By Glen Rosales
Special to the SUN

The dog days of the spring season are hitting hard, with some teams making a late surge for state tournament contention, while others are trying to salvage some positive outings.

Baseball

April 14

McCurdy 15, Mora 5

The host Bobcats (4-7, 3-2 in District 5-2A) only scored in two innings, but they were big innings with Marius Sanchez driving home three runs and scoring twice.

April 15

Pojoaque Valley 7, Española Valley 3

Ezekiel Atencio had three doubles, while Raudel Rivera and Mateo Martinez each drove home two runs to power the Elks (6-14, 2-4 in District 2-4A) past the host Sundevils (4-16-1, 0-6). Aaron Quintana and Sebastian Trujillo each drove in runs in a three-run third inning that put Española up 3-2 before Pojoaque rallied for the win.

April 16

McCurdy 6, Questa 2; Questa 27, McCurdy 1

Ten walks and 11 hit batters doomed the host Bobcats’ (5-8, 4-3 in District 5-2A) chances of a sweep and a split of the season series with the Wildcats. But in the opener, Ethan Bolton threw a complete game no-hitter, only two walks and hitting five batters. The McCurdy offense went through Ryan Valdez, who had three hits and three RBI.

Mora 18, Mesa Vista 2; Mora 19, Mesa Vista 11

Shai Romero, Ezequiel Nevarez, Stevan Peña and Hunter Garcia each drove home two runs and Romero, Nevarez, Garcia and Aaron Chavez each scored twice for the Trojans (2-8, 1-7 in District 5-2A) in the second game of doubleheader, but the Rangers rallied in the last inning to win. In the opener, Romero and Garcia each scored, driven home by hits from Samuel Epling and AJ Sandoval.

April 18

Moriarty 23, Española Valley 6; Moriarty 22, Española Valley 6

Through four innings, the host Sundevils (4-18-1, 0-8 in District 2-4A), trailed just 8-6, but then the pitching fell apart in the second game of a doubleheader against the Pintos. Aaron Quintana had a double and two RBIs in the game, while Jayden Archuleta had two doubles and scored three runs. In the opener, Española fell behind 14-2 early, although Archuleta, along with Quintana and Cameron Guinn each had two RBIs, with Archuleta against scoring three times.

McCurdy 10, Peñasco 1; McCurdy 15, Peñasco 14

The host Bobcats (7-8, 6-3 in District 5-2A) scored eight runs over the final two innings, including three in the bottom of the seventh to pull off a sweep of a doubleheader. Ryan Valdez had three triples and six RBIs, while Isaac Corona and Marius Sanchez each scored three runs. In the opener, Victor Sanchez-Valdez tossed a complete game, striking out 12 and allowing five singles.

Softball

April 15

Española Valley 29, Pojoaque Valley 0

Aliah Villalobos was just one of many Lady Sundevils (7-14, 5-3 in District 2-4A) who went off for a big game, going 4 for 4 with three extra base hits, six RBIs and four runs in the win over the visiting Elkettes (A-17, 0-6), who had just two hits against Villalobos. Leah Vigil also went 4-4 for Española with two triples, five RBIs and four runs.

Track and Field

April 13

Española Valley

Elijah Martinez ran a 10 minute, 43.47 second 3,200 meter run to finish 10th at the Marilyn Sepulveda Memorial Track Meet, which is an invitation-only meet for the top athletes in each event regardless of classification.

On the girls side, aside from Averi Schultz in the long jump (see related story), Neveah Cachora, ran a 12:16.36 in the 3,200 to finish ninth.

April 17

Pojoaque Valley

Anjolie Gallegos ran a 13.18 to win the 100 dash at the Questa Wildcat Relays, while Elenna Rubio was second in the 100 hurdles in 19.81 and third in the 300 hurdles at 1:01.79. Elena Gallegos was second in the long jump in 14-8¼.

For the boys, Jeremiah Ortega won the shot put in 39-feet, 7-inches and Isequel Villegas was second in the triple jump in 37-6½.

McCurdy

Marisol Serna took second in the 3,200 in 14:01.27 at the Moriarty Invitational and third in the 1,600 in 6:31.77.

On the boys side, Ethan Bolton was fourth in the 300 hurdles in 50.49, while Isaac Morales was fourth in the shot put in 32-10.

Mesa Vista

Jordyn Serrano leapt 4-6 to take third at the Fox Vixen Relays in Fort Sumner.

Ezequiel Nevarez won both the 800 and 1,600 in 2:01.92 and 4:45.53 respectively. And Andres Valdez was second in the 300 in 42.15.

Escalante

Annlee Robinson was sixth in the 200 at the Fox Vixen meet, going 28.58.

Julio Lujan was second in the 400 in 52.83, while Braylon Emery was fourth in 54.07.

Dulce

Amari Castleberry was second in the 400 in 1:06.94 and Emma Pierce-Martinez was second in the triple jump, going 30-8 at the Questa Relays.

For the boys, Markol Vicenti’s 57.37 was good for second in the 400.

Coronado

Mia Gallegos threw the javelin 60-8 at the Wildcat Relays to take fifth. And for the boys, Eli Martinez was third in the 110 hurdles in 19.06.

Tennis

Girls

Española Valley

In District 2-4A pool play, the Sundevils whipped Los Alamos 8-1 and blanked Taos 9-0, only losing eight games across the Tigers’ match. Olivia Suazo, Sofia Fulgenzi, Kaydence Arrey, Isabella Archuleta and Amelia Davis-Martinez each won both of their singles matches as did the three doubles teams.

Boys

In District 2-4A pool play, the Sundevils were swept in matches against Los Alamos and Taos, with Dylan Rendon putting up a struggle against Taos, losing 6-4, 6-3, and the doubles team of Rendon and Ariel Quintana forcing a third set against the Tigers, losing 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (11-9).