The Belen High School softball team’s slim hopes of making the state playoffs were doused on Saturday when the Lady Eagles lost two games at Deming.
Belen needed to finish its season with four straight wins and Albuquerque Academy had to lose two of its last three games for Belen to advance to the post-season. Neither happened. The Lady Eagles failed to hold up their end, suffering 5-1 and 7-1 losses to the Lady Wildcats.
“It was one of those days when we were making great contact, but it was just going right to someone every time,” Belen head coach Nettie Salas said. “It was frustrating, and softball is that kind of game. Some days you’re going to have games like that.”
The Lady Eagles have had a number of close losses and games they felt like they could have won this season.
The girls finished off their season on Tuesday with a doubleheader against Silver High in Silver City (no score was available at News-Bulletin press time).
Though their chances of making the post-season are shot, coach Salas said the intensity for the final games would still be high.
“This Silver High team has a very legitimate shot at winning state and for us to beat the eventual state champs will help us,” Salas said.
The Lady Eagles went into their final DH with an 8-11 overall record and a 4-6 district mark.
The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.
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April 18, 2024
