The first round of the baseball and softball state playoffs was held last weekend, and Valencia County had three baseball teams and one softball team competing.
On the baseball side, the Los Lunas Tigers visited Organ Mountain in the 5A playoffs. The best of three series would go the distance, with the Tigers losing the series two games to one.
In game one on Friday, the Tigers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but were doomed in the third when the Knights scored five runs to take a 7-2 lead. Organ Mountain would go on to win 7-3.
In game two, held on Saturday, the Tigers evened up the series with a high scoring, 13-10 win. Ryan Castillo went 2-for-4 with both hits going for doubles, and drove in three runs in the win. Fabian Trujillo and Casey Herrell would also drive in three runs apiece.
In the deciding game three on Saturday afternoon, the Tigers were down 2-1 in the fifth inning, when the bottom fell out. Organ Mountian scored nine runs to mercy the Tigers at 11-1 and take the series.
Los Lunas ends the season with an overall record of 18-12, which included an 8-2 district record.
In Albuquerque, Belen paid Valley a visit in the 4A playoffs in a best of three series as well.
On Friday evening, the Eagles offense struggled, as did pitching, and Valley would go on to a 9-0 victory.
On Saturday afternoon in game two, the Eagles pitching got better, allowing just two runs. However, the bats were quiet again, and the Vikings took home a 2-0 win to knock the Eagles out of the playoffs.
Belen ends the season 13-11 overall, including 5-3 in district, which was good enough for third.
The Valencia Jaguars traveled to Los Alamos over the weekend in their first-round series.
The bats for the Jags were quiet in that series, as the host Hilltoppers took the first two contests by finals of 10-0 and 11-1 to eliminate Valencia.
The Jaguars finish up the 2022 season at 9-16, including 2-6 in district play.
Softball
In softball, the Belen Lady Eagles squared off with the Aztec Lady Tigers in the opening round of the 4A tournament.
After grabbing a 1-0 in the top of the second inning, the Lady Eagles saw that lead evaporate into a 2-1 deficit in the bottom half of the inning.
Belen tied it at 2-2 in the third, before the host Lady Tigers would reel off six runs to take an 8-2 lead. The Lady Eagles tried to rally, but fell short by a final of 10-5, to end their 2022 season.
Belen ends at 15-12 on the season and finished second in their district at a record of 6-2.
Adam Evarts is a graduate of the University of New Mexico where he studied journalism and history. He has lived in Valencia County most of his life. Adam covers sports for the Valencia County News-Bulletin, including prep competitions for the three local high schools, Senior Olympics, rodeo, Little League and more.
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April 11, 2024
