitational, defeating the host Fighting Pintos 14-4 in the championship game.
Los Lunas (11-6, 0-1,) which climbed to a ranking of number seven in the 5A MaxPreps poll, opened District 5-5A action Tuesday with a 6-4 loss to Atrisco Heritage Academy (11-4, 1-0).
AHA scratched out two runs in the fourth inning to go in front. LLHS scored three times in the sixth inning and had two runners on with nobody out in the seventh but couldn’t bring them home. Grace Baca drove in two runs for the Tigers with a double, while Kelsie DeGraaf added a pair of two-baggers.
The Tigers had won eight of nine games entering the contest against AHA, including victories in the Rio Rancho tournament against Farmington and Cibola. District play continues Thursday at West Mesa.
