James Yodice

One week to go, people!!!

Need to mention there is a separate story from mine on the unfathomable Los Lunas-Volcano Vista series. And @lenaweereider covered the finals of state team tennis for us today and I appreciate Sean’s help.

4A baseball QF on Thursday at the Riordan complex: Artesia-Hope Goddard-Chaparral ABQ Academy-Bloomfield St. Pius-Grants That SPX-Grants game offers much intrigue; the Sartans beat the Pirates 3-1 and 2-1 in district play.

Final was actually 9-8, I was told. Carlsbad scored a run on a sac fly with the runner touching the plate just before the Cougars completed a fly ball/runner thrown out at 2nd double play.

James Yodice @JamesDYodice

No. 14 Cibola is the last team to reach the 5A baseball quarterfinals… Cougars come from behind to beat No. 3 Carlsbad 9-7 in Game 3. Cibola-Sandia in the Thursday quarterfinals. Also in the QF, La Cueva-LL, Cleveland-Eldorado and RR-Centennial. SEVEN metro teams in the QF.

I've got two large stories coming tonight/Sunday print. First with a recap of Day 2 of small school state track. So many state records, no way for me to get to everyone who deserves mention in the story. Really good stuff from those kids. And, a story on baseball/softball.

Here is Soren Annon of St. Michael’s — a multiple individual state champion — talking Saturday about what defines the Horsemen’s boys track and field dynasty (they won another blue trophy this year): https://t.co/koKUOGvs9E

No. 14 Cibola is the last team to reach the 5A baseball quarterfinals… Cougars come from behind to beat No. 3 Carlsbad 9-7 in Game 3. Cibola-Sandia in the Thursday quarterfinals. Also in the QF, La Cueva-LL, Cleveland-Eldorado and RR-Centennial. SEVEN metro teams in the QF.

No. 4 Cleveland baseball won 3-1 and 7-3 over Mayfield today as the Storm came back in their first round series against Mayfield. It’ll be Cleveland-Eldorado in the 5A QF on Thursday.

Hope Christian, the 9 seed in 4A baseball, came back to win two games today against Valley, 5-3 and 6-5, as the Huskies will advance to meet No. 1 Artesia next Thursday in the QF.

No. 6 Sandia staves off elimination today as the Matadors won two games against Piedra Vista. Sandia to face 3 Carlsbad or 14 Cibola next. That series went to a Game 3 this afternoon.

By far the most bizarre baseball result (for me) is that Los Lunas, the 9 seed in 5A, beat No. 8 Volcano Vista in a sweep by a combined score of 29-1. For an 8-9 series this barely computes. La Cueva and Centennial baseball are both through to the 5A quarters.

I’m back with the small school state track and field meet today. But … … some baseball updates. Eldorado in 5A and St. Pius in 4A both have finished off their best-of-3 series. Hope Christian (Valley) and Cleveland (Mayfield) won Game 2 to force a third and deciding game.

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Didn't mention this earlier, but Matt Delaney, the Academy ace, pitched a six-inning no-hitter for the Chargers today vs. Lovington. Struck out a dozen. I believe Matt also tossed a perfect game earlier this year.

Was on the radio with @AdamDiehl15 earlier this week, told him the double digit seed that I think could make some real noise this week was No. 14 Cibola. And in fact, the Cougars beat No. 3 Carlsbad 8-4 tonight in Game 1. No. 10 Rio Grande lost at the FOD to Centennial 16-6.

I will have a roundup on the first day of state baseball and softball for the metro area's 4A and 5A teams. A whole lotta fantastic pitching out there today -- from Valley, Hope, Eldorado, St. Pius, et all. Plus I have a detailed Day 1 story from small-school state track.

On the softball side of things today, at least four metro-area schools certain to advance into Week 2. That includes three teams from 5A -- No. 2 La Cueva, No. 3 Cibola and No. 9 Atrisco Heritage. Also, 9 seed St. Pius is into Week 2 in the 4A bracket.