SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
The young St. Michael’s softball team turned Thursday afternoon‘s Moriarty Invitational against Socorro into no contest in three-inning mercy-rule time via a 20-5 rout in the opening round.
Freshman Arianna Rivera took care of the pitching, although she did walk a dozen batters but backed it with only two runs yielded on five hits, and had a 4-for-4 day at the plate. Junior Erianna Sisnerous finished up in the circle by allowing only one hit in 1 2/3 innings.
Head coach Joe Alvarez’ Lady Horsemen got the game done earlier with a five-run fourth frame that invoked the 15-run, three-inning mercy rule. Junior Mia Duran went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and four RBI, and freshman Mariella Ruiz had a three-hit day that included a home run.
Now 3-1, St. Michael’s, with three 8th-graders, three freshmen, a sophomore, one junior and two seniors, takes on the host Pintos in the Friday semifinals.
In other softball play, Santa Fe Indian School blanked Tucumcari. 10-0, scoring in all but the second inning and twice in the fifth to seal the mercy-rule win in the first round of the Las Vegas Invitational.
Now undefeated in five outings, It was the fourth time the Braves tallied at least 10 runs.
Senior starting pitcher Shade-Phea Young went the five frames and came away with 10 strikeouts, and freshman Hannah Martinez went 3-for-3 at the plate. Next stop for SFIS is against East Mountain in the Friday afternoon semifinals.
In baseball, unbeaten Indian School was also victorious via a 6-3 triumph over East Mountain in opening round play of the Las Vegas Invitational, and the game ended after six innings in accordance with the tournament’s two-hour limit.
A 4-run fifth by the Braves, now 6-0, broke a 2-2 tie and 8th-grader Talyn Kewanletzema clouted a home run in the sixth to preserve the victory. Freshman Kate Lovatto had a 3-for-4 game with a stolen base and junior Myles Dorame contributed a 2-run single.
SFIS plays next on Friday afternoon against Robertson in the semis.
