Sophs lead Cleveland over Cibola

Brumfield, Jennings help stymie Cougars

Two sophomores helped the Cleveland Storm to a District 1-6A-opening baseball victory on Wednesday afternoon.

Jeffery Brumfield pitched five innings of two-hit ball for the Storm, and another sophomore, Roy Jennings, had a big day at the plate as Cleveland downed visiting Cibola 6-0 in a game delayed by rain from Tuesday.

Brumfield (3-0) walked three and struck out three in the victory. He surrendered a single to Cibola in the first inning and another in the third.

Ethan Collins threw the final two for the Storm (9-5 overall).

Cibola only truly threatened to score once, in the top of the first with runners on second and third before the Storm got out of trouble.

Cleveland scored twice in the first and another run in the second.

Jennings belted a two-run home run to right-center in the third to make it a 5-0 lead for the Storm.

And he also drove in another run with a double in the fifth for the game’s final run. Jack Murano also had a pair of hits, including a double and RBI, for Cleveland, which had only five hits.

The other 1-6A opener is slated for this afternoon, with Rio Rancho visiting Volcano Vista.

Also Tuesday, West Mesa downed visiting Manzano 4-3 in a nondistrict matchup.

All the runs in the game were scored in the first two innings. Manzano had three in the top of the first, West Mesa scored twice in the first and twice more in the second. The goahead run was plated by Dominic Perales, on a one-out RBI single to center to make it 4-3.

Meanwhile, District 4-6A opens league play this afternoon, with Atrisco Heritage at Valley and Highland at West Mesa, both at 4 p.m. Albuquerque High, the defending 4-6A champ, is at Rio Grande at 6 p.m.

Coaching news

Los Lunas district athletic director Wilson Holland on Wednesday announced that several head coaches have resigned — including Amy Bell, who last November led Los Lunas High to the Class 5A state volleyball championship with a five-set victory over St. Pius. The Tigers also won state under Bell in 2015.

Also resigning were Valencia boys basketball coach Jake Herrin and Los Lunas girls soccer coach James Torres.

JIM THOMPSON/JOURNAL West Mesa’s second baseman Beto Ramirez, left, gets ready to make the tag on Manzano’s AJ Urquieta as tries to steal in their game on Wednesday.

Manzano’s Aaron Clark rounds third and heads home for a score on an error in a game against West Mesa. The Mustangs won 4-3.