Eagles stand third after first round of RISD Invite

ROSWELL — Clovis Christian’s boys stood third after Monday’s first round in the two-day RISD Invite golf tournament.

The Eagles shot a four-man score of 331 at the New Mexico Military golf course, trailing Dexter (296) and Hobbs (306) in the nine-team field. Clovis High’s boys were eighth at 392.

On the girls’ side, the Lady Cats were tied with Alamogordo for fourth out of seven teams at 405. Deming shot 366 and had a three-stroke lead after the first round over Roswell Goddard.

All five CCS players shot 85 or better, led by sophomore Noah McKay at 39-40 — 79. Meantime, the Wildcats were paced by sophomore Jett Stone’s 40-44 — 84 and eighth-grader Gavin Anderson’s 40-49 — 89.

Roswell High’s Peyton Jones posted the day’s top score, shooting 3-under-par 69.

Clovis junior Jolei Adkins was sixth in girls competition after and opening-round 44-44 — 88. Texico, with three players participating, was led by junior Liz Elam at 47-49 — 96.

Goddard’s Isabel Bustillos was the individual leader after shooting an 88.

The girls’ first round was played at Spring River Golf Course. The boys and girls were to swap courses for Tuesday’s final 18 holes.

PHS tennis — In District 4-4A action at Roswell, host Goddard gave the Rams and Lady Rams a hard time on Monday, with the Rockets beating PHS 8-1 and the Lady Rockets posting a 7-2 victory.

Portales’ lone win on the boys’ side came in No. 3 doubles, where juniors Joseph Garcia and Stephen Roberts teamed up for an 8-4 pro-set win over Rockets juniors Calvin Hood and Arthur Cooper.

Eighth-grader Alejandra Larez posted PHS’ lone singles win of the day, downing freshman Khloee Rodgers 6-4, 6-2 at No. 5. Larez then teamed up with eighth-grader Gail Gomez to down Rodgers and junior Sidney Aragon 8-4 at No. 3 doubles.

“(The girls) didn’t have our (Nos.) 3 and 4 players,” PHS tennis coach Ann-Marie Bucksath said. “If we’d had those two, it would have been close.

“Goddard’s tough, though; they’re still undefeated.”

PHS returns to action with district duals on Thursday at Lovington.

CHS tennis — The Wildcats and Lady Wildcats opened District 4-5A action on Friday at home against Carlsbad, dropping a 7-2 decision to the Cavemen and a 6-3 match against the Cavegirls.

For the boys, Cats junior Gerald Gonzales defeated senior Jeffrey Lara in straight sets 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 at No. 2 singles, and also teamed with junior David Case for a 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 win win over senior Derek Sullivan and Lara at No. 1 doubles.

For the Lady Cats, junior Ayia Al Saleh picked up a 6-2, 6-1 victory over junior Cadie Jo Campbell at No. 1 singles and teamed with senior Niliyaah Hall to beat Campbell and senior Kate Chester 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 at No. 1 doubles. The other win came from freshman Hansini Lingala at No. 5 singles, a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 verdict at No. 5 singles over junior Meadow Avalone.

Four boys and two girls matches needed a third set to be decided.

CHS returns to action on Thursday, hosting Hobbs in district play.

PHS softball — Portales High found the going tough in its District 4-4A-opening softball twin bill on Saturday at Artesia, falling 11-0 and 15-0 to the Lady Bulldogs.

Senior KyLee Crandall tossed a perfect game for Artesia (11-4) in the opener, striking out all 15 batters in a game ending after 4 1/2 innings on the 10-run rule. Lady Bulldogs eighth-grader Kayden Apodaca went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored, while another eighth-grader, Jenna Whitmore, added a homer and two RBIs.

In Game 2, Apodaca took to the circle and allowed two hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. The game was called in the bottom of the fourth due to a 15-run rule in effect after three.

Freshmen Myleigh Banda and Angel Ornelas accounted for the Lady Rams’ hits, each with a double. Meantime, junior Kadence Ray had a huge tilt at the dish for Artesia, going 4-for-4 with two home runs, six RBIs and four runs scored.

PHS (7-6 overall) was to return to action with a district twin bill at Lovington on Tuesday night. On Saturday, the Lady Rams are ticketed for a 1 p.m. single game at Roswell Goddard.