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Thursday, July 03, 2008

Prep Season Promises Excitement

By Harold Smith
Mountain View Telegraph
      Summer will be over before you know it.
    East Mountain High's new girls soccer coach, Mike Kleist,, and the Lady Timberwolves, by their mere presence on their home pitch at Vista Grande Community Center on Monday, reminded me that the fall 2008 prep season begins next month.
    I was just passing by their voluntary workout, as the girls did an in-formation run around the field, on my way to the Little League District 5 all-stars softball tournament. EMHS senior-to-be Savanna Hands took a position at the rear of the team's boot camp-like jog, sans the boots, the camouflage and the crusty chants. She was probably dreaming about shooting her patented 3-point bombs once the hoops season arrives.
    East Mountain's official fútbol practices begin Aug. 11 with two-a-days from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and 5 to 6:30 p.m., Kleist said.
    I'm already looking forward to the upcoming season for all the sports for all five of the local high schools. Some of the district alignments have been finagled — some for the two-year period of 2008-09 and 2009-10, which could make things interesting.
    For instance, I hereby predict that the Moriarty High football team will be the District 5-4A champion. Of course, Del Norte might have something to say about that, but St. Pius, Belen and Grants have moved to new District 6-4A with new schools Atrisco Heritage and Volcano Vista joining the fray, according to the New Mexico Activities Association Web site.
    I did publicly envision the Pintos doing well the summer prior to the 2006 season when they won the district title. And the new district alignment in 2008 could help.
    Moriarty's 5-4A foes, for a 3-school district, will include only the Knights and Valencia High School in Los Lunas, the latter in its first year of varsity play. Albuquerque Academy will also remain in 5-4A, but the Chargers drop down to Class 3A in football.
    Doesn't that sound like the Pintos might just be chomping at the bit as they voluntarily lift weights this summer in preparation?
    Estancia and East Mountain, a developing rivalry if there ever was one, will be in a newly combined Class 1A-2A in baseball. They will be in District 6/1A-2A along with Santa Rosa and Magdalena.
    The EMHS boys' and girls' slot in soccer's District 4/1A-3A with perennial private-school powers Sandia Prep, Hope Christian and Bosque School and potential cellar-dweller Menaul will continue to be a tough task for the T-Wolves.
    I don't even have to call EMHS athletic director David Naylor to ask him what he thinks. He doesn't think it's fair at all.
    Manzano remains, for most sports, in District 5-5A with the same schools. Mountainair doesn't have many changes either.
    Harold Smith can be reached by phone at 823-7104 or by e-mail at hsmith@mvtelegraph.com.>   

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