SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
After being run over again, this time 16-4 to visiting non district opponent Santa Fe Indian School on Monday, the Santa Fe High softball team tries to end this dismal season by winning its last two starts.
Its losing streak has stretched to 11 after winning six straight earlier in the season. But the Demonettes, 2-8 in District 5-5A (6-14 overall), do conclude with a doubleheader at last place Albuquerque Rio Grande (0-8, 3-18) Saturday.
Rio Grande has its own problems and has lost its last 13, but at least it’s a chance for fifth place Santa Fe High to end on a winning note as the teams meet for the first time this season.
On Wednesday, the Demonettes meet up again with the Braves, this time on “Senior Day” at Indian School. They have also lost twice to St. Michael’s and Capital, which is third in 5-5A at 5-3 and 11-11 overall. So it’s been a ough go for a team with seven seniors, five juniors, one sophomore, and two freshmen.
The 2-3A Braves are in third place behind front running Robertson, and at 14-9 overall shouldmake the state tournament. On Friday, they finish the regular season on the road with a key doubleheader versus district foe, second place West Las Vegas.
After filling the bases in the first four innings and managing only three runs, Indian School broke away from a 3-3 tie when, with no out, Caitlin Cruz cleared the bases with a two-bagger down the third place line. It added four more runs in the frame.
The Demonettes scored once in the bottom of the inning, but the Braves responded with six more in the top of the seventh.
NOTES: Capital’s chances of making the state tournament are slim as it concludes at home against first-place Albuquerque Manzano in a Saturday doubleheader.
Not only are the Jaguars way down at No. 17 in the state’s overall 5A rankings, but Manzano just comes off a sweep over second-place Albuquerque High and has won its last nine.
Manzano has won all eight of its district games, is 17-5 overall, and is fourth in the rankings. The Jaguars has won their last three after losing four in a row, but it’s a lot to ask for when they meet up with Manzano for the first
time.
St. Michael’s winds up its season at Robertson today, and the Lady Horseman have improved on its records of the last two years and are 3-8 in district 2-3A and 9-14 overall, but its doesn’t look like they will make the post-season.
The 3A rankings can be puzzling, for WLV is fourth, Robertson fifth, and Indian School sixth. The mystery here is that the Cardinals are two games ahead of the Dons in district. But if these rankings remain the same, the Braves will join the two at state.
