Albuquerque Journal du lieu suivant : Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 27

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: BASEBALL Saturday, May 16, 1998 I3 Albuquerque Journal Class AAA RESULTS "i.r 1 i 'A i (u Chargers, 'Toppers Face Off Teams Gain Narrow Wins in Semifinals 1 4 tS -V I It By Glen Rosai.es For the Journal Neither Albuquerque Academy nor Los Alamos has a Class AAA baseball state-championship banner i hanging from the gymnasium rafters. For one of these two schools, however, that's about to change. The Chargers outlasted St. Michael's on Friday to advance to the championship game today at the Sports Stadium, while the Hilltop-pers rallied to send Kirtland Central packing. Both games were played at the University of New Mexico's Lobo Field.

Los Alamos won Class A titles in 1965 and '66 but has been shut out since moving up in classification. "This is what it's all about," said Los Alamos senior pitcher Matt Spriggs. "I've been waiting for this since I was 8 years old." GOTCHA: Del Norte's Ryan Strong tags out Manzano's Jason Elcock, who was trying to steal second base during a Class AAAA semifinal game Friday at the Sports Stadium. The Knights won 5-2 and will meet Carlsbad this morning In the championship game. Class AAAA DNHS, Carlsbad To Meet Three-Run Homer Leads the Knights Over Manzano i Today CHAMPIONSHIP: Carlsbad vs.

Del Norte, 10:30 a.m., Sports Stadi-I um, Radio: KLYT-FM (88.3) "It was just great," the senior first baseman said, "because when I was little kid, I thought it was impossible to hit it out." The Knights pushed across a run in the second inning, the Monarchs (12-12) matched it in the third and the game remained 1-1 until the seventh. Erin O'Neil, a hero from the Monarchs' quarterfinal win Thursday over Eldorado, led off with a triple and broke the tie on a double by pinch-hitter Scott Koch. Young (1-2) came on to start the bottom of the seventh in relief of MHS starter Miguel Palacios and got leadoff batter Josh Hines to pop out. Successive singles by Andrew Sanderson, Brian Green and David Trujillo made it 2-2. Garcia then went deep to drop the Monarchs into this morning's 8:30 consolation game (at Lobo Field) against their District 1AAAA rival, Farmington.

"It's destiny," McKeever said of the exciting win. "That's how we've Christian won our last three." He said the Knights have "six or seven" come-from-behind victories this season. It's not the first time Garcia, whom his teammates have dubbed "Little Bear," has been the hero. "He won the Valley game, the one against La Cueva, hit a homer against Hobbs," McKeever said. "He's been our Mister Clutch." Monarchs head coach Jim Briggs said he didn't think Palacios was yanked too soon.

Young, he said, "has been our go-to guy all year." It has been a satisfying season for Manzano, Briggs said. "When you're two outs away from (going to) the state championship game, something had to go well," he said. CARLSBAD 6, FARMINGTON 3: What a difference a year has made for Cavemen left-handed ace Cody Ross. In a 1997 state semifinals game, he struck out 10 batters and didn't allow a hit after the third inning but still lost to Eldorado 3-0. Friday, Ross (10-1) struck out 11 Scorpions, scattered six hits and again allowed just three runs.

This time, the performance was JIM THOMPSONJOURNAL good enough to thrust Carlsbad into the championship game. Last year, the Cavemen settled for third place after beating Farmington 6-2 in the consolation game. "I think I got a little bit smarter about pitching this year," Ross, a junior, said. Ross helped his team with the bat, too, going 3 for 3 with two RBI. After Carlsbad spotted Farming-ton (19-4) a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, Thursday's winning pitcher for the Cavemen, Brian Hall, led off with a double and later scored on a single by Ross.

Hall finished 3 for 4, while left fielder Albert Ramirez was 2 for 2 with an RBI on a sacrifice fly. Just as Ross was helping himself at the plate, so, too, was Farmington starter Alan Gattis (6-2). The righthander was 2 for 3, with a two-run single in the fifth inning to close out his team's scoring. Justin Davis also had two hits for the Scorpions, who were hurt by the lack of offense suppled by their last five men in the order. Ross got eight of his strikeouts from that portion of the lineup.

