Baseball Journal August: World Series Reunion

 

8-16-26

Today’s noon Chihuahuas’ game against the Bees had an additional audience as the Free Game on MiLB.TV (darn it, I couldn’t see it) and as substitute programming for the Padres, while their game was in a rain delay.    I started listening to the game at home and finished it at dad’s apartment.    It was a busy first inning.    In the top, there was an obstruction call on a caught stealing.    El Paso manager, Pete Zamora, was ejected for continuing the argument about the call from the dugout.    The Bees would score 2 in the inning.

In the bottom, Ethan Salas hit a 2-run double.    Since coming to Triple-A, he’s been on a 14-game on-base streak.    Nick Pratto then slammed a 407’ 2-run homer out onto the street for a 5-2 Chihuahuas lead.    The Bees came back in the second with a home run over Big Dog House onto the street.    No distance was listed.    The ball seemed to be jumping today, 5-3.

In the fifth, Salas clubbed a 2-run homer to put the pups up, 7-4.    However, the top of the sixth was a disaster for them.    Pablo Reyes, a former Chihuahua, tied it with a loaded bases-clearing double.    Jeimer Candelario’s 3-run homer gave the Bees the lead, 10-7.    It was a 6-run inning and the Bees would ride that to a 13-7 win.    The Chihuahuas’ pitching just can’t hold a lead.

I walked down to my dad’s apartment to watch the Cardinals versus the Cubs.    Dad and I like both teams.    I thought I’d work on writing up the Aggie Volleyball Scrimmage while I was there, I just wish I’d brought my notes with me.    I had to walk back in the heat for them.    I noticed a big, black cloud overhead, but the sun was still out.

It was a full house at Wrigley for the game.    I was helping dad with his laundry and missed some of the beginning.    St. Louis was up 3-0 by the third.    Dansby Swanson got hurt taking his at bat and had to come out with a replacement finishing his at bat.    While this was going on, the Thunderbirds flew overhead.    There was an airshow going on in Chicago today.   

Everyone was still buzzing about Joshua Baez’s 3-homer performance yesterday.    Even the Chicago crowd had given the Cardinal player a standing ovation after his achievement.    (He went 0 for 5 today, but history is unchanged.)    The fourth inning was a big one for the Cards.    They got six runs, including a 2-run homer by Jordan Walker.    They’d had him mic’d up last inning in the field.    He’s pretty funny.    9-2 Cardinals.    Later, the Wrigley organist was playing O’ Fortuna.    It was a stretch, as you might imagine.      

Somehow, I finished the laundry and writing up the Scrimmage, while watching TV and listening to the radio.    When the Chihuahuas’ game over, I switched the radio over to the Rangers versus the A’s.    They were in the bottom of the seventh and I was just in time to hear a 2-run A’s homer off of Jakob Junis for a 4-2 A’s lead.              

       

In the ninth in Chicago, it was 11-3 Cards and the Cubs had a position player pitching.    The ump missed a strike call and player almost challenged it.    He got out of it only facing four batters with no runs driven in.    The Cubs managed a solo homer in the bottom with the Cardinals winning, 11-4.

I could tell it was clouding up and threatening outside.    It just started sprinkling as I left dad’s apartment.    I made a forced march home hoping I wouldn’t get soaked.    Luckily, it didn’t start raining until after I’d gotten home.    It was the best workout of the day.       

I turned on the radio and the TV, in spite of the incoming storm.    In addition to the end of the Rangers’ game, I knew that the Brewers were playing the Dodgers on a Mexican channel.    I tuned in for the bottom of the eighth, with the Brewers up 4-1.    However, the Dodgers had two on with one out and Shohei Ohtani up.    He grounded into a double play to end the inning.   

The Rangers ended up losing, 5-2.    It was bad road trip against bad teams and they’re now behind the Orioles in wild card race.    In the top of the ninth, the Brewers loaded the bases with one out.    An error on a grounder brought in two runs.    The Brewers’ would win, 6-2.   

The Mariners at the Astros was the NBC evening game.    Randy Arozarena homered in the first and the Mariners would take a 2-0 lead.    In the fourth, the M’s left the bases loaded.    To start the bottom, Jeremy Pena homered to make it 2-1.    In the sixth, Cal Raleigh dumped one into the Crawford Boxes, barely, to make it, 3-1 M’s.    An Astros’ homer to start the bottom of the inning made it, 3-2.    Mariners’ starter, Bryan Woo, made it out of the inning without further damage.

