The Española softball season began last week, with the Sundevils splitting a weekend series at Albuquerque Academy in an April 17 doubleheader.
In the first game, the Sundevils fell behind, but took the lead with a 5-run seventh inning. But the Chargers scored twice in the bottom half of the inning to take a 16-15 win.
In game two, a 7-run third inning put Española ahead 10-4, and this time they would hold on for a 19-15 victory.
Sophomore Estrella Tena was 5-for-5 with a walk in game two with five RBIs, and junior Trinity Ortega scored four runs in the game. Senior Hailey Guinn was the winning pitcher in the game.
Española never had a chance to finish last year’s season, recording a 2-1 record. The team now looks very different from the one that lost 13-0 in the state tournament play-in game in 2019.
• • •
The Escalante Lobos boys basketball team stays hot on the season and undefeated in district play.
On April 13, the Lobos defeated Peñasco 73-44, led by 19 points from Santiago Rivas and 18 team steals. Rivas scored 26 two days later against Mora, leading the Lobos to a 71-26 win.
And on April 17, Escalante handed McCurdy its first district loss of the season, as they held the Bobcats to just 11 points in the first half in a 44-34 win. Rivas scored another 19 points, including four 3-pointers.
Rival leads the 5-1 Lobos with a whopping 19.8 points per game, and senior Isaiah Maestas averages 5.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
Escalante, now 5-0 in the district, faces winless Questa on April 20, and then travels to Mesa Vista on April 22 to battle the Trojans.
McCurdy moves to 5-2 overall on the season, and are 4-1 in district play. Their next game is at home against Mesa Vista on April 20 and then at Peñasco on Thursday (4/22).
The Lobos and Bobcats will rematch in Tierra Amarilla on April 29, possibly for a district title.
• • •
Escalante girls basketball also remains on top of their district at 4-0, and 5-2 overall on the season.
The Lobos defeated Peñasco on April 13, 51-30. On April 15, they gave Mora their first district loss of the season, winning 52-24 and holding the Rangerettes to just seven points in the second half. And April 17, they easily defeated McCurdy by a score of 68-16.
Escalante next plays at Mesa Vista on Thursday (4/22) and then at Peñasco Saturday.
• • •
After a strong win to start the season, the Mesa Vista Lady Trojans struggled to maintain their footing, now having lost four straight games to slip to 1-4 on the season and 1-3 in the district.
The Lady Trojans lost 52-45 to Peñasco on April 15. On April 17, they led Mora at halftime, but fell behind after a 16-4 third-quarter deficit in a 41-32 loss.
Mesa Vista will look to rebound with a tough challenge against Escalante on Thursday (4/22), and they have a non-district opportunity at Raton on April 24.
• • •
Coronado boys basketball began their district season on April 15 with a loss to Evangel Christian, 66-42. The Leopards rebounded, though, for a 58-50 win over Legacy Academy April 17.
The Leopards also suffered an 81-50 loss in a non-district matchup with Santa Fe Prep, a 3A team, on April 13.
Coronado plays two more non-district games this week, and then has a rematch with Legacy Academy on the road on April 24.
• • •
The Pojoaque Elkettes took their first district win on April 19, taking down Los Alamos by a score of 53-35, breaking a four-game losing streak.
The Elkettes, now at 2-5 on the season, look to keep the momentum against Taos on April 21. They then travel to Moriarty on April 23.
• • •
McCurdy girls basketball remains winless on the season after their switch to a new district this year and after losing key seniors from last year’s team.
The Lady Bobcats fell to Mora on April 13, 69-28, and struggled to gain any momentum against district leader Escalante in a loss on April 17.
Their next opportunity comes in a road game against Peñasco on Thursday (4/22), and another chance against Mora at home on April 24.