Lady Cats fifth after first round in NMMI meet

ROSWELL – Clovis High’s girls found themselves in the middle of the pack while the boys struggled in Monday’s first-round of the two-day RISD Invitational golf tournament.

The boys played at Spring River Golf Course and the girls at the New Mexico Military golf course on Monday, and they were to switch for Tuesday’s final round.

The Lady Wildcats shot a team score of 357 and were fifth in the nine-team field on the par 72 NMMI course, with Jolei Adkins (41-44 – 85) and Kiaya Gallegos (43-42 – 85) leading the way.

Texico was seventh at 404 and Portales eighth at 441. Liz Elam led the Lady Wolverines at 43-38 – 81, while Paige Yazzie shot 52-50 – 102 for the Lady Rams.

Deming posted a team score of 329 and held a six-stroke lead over Belen at par 71 Spring River. Roswell Goddard was third at 338.

On the boys side, Clovis Christian with sixth in the 10-team field at 354 while the CHS boys were 10th at 396. Lovington had the team lead at 323, followed by NMMI at 330.

Noah McKay led a balanced attack for CCS at 41-44 – 85, followed by Austin Lingnau at 45-42 – 87 and O.B. Blanco at 45-44 – 89. Clovis High’s top two players on Monday were Gavin Anderson (44-45 – 89) and Jett Stone (47-45 – 92).

Cats, Lady Cats fall in tennis at Carlsbad – Clovis High’s tennis squads managed only one win on Thursday in District 4-5A-opening duels at Carlsbad, although the Wildcats and Lady Wildcats were more competitive that the scores show.

Carlsbad took the boys contest 8-1 and the girls matchup 9-0. The only win all day for Clovis came in No. 1 boys doubles, where seniors David Case and Gerald Gonzales rallied for a 3-6, 6-0, 7-6 (9-7) win over Cavemen seniors David Bluth and Eli Glissen.

Case and Gonzales, though, were among three Cats entries to take matches to three sets before losing. Case lost to senior Ethan Siazon 7-2 in a third-set tie-breaker at No. 1 singles while Gonzales dropped a 6-4, 2-6, 6-0 verdict to Bluth at No. 2 singles.

Also, juniors Topher Oaks and Drex Carter dropped a 0-6, 6-3, 6-1 decision to sophomore Evan Antiporda and senior Ryan St. John at No. 3 doubles.

For the girls, junior Kaelynn Rodriguez and senior Odalys Olivas at No. 2 doubles and freshmen Emily Bjorklund and Gigi Greer at No. 3 doubles went three sets. Meantime, senior Niliyaah Hall and sophomore Hansini Lingala lost to seniors Amelia Ananins and Katharine Waters in straight sets after the first set was decided in a 13-11 tiebreaker.

Clovis returns to action on Friday with district duals at Hobbs.

Lady Cats fall twice – Carlsbad, ranked No. 2 in Class 5A, showed why on Monday night as the Cavegirls opened District 4-5A play with a 15-0, 21-1 sweep of the Lady Cats at Carlsbad.

Carlsbad (12-2 overall) scored eight runs in the fourth to end the first game on a 15-run rule, which goes into effect after three innings. The Cavegirls then jumped ahead 18-0 in the first inning of Game 2 and won that one in 2 ½ frames.

Senior Faith Aragon pitched a four-inning perfect game in the opener, striking out all 12 batters she faced. Sophomore Hanna Sanders went 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, three runs scored and three RBIs while senior Hanna Martinez doubled, homered and drove in four and sophomore Kailon Fuentes added a solo homer.

In Game 2, the Lady Cats got their only run and only two hits in the third inning. For Carlsbad, Aragon went 2-for-2 with a home run, three runs scored and three RBIs.

Clovis (2-12) returns to action today with a 4:30 p.m. makeup doubleheader against Portales at Lady Wildcat Field.