In the seventh, the Mariners loaded the bases again.    Raleigh popped out to end it.    In the eighth, the Astros load the bases with two outs, but a strikeout left them there.    The M’s closer, Andres Munoz, who had blown a save on Friday, held it in the ninth for a 3-2 win.    That was a cool, close game.        

8-18-26

I tuned in late to the MiLB Free Game between the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils at the Portland Sea Dogs, but it was pretty interesting.    Roman Anthony from the Red Sox was on rehab with Portland and there was a full stadium there to see him.    An enthusiastic woman was doing the commentary solo.    She was reasonably pleasant sounding, unlike most women sportscasters.    I liked her.   

The stadium in Portland, Maine was a one-level grandstand with just a wall in the outfield, but there was a lot of love in the stands.    This may have been the “charming dump” I was looking for in Minor League Baseball.    This facility is featured in MiLB promos.    The Phils again wearing their powder blue jerseys with “Baseball Town” in red.    Sharp.

In the bottom of the seventh, Roman was given a walk and the crowd booed.    He came out for a pinch runner.    The crowd still got their money’s worth.    Roman finished the night with 2 hits, including a 2-run homer, along with 2 walks.    He didn’t make an out.    In the top of the ninth, the Phils were batting, down 7-3.    Our perky announcer said about the first batter, “Full count; nobody out.”    He walked and the bases were loaded with two outs.    The Phils were down to their last strike, but singled in 2 runs.    With 2 on in scoring position, the Sea Dogs finished it, 7-5.      

The Chihuahuas were playing the Round Rock Express to begin the second week of their home stand.    I just wasn’t quite into it tonight, as the Express went up early.  The Chihuahuas dropped the game, 5-3.    Ethan Salas’ on base streak ended.    Broadcaster Tim Hagerty sounded a bit depressed at the end.    Who could blame him?

8-19-26

The Chihuahuas faced the Round Rock Express in a weekday day game today.    It was 92-degrees at first pitch.    That did not deter 4,600 fans from showing up.    The pups started off hot, as well.    Bryce Johnson hit a first pitch home run 402’ to begin the bottom of the first.    The next pitch was another homer.    That one was by Samad Taylor.    There was also a double off the wall by Marcos Castañon that was tracked at 109mph.    2-0 Chihuahuas.

Broadcaster Tim Hagerty reported receiving a message that a couple of kids with their grandparents were listening to the game.   There were a couple of early pitch challenges.    I think it was about 50/50 on success.    There’d been more of them later.    If the ump’s calls are successfully challenged early, expect more challenges.    There was a discussion about which Carolina the Greenville Spartanburgers play in (South).     I don’t remember how that started.

A 2-run Express homer near the pole tied it in the third.    The Express scored again to take a 3-2 lead, but Carlos Rodriguez did threw out a runner at the plate.    A 3-run 400’+ homer by Logan O’Hoppe in the fifth made it 6-2 Express.    They added to it in the sixth, 9-2.

In the seventh, World Series winning Ranger pitcher, Josh Sborz came in for the Express.    He was on the mound when they won it in 2023.    He’s trying to work his way back from injury and back to the Major Leagues.    He had a scoreless inning.    In the eighth, the other half of the WS Ranger relief tandem came in for the Chihuahuas, Jose Leclerc.    He was just signed by pups yesterday.    What an odd coincidence.    Unfortunately, Leclerc allowed 3 runs, including another RBI by O’Hoppe.    A double play finally ended it, 12-2 Express.

In the top of the ninth, there was a sac fly by Cam Cauley.    That was his sixth RBI of the day.    The final would be 14-2 Express.    This was the Chihuahuas’ fifth loss in a row.    At least the game was quick at two-and-a-half hours, so I could hear the whole thing before going to work.   

There was a brief mention of an MLB game yesterday between the Brewers and the Mariners.    The Brew Crew had a shutout and also took generous batting practice with a 22-0 win.    They had two 5-run innings and a 9-run eighth off a position player.    Three Brewers had 4-RBI performances.    You don’t want to judge a team’s future based on one game, but no one’s going to be surprised if this isn’t the end of the M’s run for the playoffs.    (Or, motivates them to finally start winning, like the experts have been waiting for.)