Collectively, those batters were but 1 of IS in the game. 'class aaaa baseball Thursday, May 14 Quarterfinals Manzano 3, Eldorado 2 Farmington 11, La Cueva 8 Norte 6, Alamogordo 5 Carlsbad 10, Rio Rancho 3 SamHlMla Friday Sports Stadium Del Norte Manzano 2 Carlsbad 6, Farmington 3 Consolation dama Today Lobo Flaw Farmington (19-4) vs. Manzano (1212), 8:30 a.m. Championship Oanw Today Sports stadium Del Norte (204-1) vs. Carlsbad (22-2), 10:30 a.m.

CLASS AAAA LINESCORES Friday SamHInals, Sports Stadium DEL NORTE 5, MANZANO 2 Manzano 001 00012 6 1 Dal Norte 010 000 4 9 0 Pitching Miguel Palacios, Dusty Young (7) and Nick Robertson; DN, Andrew Sanderson, Josh Hines (7) and Mike Frost. Hines (2-0). Young (1-2). HR DN, Paul Garcia (7tn-two on). Leading hitters Erin O'Neil 1-3 3b, Scott Koch 1-1 2b lrbi; DN, Doug Taylor 2-2, Brian Green 2-4.

Records Del Norte 204-1, vs. Carlsbad today in Class AAAA state championship; Manzano 12-12, faces Farming-ton in consolation game. CARLSBAD 6, FARMINGTON 3 Farmington 100 020 03 6 2 Carlsbad 111 111 6 12 2 Pitching Alan Gattis, Jason Ashcroft (6) and Eric Steffen; Cody Ross and Chris Fudge. Ross (10-1). Gattis (6-2).

Leading hitters Justin Davis 2-4 lrbi, Gattis 2-3 2rbi; Brian Hall 3-4 2b, Ross 3-3 2b 2rbi, Albert Ramirez 2 2 lrbi. Records Carlsbad 22-2, vs. Del Norte today in Class AAAA state championship game; Farmington 19-4, faces Manzano in consolation game. CLASS AAA BASEBALL Thursday, May 14 Quarterfinals Los Alamos 15, Silver 10 Kirtland Central 6, St. Pius 5 St.

Michael's 4, Aztec 3 Albq. Academy 6, Lovington 1 Semifinals Friday Lobo Field Los Alamos 10, Kirtland Central 7 Albq. Academy 9, St. Michael's 8 Consolation Oanw Today Lobo Field St. Michael's (20-4) vs.

Kirtland Central (14-10), 10:30 a.m. Championship Oanw Today Sports Stadium Los Alamos (19-7) vs. Albq. Academy (19-5), 8:30 a.m. CLASS AAA LINESCORES Friday Semifinals, Lobo Field LOS ALAMOS 10, KIRT.

CENTRAL 7 Los Alamos 100 332 110 9 0 Kirtland Central 033 100 0 7 8 2 Pitching LA, J.D. Stoddard, Jake Sena (4), Matt Spriggs (6) and Spriggs, Tyson Hutton (6); KC, Donald Atencio, Shawn Brunsin (5) and Scott Facka. Jake Sena (1-1); Shawn Brunsin (3-2). Leading Hitters LA, Josh Adams 3-4 3rbi, Tyson Hutton 2-3 3r lrbi; KC, Facka 3-4 2r lrbi, Brunsin 2-3 2r. Records Los Alamos 19-7, vs.

Albq. Academy today in championship; Kirtland Central 14-10, vs. St. Mike's in consolation. ALBQ.

ACADEMY 9, ST. MICHAEL'S 8 Albq. Academy 013 320 09 13 2 St. Michael's 012 210 28 12 4 Pitching AA, Reyes, Chris Alexander (6) and Josh Ayala; SM, Baca, John Romero (6) and Birk Jones. Mike Reyes (6-0); Enriques Baca.

HR SM, Baca (2nd-solo). Leading hitters AA, Ken Salazer 4-5 2b 2rbi, Alexander 3-4 2r lrbi; SM, Romero 4-5 2r, Baca 2-4 2b hr 3rbi, Jones 2-3 2b lrbi. Records Academy 19-5, vs. Los Alamos today in championship: St. Mike's 204, vs.

