LADY TIGERS
of the game came in the top of the third inning when Sandoval threw a pitch that appeared to get far past catcher Jasmine Mondragon but was actually just slightly in back of her. The runner from third misread the play and ran to home but Mondragon quickly found the ball and only had to run a short distance to get the tag on the runner, who fell back trying to avoid the out.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Lady Tigers doubled their scoring output with another seven runs to make it 14-4. Sandoval didn’t need more run support in her second pitching start of the day but she added another run for insurance, when she was down two strikes in the count and then cleared the fences for a home run. When she reached third base she did a high skip before high-fiving softball coach Roman Abreu. Then, she did the patented team celebration, where the home run hitter pretends to be an airplane going through a tight corridor.
Sandoval closed it out for the Lady Tigers, who only had to maintain their double-digit lead to win it by mercy rule in the top of the fifth inning. In her final season as the Lady Tiger ace starting pitcher, she pitched at least 44 innings.
The ceremony to honor the seniors on the softball team was
full of emotion, with tears, laughter and familial embraces.
Coach Roman Abreu gave a few speeches to honor some of the seniors on the softball team.
Cisneros is going to UNM to study athletic training.
“This one will be coming back to help our ladies out here in the short future,” Abreau said. “She will be a part of this program, year in year out, because that’s just who she is. She may be down the road and a couple hours away, but she will be here for our program — boys, girls, track, badminton, it does not matter — she is a Taos Tiger through and through.”
Quintana is going to UNM to study nursing.
Before Abreu’s speech, one of Quintana’s teammates gave a heartfelt speech comparing Quintana
to the sun, with regards to her brilliance and warmth. Then Abreu took the stage.
“She’s a four sport athlete [basketball, volleyball, softball, and track and field]. Right now she just went and had a track meet yesterday,” he said. “She’s going to be qualifying for state in the triple jump next week. Well, she’s already going to state for high jump. This lady right here works hard and has always worked hard.”
“She is what it means to play for the love of the game. She is tried and true. She was always out here. She always shines her light on everyone. That’s one thing we say with Maddy is when she was young she saw happy stars. Always a bright star. She’s always happy.”
Gallegos will be going to UNM to study biology.
“She is a good person, another mom on the team to take care of everyone. And she’ll be sorely
missed,” Abreu said. “Because, again, just that good nature you can’t replicate.”