There was no MiLB Free Game, so I listened to the Las Vegas Aviators playing the Isotopes in Albuquerque with our Aggie announcer, Russ Langer.    He was working solo on the road.    It was windy to start and then began lightly raining.    The crowd scattered for cover.       

There were some connection issues that kept dropping the broadcast, so I wasn’t following the game that closely.    It sounded like Russ had jumped out of his seat calling an Aviators’ home run late.    He was darn enthusiastic doing the play call.    In the eighth, Russ was excited that pitcher, Joe Rock, was facing a batter named Roc Riggio.    He declared it was “A Flintstones delight.”    In the at bat, it was a flyout.    The fielder fell down on the slick field, but still managed to make the catch.

In the top of the ninth, a runner seemed to forget the number of outs with a strikeout and got hung up off base for a double play.    LV was up by 4 in the bottom of the ninth.    The Isotopes got 3 singles to start the inning with no outs.    A DP drove in 1 run, but a flyball ended it, 12-8 LV.    In spite of the wind and rain, 7,000 came out for the game tonight in Albuquerque.

8-20-26

The MiLB Free Game was the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps versus the South Bend Cubs.    It was a happy crowd in the park and was Pro Wrestling Night.    There might have been a championship belt giveaway.    I noticed several in the crowd, unless fans brought their own for the evening.   

South Bend has a downtown ballpark with buildings in the background.    There was even a train visible in the background.    It’s a two-level stadium with a row of suites on the second level.    There was a large rolling hill in right field that kids were running around on.    Their TV broadcast was a nice production, especially for A-Ball.    Unlike most minor league teams, the Cubs have player names on back of their jerseys.

In the top of the first inning, the Cubs pitcher put two on to start, but came back with 3 strikeouts.    Good stuff.    In the top of the fourth, a Whitecaps runner was thrown out at the plate to keep it scoreless.    In the top of the sixth with two on, the Cubs’ pitcher uncorked a really wild pitch for a two-base error that scored the first run for WMI, 1-0.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Cubs tied it and took the lead, 2-1.    Elsewhere, the Cubs’ bear mascot (not Clark, I didn’t get his name) was wrestling with a luchadore.    The team actually has two bear mascots, which seems like overkill, but can you really have too many cuddly bears?   

It was still 2-1 Cubs in the top of the ninth, but with the bases loaded with Whitecaps and no outs.    A wild pitch brought in the tying run and another brought in the go-ahead run.    It looked like all 3 WMI runs off were going to come off of wild pitches, but then they got a run off a balk, and another off a single.    The pitcher couldn’t control his curveball.    A new pitcher finally ended the inning, but it was 5-2 Whitecaps and that was the final score.

Broadcaster Tim Hagerty reported there was light rain at the beginning of tonight’s Chihuahuas and Round Rock game.    It looked like more than a light rain to the south, but we didn’t get any in Las Cruces.    Tim was discussing the Spartanburgers team again with co-host, Ian Napetian.    Tim is fascinated with the team.    I’m fascinated with their concessions.    They’d better have a great burger there in Greenville if they’re naming the team after them.   

I wasn’t entirely paying attention to the game until late.    In the seventh, 3-2 Express, catcher Ethan Salas threw out a runner at second, but then airmailed another throw to second for an error.    He did get the inning-ending strikeout with a challenge.    I think there were 3 challenges in the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Clay Dungan hit a big 2-run homer that got a huge cheer from the crowd, which put the Chihuahuas up, 4-3.    Dustin Harris followed that with another 2-run homer off a new pitcher to make it, 6-3.    In the top of the ninth, the Express scored twice before the Chihuahuas got the first out.    Pitcher David Morgan then got a strikeout.    Manager Pete Zamora came out to get him, but Morgan said something to him while covering his mouth with his mitt before Zamora got there.    The manager turned around and left him in.    Morgan got a groundout to end it and end the Chihuahuas’ 5-game losing streak with a 6-5 win.

Baseball Journal August: Four Outs

 

8-11-26

There were 4 outs in Blue Jays/Red Sox game yesterday?    Nearly.    There were two Red Sox players on and one out.    With a flyball to the outfield, they both took off without tagging up.    The scoreboard was showing two outs incorrectly and the runners believed it.    The runner at first was doubled off for the third out, but the runner at third had crossed the plate before that.    Apparently, you have to make an appeal play to third to have that run not count and to then produce a “fourth out.”    The Jays had run off the field at that point and could no longer appeal.