Kirtland today in consolation. CLASS A-AA BASEBALL Thursday, May 14 quarterfinals Hope Christian 10, Jal 6 Mora 4, Dora 3, 8 inn. Santa Rosa 8, Laguna-Acoma 2 Pecos 7, Dexter 6 Semifinals Friday Cibola High School Hope 15, Mora 5, 5 inn. Pecos 21, Santa Rosa 2, 5 inn. Consolation Game Today Lobo Field Santa Rosa (16-9) vs.

Mora (9-10), 1:30 p.m. Championship Game Today Lobo Field Hope Christian (20-5) vs. Pecos (214), 3:30 p.m. CLASS A-AA LINESCORES Friday Semifinals, Cibola H.S. HOPE IS, MORA 5 Inn.

Hope Christian 213 18 IS 16 3 Mora 000 32 10 3 Pitching HC, Aaron Garrett and Tommy Atkinson; Kenny Sandoval, Eric Herrera (5) and Aaron Romero. Garrett (7-2). Sandoval (2-5). HR HC, Atkinson (5th-two on). Leading hitters HC, Ian Melville 24 2b, Atkinson 34 2 2b hr 4rbi, Alfred Lobaina 34 2b lrbi, Garrett 24 2-2b lrbi, Joey Romero 2 3 lrbi; Herrera 3-3 2b 2r, David DeHerrera 3-3.

Records Hope 20-5, vs. Pecos today in Class A-AA state championship game; Mora 9-10, vs. Santa Rosa today In consolation. PECOS 21, SANTA ROSA 2, 5 Inn. Pecos 216(11)121 19 3 Santa Rosa 020 00 2 3 2 Pitching Matt Lopez and Nick Ruiz: SR, Matt Barela, Joe Baca (4) and Ron Gage.

IrV Lopez. Barela. HR Almanzo Ortiz (2nd-solo). Leading hitters Ruiz 5-5 2b 3b 4rbi, Curtis Stinett 44 2b 4rbi, Epi Quintana 2-3 3b 3rbi, Ortiz 24 hr 3r. Lopez 2-4 lrbi.

Records Pecos 214, vs. Hope Christian today in Class A-AA championship game; Santa Rosa 16-9, vs. Mora in consolation. CLASS AAAA SOFTBALL All games at Gallup Sports Complex Friday Quarterfinals La Cueva 4, Rio Rancho 0 Farmington 3, Las Cruces 0 Carlsbad 12, Cibola 1 Rio Grande 6, Alamogordo 3 Semifinals Today Field Two Rio Grande vs. Carlsbad, 11 a.m.

Today Field Four Farmington vs. La Cueva, 11 a.m. Consolation Game Today Field Two Semifinal losers, 3 p.m. Championship Game Today Field Two Semifinal winners, 5 p.m. CLASS AAAA LINESCORES Friday Quarterfinals FARMINGTON 3, LAS CRUCES 0 Farmington 020 010 03 6 0 Las Cruces 000 000 00 2 4 WP, Heather Brown: LP, Margie Montoya.

Leading Hitters Jordanne Nygren 2-3 lr, Piper Marten 13 lrbi lr, Christl Farber 1-3 lr lrbi LC, Margie Montoya 1-3, Marie Lackey 1-2. LA CUEVA 4, RIO RANCHO 0 Rio Rancho 000 000 00 4 0 La Cueva 000 400 4 3 3 WP, Shara Morrison; LP, Genevieve Kelly. CARLSBAD 12, CIBOLA 1, 5 Inn. Carlsbad 112 4412 10 0 Cibola 010 00 1 2 7 WP, Amy Krause: LP, Audra Rest. Leading Hitters CBad, Kassie Calderon 34 3r, Ora Hensley 24 2b lrbi 2r.

RIO GRANDE 6, ALAMOGORDO 3 Rio Grande 000 020 46 8 0 Alamogordo 000 000 33 4 WP, Valene Lujan; LP, Tracy Gilsdorf. Leading Hitters RG, Monica Sanchez 13 3b 3rbi lr, Lujan 24 lr, Maggie Romero 24; Nadine Melendez 1-3 2b, Selina Hernandez 1-3 lrbi. CLASS AAA SOFTBALL Friday Quart affinals Bloomfield 9, Lovington 0 St. Pius 11. Los Alamos 1, 6 inn.

