Cibola softball beats Hawks to wrap up 1-5A

Cibola wrapped up the District 1-5A softball title on Thursday with a 5-0 victory at Volcano Vista.

The Cougars (21-3, 6-0) won their ninth consecutive game and completed a sweep of the district schedule.

Nicole Shack pitched a fivehit shutout and drove in three runs for Cibola, but there were plenty of contributors for coach Gene Victor’s team. The Cougars played error-free softball, turned a pair of double plays and came up with just enough key hits to spoil senior day for the Hawks (17-7, 4-2).

“I really like the way this group is playing,” Victor said. “If the girls can stay focused for two more weeks, I think we have a good shot at (a state championship).”

Senior third baseman Jaclyn Pino, who went 3-for-4 on Thursday, agreed.

“At the beginning of the year we tended to get down after a mistake,” Pino said. “Now we’re playing with confidence. I think we can go a long way because this team is strong physically and mentally.”

Jade Gray and Victoria Castro each had two of Volcano Vista’s five hits. Pitcher Nicole Montoya kept the Cougars off the board through four innings but was relieved after allowing a walk and hitting a batter to start the fifth. Cibola went on to score three runs in the inning and later got a solo home run from Paige Richardson.

Cibola also thumped Cleveland 13-1 on Tuesday.

Shack was the winning pitcher and hit a home run for the Cougars, who had a pair of five-run innings.

Hannah Clark of Cibola went deep twice in the victory.

VOLCANO VISTA: It was a crazy week for Volcano Vista. The Hawks (17-7, 4-2 in 1-5A) trailed Rio Rancho 8-0 on Tuesday before rallying for a 13-12 victory.

Taylor Sargent, Castro, Ryli Johns and Chelsee Nuñez each drove in a pair of runs for the Hawks, sho scored five in the bottom of the sixth to win it.

Johns homered in the victory.

RIO RANCHO: The Rams (9-17, 1-5 in 1-5A) downed Cleveland 7-3 on Thursday, as Jessie Roane and Venessa Gallegos each hit home runs for the Rams who broke it open with a four-run fifth inning at Eagle Ridge Middle School.

The Rams got three hits, including a home run, and four RBIs from Roane in the tough loss to Volcano Vista on Tuesday. Also, Jordan Manno had three RBIs for the Rams.

CLEVELAND: Katie Ripple went deep for the Storm (14-11, 1-5 in 1-5A) in its Thursday loss to Rio Rancho.

Kacie Swihart hit a home run for Cleveland in its loss Tuesday to Cibola.

VALLEY: The Vikings (14-9, 8-2 in 5-5A) finished second in their district after dominating Highland in a 15-0 win on Thursday. Valley ends the regular season today against Hope Christian.

Valley finished second to Albuquerque High in district. AHS was 9-1 in league play.

The Vikings on Tuesday blasted Rio Grande 22-5; no further information was available on that game.

WEST MESA: Any chance the Mustangs had of winning District 5-5A evaporated on Tuesday in a 5-4 loss to Albuquerque High.

Not that West Mesa didn’t make it interesting, as it nearly overcame a 5-0 deficit.

The Mustangs (14-10, 6-4 in 5-5A) closed out the regular season on Thursday, losing 13-2 to Atrisco Heritage.

ST. PIUS: The Sartans (16-8, 7-0 in 5-4A) have clinched their district title as they prepare to play host to Albuquerque Academy in a doubleheader at 10 a.m. today to close the regular season.

St. Pius won 14-3 in five innings on Tuesday at Moriarty. Gaby Mora homered and drove in four runs to lead the Sartans.

St. Pius also swept two games from second-place Del Norte last Saturday, 10-9 and 5-4. The Sartans nearly blew a 10-2 lead in the opener, and the Knights were also threatening to win the second game in their final at-bat.

BERNALILLO: The Spartans could be Class 4A’s No. 1 seed when the playoff field is revealed on Sunday.

Bernalillo (18-1-1) swept two games from Capital last Saturday, 16-1 and 15-0, and then downed Santa Fe 5-2 on Wednesday with a three-run ninth inning.

The Spartans are home for two games against Española Valley at 3 p.m. today to finish the regular season.

If Bernalillo does no worse than a split this afternoon, it clinches the District 2-4A title.

Los Alamos is already in with a 10-2 mark in district; the Spartans are 9-1.

Golf

Rio Rancho, Cleveland and St. Pius were at the Rams’ tournament earlier this week.

Rio Rancho’s girls and Cleveland’s boys were the team champions, with Albuquerque Academy’s Ben Albin and the Storm’s Dominique Galloway the individual winners.

Galloway had a two-stroke victory over the Rams’ Sierra Campbell. Derek Vigil of St. Pius finished three shots behind Albin.

The District 1-5A tournament is Monday at the UNM Championship Course.

Valley’s boys won the District 5-5A tournament earlier this week at Los Altos Golf Course. The Vikings were led by Josh Luna, who shot a 78. He was second individually.

St. Pius will be at the District 5-4A tournament on Monday at Los Altos.

Bosque School’s district tournament (District 1-1A/3A) is Tuesday at Four Hills Country Club.

Tennis

The District 1-5A team championships began Friday and conclude today at the Sierra Vista complex on the West Side.

Earlier this week, Rio Rancho’s girls edged Cleveland 5-4. The Rams won four out of six singles matches, including Nos. 4-6. District singles competition has been ongoing this week.

District 5-5A has been staging district matches all week, and that ends today at Rio Grande. On Wednesday, Highland’s boys defeated Valley 5-4.

The Bosque School girls edged Sandia Prep 5-4 to clinch a district title on Wednesday.