What followed was a lengthy delay with the umpire addressing the crowd.    This is from the MLB story.

        

“What we have here is we have a time play,” crew chief Chris Guccione announced to the crowd, “meaning when the third out was made at first base with the runner not tagging up, the runner that was on third base also did not tag but crossed home plate before the third out was made at first base. So we're going to New York to do a rules check."

After checking in with the replay review crew in New York, the umpiring crew huddled once more with each manager and Guccione again addressed the crowd and television audience.    "After calling New York and getting it all straightened out, the run is going to score,” Guccione announced. “End of the inning. Two runs for Toronto, one run for Boston."

This is where the distinction of a “time play” is important, not a “force play.” This is based in Rule 5.09(c)(4), stating that when an appeal play takes place on an inning-ending play, “the appeal play decision takes precedence in determining the out.”

My 1997 rulebook has this situation as Rule 7.10(d).    Anyway, the fourth out didn’t happen, but might have.    This rule hasn’t ever actually been put into practice.   

Tonight’s MiLB Free Game was an MLB Network production of a minor league “Field of Dreams” game between the St. Paul Saints and the Iowa Cubs.    They’re doing a couple of games at the stadium in the cornfield before the MLB game there in a couple of days.   

It was a full house of fans.    There was the old timey hand-operated scoreboard with kids in period costumes hanging the numbers.    The players were happy to be there.    They had a pitch clock for this game, but there was no ABS for challenges.    Unfortunately, I basically missed the game with work and distractions away from my desk.    There was a first pitch home run for the Saints that I missed right off the bat.    I also missed the 3 home runs in the fifth by the ICubs, which contributed to their 6-3 win.   

Part of the distraction was the local weather.    A thunderstorm from one direction met a huge dust storm from another.    It produced a mud rain that got my car the dirtiest it has ever been, along with every other car in town.    In El Paso, they got the dust storm, but not the rain, so tonight’s Chihuahuas/Salt Lake City Bees game was not halted.       

I didn’t really start listening to the game until late.    In the bottom of the eighth, Ethan Salas made a successful sac fly to make it, 3-2 Chihuahuas, but the pups left 3 on base.    In the top of the ninth, the Bees loaded the bases with one out.    A sac fly tied it and then a run got walked in to give the Bees the lead.   

Dustin Harris doubled to start the bottom of the ninth, but got thrown out by a risky fielder’s throw to third for a tagged out.    On from the fielder’s choice, Bryce Johnson stole second and was nearly tagged out.    Finally, Salas made a hard hit, but it was caught to end the game, 4-3 Bees.

8-12-26

We had day baseball between the Chihuahuas and the Bees from El Paso today.    It was hot out, so I was okay with being home listening to the game.    In the second, an RBI double by Rodolfo Duran drove in Ethan Salas.    The fielder might have been distracted by Duran’s shattered bat.    On a double steal, Duran took home to make it, 2-0 Chihuahuas.    In the top of the third, two errors, a hit, and a balk tied the game.    

In the sixth, the Bees got two on with no outs, but instead of bunting, they grounded into a double play to help the pups out.    In the bottom of the seventh, Mason McCoy homered.    The ball went over the line on the outfield wall and then bounced into the fielder’s glove.  Broadcaster Tim Hagerty wasn’t entirely convinced, but there was only a mild protest from the Bees.    3-2 Chihuahuas.    Two choppers over third base brought in two more Chihuahua runs in the eighth thanks to some good fundamental baseball.   

In the top of the ninth, the Chihuahuas made another error, which wasn’t so fundamental.    A single put two on with one out.  A comebacker to the pitcher with a good play at second, who then made the turn for a game-ending double play.     5-2 Chihuahuas, overcoming 3 errors in the game.    It was sunny out, but static on the radio late made me think there was a storm in the area.     The game was a quick 2 hours, 26 minutes with 4.5k in attendance.  