Silver 14. Aztec 13 Artesia 5, Albq. Academy 1 Today Field Three Bloomfield vs. St. Pius, 9 a.m.

Today Field Four Silver vs. Artesia, 9 a.m. Consolation Game Today FleM Four Semifinal losers. 3 p.m. Championship Game Today Fkrid Four Semifinal winners.

5 p.m. CLASS AAA LINESCORES FrWay Quartarflnata ST. PIUS 11, LOS ALAMOS 1 Los Alamos 000 100 0 1 1 9 St. Plus 330 203 11 10 1 WP B.Junick. LP A.Lanterman.

Leading Hitters LA. J.Cusack 2 3 lr: A.Gregory lrbi. SP, R.Mananettl 2-3 3r, Junk 2 3 3b 2rbi, J. Ready 2-3 3rbi. See RESULTS on PAGE D3 By Gary Herron For the Journal A team seeking its first high school state baseball championship since 1982, when its head coach was a high school senior, faces a team going after its second title in three years and its fifth since '82.

In Friday's Class AAAA semifinals at the Sports Stadium, Del Norte used a bottom-of-the seventh rally to beat Manzano and play for the championship this morning. In the other game, Carlsbad scored in every inning to beat Farmington. Del Norte (20-4-1) won its only baseball championship 16 years ago when head coach Stan McKeever was an Eldorado senior. "(Coach) Jimmy Johns cut me four years in a row," McKeever said of his prep experience. "I was too small to play baseball." McKeever settled for a berth on the Eagles' golf team.

Meanwhile, Carlsbad (22-2) owns seven state titles, including two this decade in 1990 and '96. DEL NORTE 5, MANZANO 2: Paul Garcia snapped a 2-2 seventh-inning tie by hitting a 2-1 offering from reliever Dusty Young over the wall in right-center for a three-run homer and a berth in the title game. Class A-AA Pecos, Hope a Academy head coach Richard Ball said that Today Championship: Los Alamos vs. Albq. Academy, 8:30.

a.m., Sports Stadium i when the season started, he had a i feeling it would be special. "We have some players that are as good as any- body in the state," he said. "They're i good students, they work hard and they're team players." ALBQ. ACADEMY 9, ST. i MICHAEL'S 8: With the tying run on second and the winning run at I first, all Chargers catcher 'Josh i Ayala knew was that he had to get the foul pop.

After a few steps, Ayala made a diving lunge, and the weak hit off the bat of pinch-hitter Josh Abeyta settled in his mitt to end the game. "I was just looking for it," he said of the foul. "I just wanted to get it to i end the game." It was a contest that Academy (19-i 5) led throughout, but it seemed the Horsemen (20-4) were just one big hit from grabbing the lead and steal- ing the momentum. St. Mike's stranded 14 runners over the final six innings, including 10 in scoring position.

"We just had some guys that I weren't ready to play," Horsemen i head coach Mike Esquibel said. "For whatever reason, lack of experi-; ence, they weren't ready to believe it could be done. If you have doubt for i a millisecond, you won't get it done." A case in point was the sixth inning when, trailing 9-6, St. Michael's got a single from Jason Lujan and a double from Birk Jones to put runners at second and third i with no outs. The Chargers brought in side-arm-: ing Chris Alexander, who went sev- en innings Thursday.

He struck out the next two Horsemen and got the last out of the inning on a groundout. "It's definitely disappointing," Esquibel said. "We had our sights set on the championship. Now we have i to watch our district runner-up (Los Alamos) pick up the pie that we wanted." LOS ALAMOS lO, KIRTLAND CENTRAL 7: Josh Adams bats last in the Hilltoppers' lineup. But he came up first for Los Alamos with three RBI, including the game-winner on a squeeze bunt in the sixth, to help give his team a shot at the blue trophy.

