By Harold Smith
Mountain View Telegraph
Amity Livingston was 3-for-3 with a triple, two RBI, two stolen bases, and she scored three runs and was the closing pitcher to lead Manzano High to a 13-11 District 5-5A softball victory over Eldorado on Saturday.
Lady Monarch Victoria Ramirez also played a key role. She was the winning pitcher in relief, giving up three of the Eagles' 14 hits, and she was 2-for-4 with the bat.
The win solidified Manzano's runner-up position in district and clinched a Class 5A state playoff berth. They concluded the regular season at 11-15, 9-3 after rallying in the latter half of the 5-5A schedule.
“Once we got past the bumps in the road (during the season), it went smooth and the ride was comfortable,” Monarchs coach Arthur Samora said.
Manzano will compete in the double-elimination state tournament in Farmington on May 15-17.
Andrea Quintero of Chilili was 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run for the Monarchs against Eldorado. Brenda Hearn, who lives in the Sedillo Hill area, is back at first base despite her continuing battle against a serious disease, a symptom of which is the tightening of her skin.
“Right now, I'm feeling pretty good,” said Hearn, a senior. “I'm going to see my doctor again. She's going to do more tests. But it's real exciting now for us. We're definitely going to state.”
Visiting West Mesa beat Manzano 10-5 in a nondistrict game on May 1.
Moriarty
If you happen to have failed to see the Moriarty High softball team's District 5-4A home doubleheader against St. Pius (13-13, 9-6) on Saturday, Lady Pintos coach Brett McWilliams has something to tell you.
“You missed the game of the year,” he said.
Moriarty senior Jennifer Inocencio came to the plate in the seventh inning with two outs and proceeded to get two strikes.
“Then she hit a walkoff home run over the second fence,” McWilliams said. “It was the farthest I've ever seen a girl hit a ball. She crushed the ball to win the game.”
Moriarty (17-8, 11-4) defeated the Sartans 8-5 in that second game. Moriarty beat Pius 10-2 in the first contest.
Belen (19-5, 13-2) won the district title, and the Pintos were second for an automatic state-tourney slot.
“I'm pleased with being runners-up,” McWilliams said. “We'd never finished second before. We did have our chances, but we couldn't close it out. Every game we lost in district was by one run.”
East Mountain
The Lady Timberwolves (17-3, 4-2 for second place in District 2/1A-2A), in their final regular-season matchups, defeated Gallup Catholic 10-5 and 11-5 in a nondistrict doubleheader in McKinley County on April 30. East Mountain's nondistrict twin bill at Cuba, scheduled for May 1, was canceled by the Lady Rams.
The T'Wolves will go to Farmington for the state Class 2A tournament on May 15-17.
“We're going up to state and we expect to win,” EMHS coach Denise Whipple said. “The only bad part, which kind of stinks, is our graduation is on the same day as the (state) championship game (on May 17), and I have seniors who won't be (in Farmington because of that) on that day.”
Estancia
The Lady Bears (6-13, 2-4) defeated Jemez Valley 16-5 in a District 2/1A-2A makeup game at EHS on April 30.
Class 3A Hope Christian beat Estancia 20-2 at the Bears' field on Tuesday Estancia's home game against Dexter, which was to be played May 1, was canceled because of smoke from the Trigo Fire and high winds.
Softball
Next Up:
n Moriarty hosts Eldorado, today, 4 p.m.
n Estancia at Sandia Prep, Friday, 3 and 5 p.m.
n East Mountain and Manzano in state tournament in Farmington, May 15-17
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