The MiLB Free Game was the Winston-Salem Dash at the Greensboro Grasshoppers.    It was another opportunity to see this years’ 1/1 draft pick, Roch Cholowsky, with the Dash again.    There was a giant apartment complex beyond right field there in Greensboro.    I was surprised there weren’t people out on their balconies to watch the game.    Kids were lining the left field wall in front of a hill looking for home run balls and tosses from the fielders.    I didn’t really get to see much of the game.    In the second, the Dash hit a 3-run homer and hit 2 foul outs to the first baseman.    They went on to win, 7-2.

8-13-26

Two good games were on tonight, but a long phone call and work got in the way of me listening to them.    Priorities!    (Actually, the phone call was important.)    The MiLB Free Game was the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts at the Montgomery Biscuits.    The Biscuits’ stadium was kind of a generic-looking stadium.    It has nice stands, but nothing in the outfield.    They did have a little train running around the concourse, which is cool.    I’m still waiting to see a truly crappy park filled with character.       

It was “Pink-out” night.    The Biscuits were wearing pink tie dyed/camo tops (take your pick).    They were also a giveaway to the crowd.    I got a chuckle out of the announcer calling a player “eye-barra,” which is an interesting pronunciation of “Ibarra.”    The Lookouts had an 8-0 lead in the fourth, but lost to the Biscuits, 13-9, thrilling the home crowd.    I missed a good one.

Meanwhile in El Paso, the Chihuahuas played the Bees.    Ethan Salas drove in 2 in the first with a single to give the pups the lead.    There was another balk call in the inning.    Broadcaster Tim Hagerty was wondering why this keeps happening at Southwest University Park.    In the third, the Chihuahuas added 3 more to make it 5-0, but they lost Marcos Castañon, who argued an out call on base and threw his helmet, an automatic ejection.    Immediately following that, the team lost their bench coach, their manager, and their hitting coach for arguing.    Tim and Ian Napetian spent part of the next inning sorting out who’d gotten tossed.   

The Chihuahuas were up 7-0 early, but the Bees tied it later at 8 in the seventh.    Nick Pratto had the big blow in the bottom with a bases-clearing double after 3 singles.    Also in the seventh, a fan made an effort for a foul ball, nearly lost it, but held on.    The crowd let out a big cheer for him.    Tim reported that the team had let Miguel Cienfuegos let go (he’d pitched so well at the game I’d went to 8-1-26), but the bullpen held the lead for an 11-8 Chihuahuas win.    This was another bad time to miss a game.

The big news in the MLB tonight was the Field of Dreams game between the Phillies and the Twins.    Unfortunately, it was on Netflix and there was no radio call.    The Phillies clobbered the Twins, 7-1, with 2 homers by Kyle Schwarber.   

8-14-26

Tonight’s MiLB Free Game was the Double-A Chesapeake Baysox at the Reading Fightin Phils.    The Phils were wearing sharp “Baseball Town” powder blue jerseys.    It was a full house there, thus reinforcing the shirt message.    There was a shaded ground-level box seat section on first base line.    The stadium had seats right behind outfield wall with picnic tables behind them.    There was another picnic area down the third base line.    In the fourth, a Baysox player homered into the balcony over the bullpen.    It was an interesting park.    Baysox win it, 5-2.

In El Paso, it was the Chihuahuas against the Bees.    It was another Joe Musgrove rehab start.    He got 2 strikeouts in the first.    In the second inning, Musgrove gave up 2 singles and a home run for a 3-0 Bees lead.    The next batter hit a double, but was thrown out trying to make it to third.    It was 5-0 Bees in the fourth.    A runner thrown out at home in the inning and Musgrove was called for a balk.    What’s up with all the balk calls?    He came out in the fifth.

The Chihuahuas’ offense wasn’t exactly sterling tonight either.    In the seventh, Nick Solak broke up the no-hitter in progress.    I’m not sure if broadcaster Tim Hagerty was even mentioning it.    The official scorer was happy it was a clean single not requiring a judgment call.    The Chihuahuas then loaded the bases, but got no runs out of it.   

In the top of the eighth, the Chihuahuas threw out another runner at home, but the Bees scored to make it 8-0 in the inning.    The pups finally scored in the bottom on a single by Dustin Harris.    Rodolfo Duran hesitated around third, but made it.    The Chihuahuas scored a run in the ninth to make it 8-2, which would be the final score.    The large crowd there still cheered like crazy for that last run.