For Adams, it felt pretty good because last year, when the Hilltoppers (19-7) finished third at state, he didn't get to play. "I didn't feel like I contributed," the senior second baseman said. "This feels real good to win and get in the championship this year." With the bases loaded and one out in the sixth inning of a 7-7 game, Adams dropped a dandy bunt that dribbled up the first-base line. The ball settled between the catcher and the pitcher while Fran Guerra streaked home with the go-ahead run. The Broncos (14-10) wouldn't score again.

Kirtland held a 6-1 lead after three innings, cuffing Los Alamos starter P.D. Stoddard. The Hilltoppers got three runs back in the fourth. Kirtland added one for a 7-4 lead, but Los Alamos tied it in the fifth with three more runs. Adams again was in the thick of things, hitting a two-run single to left.

Once Los Alamos had the lead, ace Spriggs came in and shut down the Broncos over the final two innings without allowing a hit. "There's no better way to end your high school career," he said, "than playing your final game in the Head Into Title Game Panthers, Huskies Collect 10-Run-Rule Wins in Semis '-T "We seta goal (Friday) to score in every inning, to set our own pace." RICHARD FAULKNER, HOPE CHRISTIAN HEAD COACH Eric Herrera and David DeHerrera each had three hits for the Rangers, who upset Dora on Thursday in the quarterfinals. PECOS 21, SANTA ROSA 2 (5): The Panthers' offense was every bit as impressive as Hope's. Pecos batted around in the third and fourth innings and overwhelmed the pitching-poor Lions. Nick Ruiz was 5 for 5 with a double, triple, four runs and four RBI and spearheaded a 19-hit attack.

"The output has come at a perfect time of the year," said Pecos assistant coach Christian Quintana. "It's been outstanding." Every starter had at least one hit and with one exception scored at least two runs. Curtis Stinett added four hits and four RBI for Pecos. Also, Epi Quintana ripped a bases-loaded triple, and Matt Lopez and Almanzo Ortiz each drove in a pair of runs. Ortiz had the game's only homer, a solo shot in the second.

Pecos scored six runs and sent 11 batters to the plate in the third, then exploded again in the fourth, putting up an 11 spot. Today marks Pecos' first appearance in a baseball title game. "It's all been experience," said Ruiz. "We've never been past the semifinals before. It's an accomplishment for all of Pecos." Lopez was the winner, striking out five while giving up three hits.

He retired the final eight Santa Rosa batters in order. By James Yodice For the Journal It most definitely should be tougher today for Pecos and Hope Christian. It couldn't be any easier. The Panthers and Huskies set the wheel on cruise control Friday in Class A-AA semifinals of the high school state baseball tournament, setting up today's 3:30 p.m. championship game at Lobo Field.

At Cibola High School, Hope ripped Mora 15-5 in five innings, while Pecos demolished Santa Rosa 21-2, also in five innings. The title game is preceded at 1:30 at Lobo Field by the consolation game between Mora (9-10) and Santa Rosa (16-9). HOPE 15, MORA 5 (5): The Huskies are looking for their second state title in three years. Friday, Hope banged out 16 hits against two Mora pitchers. The barrage culminated with an eight-run fifth inning, including a three-run homer from catcher Tommy Atkinson, who also had a pair of doubles and four RBI.

"We knew we had to stay on top of them, not let them back up," said Atkinson. Five Huskies enjoyed multiple-hit games. Alfred Lobaina had three hits, and Aaron Garrett contributed two doubles. Garrett (7-2) was the winner, scattering 10 hits in the complete game. Hope had eight extra-base hits.

"Good bats. That's been our strength all year," Hope head coach Richard Faulkner said. "We set MARK HOLM JOURNAL BIG GUNS: Hope Christian's Tommy Atkinson had a three-run homer, two doubles and four RBI In a state-tournament semifinal Friday against Mora at Cibola High School. I Today CHAMPIONSHIP: Hope Christian vs. Pecos, 3:30 p.m., Lobo Field a goal (Friday) to score in every inning, to set our own pace." The Huskies did score in every inning two in the first, one in the second, three in the third, one in the fourth.

It was the second time this season that Hope 10-runned Mora. The Huskies also 10-runned Pecos in the regional tournament just last week. "Pecos is really surprising a lot of the time," said Atkinson. "We don't want to go in overconfident and get embarrassed.".