ALL-STARS SET FOR REGIONALS
Eastdale LL squad also part of a five-team field at UNM
Players from Zia, Mile High and East Mountian combined to form team that is one tourney away from reaching Junior League Baseball World Series.
The New Mexico Junior division baseball state champion takes its first step on what it hopes will be a road to the World Series today.
The team, which plays under the Zia Little League banner but is composed of players from three leagues, opens the Southwest Regionals against Colorado at Santa Ana Star Field at 8 a.m.
The double elimination tournament runs through Tuesday’s championship game. The winner of that game qualifies for the Junior League Baseball World Series in Taylor, Mich., Aug. 12-19.
The Zia All-Stars, coached by 40-year-old Sam Montoya, is a 14U team which also has players from East Mountain Little League and Mile High Little League.
“Usually it’s two teams joining together,” Montoya said. “But this year we were low on numbers so we took players from three leagues.”
However, it’s not the number of leagues represented on this team that makes it unique. According to Montoya, the team has solid pitching, defense and hitting and has also gelled very nicely.
“This team is so special because there’s no division,” Montoya said. “They come together, they support each other. Putting three leagues together and having the outcome that we’re having has really been phenomenal.”
Lorenzo Wright, a utility player who fills any position his coach asks, was singled out by Montoya as one of his many unselfish players.
“I just really like to be a team leader,” Wright said. “I like to take charge.”
Zia is not the only local team playing in the five-team field as Eastdale Little League is the tournament host and open today at noon against Texas West (Corpus Christi).
Montoya took over the Zia team, which he calls “very confident,” earlier this summer and it has cruised to this point.
“I’m not trying to brag but I’m telling you the truth: We pretty much 10-runned every team from district all the way through state,” Montoya said. “But I am concerned. The Texas teams are very strong, Eastdale is a very strong program. So, we hope that we can make them work and go out there and give everything we’ve got and get through it.”
Zia had a tough time getting through practice this week as rain washed them out. But Montoya said his team is ready to play.
“These boys are really talented young guys,” Montoya said. “They’re hungry to win and to give everything they’ve got.”
Playing at home is an obvious advantage for both Zia and Eastdale, and Montoya is hoping for a big turnout throughout the tournament.
“Luckily, we haven’t had to travel,” Montoya said. “We hope to have a lot of support from family and friends. I think that will be a big help.”
First baseman Reese Polk added: “I think it’s so much better than going out of town because you have people to back you up.”
Other regionals
Shorthorn Little League from
■ Carlsbad won the New Mexico Little League Baseball state tournament and lost to Oklahoma, 6-3, in the first round of the Southwest Regional Thursday in Waco, Texas.
The New Mexico Little League
■ Softball state champion for 2018 is Copper LL from Bayard. Copper went 0-2 in the Southwest Regional held July 25-29 in Waco, Texas.
Clovis American Little League
■ won the NM Junior League Softball state tournament on July 25. American went 3-2 in the Southwest Regional and was eliminated a game before reaching the championship.
La Plaza LL from Las Vegas won
■ the 2018 Senior League Softball state championship in early July. La Plaza went 2-2 in the Southwest Regional held in Vidalia, La., July 21-25.