8-15-26

I was watching a Dallas Cowboys’ preseason game on a Mexican station this evening.    I was looking for former Aggie offensive lineman, Shiyazh Pete, whom I’d chatted with at some Aggie Sporting events (10-25-24 was one of them).  I saw him on the sidelines during the game and he played in the fourth quarter.    Even on a field full of big NFL players, Shiyazh is still easy to spot at 6’9”’ and huge.   

I think they were talking about him on the radio broadcast, which I was also listening to, but my Aunt Judy called while this was happening and I had to turn it off.    I got to tell her about meeting him.    Shiyazh is playing right tackle.    I think he helped get a couple of first downs in short yardage situations to end the game with a Cowboy victory over the Seahawks.    Honestly, it was a bit of thrill watching a college player I’d met play for my favorite NFL team (irony aside of a Navajo playing for the Cowboys).         

Meanwhile, the Chihuahuas were playing the Bees.    It was cloudy with heavy rain warnings on the radio, but nothing materialized over the park.    The pups scored one in the first off a Nick Solak sac fly.    Broadcaster Tim Hagerty’s lineup card didn’t match the batting order.    He wondered if Solak batted out of order, but there was no protest from the Bees, so maybe there was a late change to the lineup.   

Dad called to mention the big news in the MLB.    Cardinals’ rookie, Joshua Baez, hit three home runs in his first three at bats in his debut.    This was the first time this had ever happened in MLB history.    (I saw Trevor Story hit two in his debut with the Rockies on Opening Day 2016.)    The Cardinals were playing the Cubs and won, 8-4.

Marcos Castañon homered in the second to put the Chihuahuas up, 3-0.    By the sixth, my radio reception was bad after the station had powered down after sundown.    It was 6-3 Chihuahuas.    There was something about a Bees’ home run going into the lawn seating.    The player wanted it and other players were negotiating for it.    It got tossed back on to the field.    Like I said, I couldn’t hear this drama play out well.       

In the ninth, it was 7-4 Chihuahuas, but the bases were loaded with Bees with one out.    Two runs scored on a single.    The bases were reloaded and the tying run was walked in.    A new pitcher got a strikeout, but then walked in the go-ahead run.    The Chihuahuas would lose, 8-7.

Somewhat dejected, I turned over the end of the Rangers versus the A’s.    I was greeted with a new voice along with Eric Nadel.    I never caught his name, but he was doing a good job.    It was 4-3 Rangers in the seventh after a 2-run homer by Wyatt Langford.

Jakob Junis, off of injury, worked a 1-2-3 eighth.    Catcher Austin Wynns threw out a runner in the bottom of the eighth and Jacob Latz got out of the inning scoreless.    Jarred Kelenic drove in an insurance run in the top of the ninth.    (I didn’t know he was on the Rangers.)    Latz finished it in the bottom, 5-3 Rangers, and that ended their four-game losing streak.

Aggie Volleyball Crimson and White Scrimmage 8-15-26

 

                  Great picture of Maggie Lightheart and Tess Fuqua.    Classy.   

Last year (8-16-25), I’d had some trepidation about Aggie Volleyball at the Crimson and White Scrimmage.    After everything that happened after that, I’m currently downright discouraged.    In fact, going to this free game was the only event I had on my docket.    The Aggie games after this, I am not committed to.    I’ve already missed two Aggie Soccer games.    (They only have one souvenir giveaway listed for the season.)    The only thing that might get me to change my mind is the girl I met this year, Zanaya.    We’ll try to take her to a couple of games and see if she enjoys it.    Regrettably, she’s at work today for this game.

The Las Cruces Bulletin newspaper had a special section on Aggie Sports a couple of weeks ago.    There was a profile on Marlee Cavitt.    She’s not only the speediest player on the soccer team, she’s also on the track team.    Very impressive.    (She also takes a knee during the Anthem.)    The article on the new Aggie Women’s Basketball Coach focused on how well read he is and political people who inspire him.    AD Fields at least added that the university was going getting a bunch of money in for facility improvements, such as a new press box at the football stadium.    There was a profile on Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer, Anita Maxwell (Skipper).    She was the first NCAA basketball player (man or woman) with 2,500 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 300 steals. 

Before I’d even gone to an Aggie game this season, I got some bad news.    Broadcaster Adam Young had left to call Georgia Southern Football.    I’d just listened to a new interview he’d done with the soccer coach, so I was shocked that he’d left in June.    Frankly, that he made a lateral move to another minor school is really depressing as well.    Does this mean Adam thinks NMSU is about to go down the drain?    Good luck anyway, Adam.    We’ll miss you.

 

The next day after learning this, I met Mando from Aggievision and his hot girlfriend when they were visiting his mom at work.    (She has trouble believing he has a hot girlfriend, too.)    The GF knew all about Aggie sports.    Adam’s wife is apparently from the Georgia Southern area.    (That still doesn’t take the sting out.)   

She also informed me that former Softball Coach Rodolph was now under investigation for sexual misconduct allegations.    I thought it was just her assistant coach that had been accused of that, since Coach Rodolph left the program amicably.    The story was reported locally and is already in the national sports media.    It sounds bad and took place over several years.   

Mando added that he couldn’t believe the Baseball Coach Angier still had his job.    I agreed, especially after that final game of the season (5-16-26).  He told me that even the FIU players, who won the 30-21 game, wanted it over by the end.   

Somewhat depressed about going alone, I took off for the Pan-Am Center on Saturday.    After picking up a bunch of posters in the ticket office, I asked if they were only doing virtual tickets.    They said they were still offering paper ones, so I think we’re okay for the season.    The merchandise kiosk was closed, annoyingly.    I was going to get Zanaya something.    I looked around inside and didn’t see the Reese family there.    I’d written Trey earlier in the week if they were coming.    He answered my e-mail, but not my question.    I suppose that was silly of me to ask given Nellie’s strained relationship with the team (5-16-26).

Lots of familiar faces out on the floor.    I have to start with our new assistant coach, Rilen Garcia.    She was looked stylish and professional out on court.    We’re so proud of you, Rilen.    We remember you being tossed out on court as a freshman way before you were ready (9-29-22).   

Just to mention a few of the returners, Ashley Herman was back and hopefully healthy.    She could have retired after last season’s injury, but she really wanted to play some more.    Maggie Lightheart will be here for her senior campaign, along with Tess Fuqua as a red shirt junior.    I’m honestly surprised Jaelynn Kohli is still here.    It seems like she could be playing for a bigger school.    I don’t know how she got overlooked to begin with and maybe last year’s injuries scared other universities off.   

What a change in setters.    Last season there were five and they all alternated between being injured or in Coach Jordan’s doghouse.    This time there’s only three: freshman Paige Nelson, red-shirt sophomore Katrina Catalan, and sophomore Mia Mendoza.    Mia is the only returner, but I don’t think she played last year, so she’s like a new arrival.    Paige is 6’.    I wonder if the Coach wants to try a different rotation pattern with her.    It seemed like he was using a 5-1 during today’s match, instead of a 6-2.    The inexperience here is a bit of a red flag for the season.   

I immediately noticed 6’2” and well-built newcomer, Emma Clawson.    Unfortunately on the roster, she’s a freshman and not a transfer.    I think there was only one injured player to start the season, freshman Lilianna Saldivar.    That is too bad.    She’s 6’3” and also well-built.    Lilianna was introduced to the crowd, but was riding the scoring clipboard for the game.    I did see Jae consoling her later.    At least she has some good teammates.           

Pistol Pete and the Cheerleaders were here.    It was the Pete I hadn’t seen that Oklahoma Softball game (2-13-26).    I guess he’s out of therapy.    Aggie Sports put out a cool video of the various teams wearing their new Adidas uniforms.    We have an advantage over other universities in that we can use White Sands National Monument for a dramatic backdrop.    We also had a decent crowd present for a scrimmage.                         

Set 1

Initially, we had Tess, Maggie, Mia Fox, Jaelynn, Ashley, and Paige on the Crimson team, and Zoe Ziegler, Emma, Jacqueline Corcoran, Sadie Ross, Mia M, Kate Sinclair, and Katie Funk on the White team.    Crimson seemed to be the starters for the upcoming season.     

Tess got the opening kill.    Emma answered with a kill.    Both sides had a mis-set early here, but that may have just been some opening night jitters.    The rest of the match seemed okay setting-wise.    Katie and Emma teamed up for a block on Maggie, but Maggie came right back on the next point with a tip right over them.    That’s experience.    Libero Makaya Martinez aced to tie it at 3.    PA Ed announced it as an ace for “Mighty Mouse!”    Makaya went on a run and got another ace.    Jae got her first kill and Ashley and Maggie teamed up for a block on Emma.    Makaya finally served out at 8-4 Crimson.

I noticed Jac seemed to be the on-court leader for the White team.    I’m not sure who I’d characterize as a leader on the Crimson team.    On the next point, Jac and Mia M both went into the sideline table going after a ball.    Can’t fault the effort.    There was a review of the next play, the only one of the game.    The Macarena was played in the delay.    Pete and the Cheerleaders were doing it along with Katrina.   

Maggie served up an ace at 12-5 Crimson, though she netted the next serve.    So far, there had been 2 aces off of Sadie the freshman.    Going up to the mid-set break, Jae and Jac had kills, along with Tess hitting two more.    I noticed they were showing cool new player videos to spotlight good plays.    Mia F blocked out Jac for 16-7 Crimson lead.    Paige served up an ace off the tape.   

Jac slammed the hardest kill of the match with a rebound that went up into the stands at 17-8 Crimson.    Two points later, Maggie painted the backline for a kill and then stuffed an overpass on Emma.    21-8 Crimson, Mia F blocked Emma.    I hope the freshman is taking notes.    Next, Maggie found a seam between the defenders for another kill.    Maggie then had an intimidation block on Jac.    Finally, Bella Castro was in to serve and aced for a 25-8 Crimson wipeout.

             

Set 2: Crimson 1, White 0

In the break, Flex Cam was activated.    Emma Christiano from Women's Basketball was here showing off her guns.    They were impressive for such a petite girl.    Jac went to the Crimson.    Tess, Ashley, and Mia F went to the White with Bella in as libero.    Ash and Tess were doing some motivational speaking in the huddle.   

Having Bella on the White team paid off on the first serve, as she ducked under it for an outserve.    Ash and Mia F teamed up for a block.    New freshman Ava Archibald was in and got her first kill for the White.    Tess dialed up a pair of aces.    It was 5-0 White and timeout Crimson.    Katie broke the run out of the break, but White kept taking points.    8-1 White was a long rally that Ashley finished.   

Crimson came back with a kill by Sadie and an ace by Jac off Tess.    Zoe had a kill for White, but the Crimson scoring continued with Jae tooling a block and Maggie making a block and getting a kill.    Zoe got another kill at 12-8 White, but Kate blocked Tess on the next point.    Tess got the next opportunity and pounded a kill.    Jae got a kill and brought the score to within 1.    White called a timeout.

Crimson tied it at 13 on a block that went wide and took the lead on a block by Katie.    The next point was the scariest of the match.    Jac got a Crimson kill, but Maggie took a spill on the point.    She popped back up.    Maggie has lead a charmed life as far as injuries go.    In the mid-set break, Ash, Ava, and Zoe were dancing.    Mia F got it back to 1 with a kill for White and Ashley tooled a block, but Crimson made the turn at 20-17 with a kill by Sadie.   

Jae added to the lead with a kill.    22-17 Crimson, Maggie made a tip kill.    The Crimson did a good job of sniffing out a setter dump on that point.    Maggie had another kill and blocked Kate twice to take the set for Crimson, 25-17.

Crimson 2, White 0

The White team huddled up and danced.    The teams weren't changing ends, so I didn’t see much of the Crimson team's antics.    Ashley and Tess went back to the Crimson team.    Katrina would be setting for them.    Jac went back to the White team.

This one was tight.    Jae and Jac each traded a pair of kills to begin.    Ava tooled a block, Ash answered with a kill.    Mia F and Sadie traded kills with Jac tying it up at 7.    Mia F had another kill, as Jae tooled a block and got a touch kill.    Maggie got a kill to make it, 11-9 Crimson.    Timeout White.    They were holding their own, even without most of the Aggies' star players.

Jae had another kill, but Zoe tied it at 13.    We were tied at 14 after Mia M made a great save on a block and then finished it with a setter dump for White.    In a timeout, Pete got the crowd doing the wave.    He spun around and ended up getting dizzy.    Ava also did a cartwheel.    If the volleyball thing doesn't work out, she might have been auditioning for the Cheer squad.

Mia made a great set to Jac for a kill to tie it at 15.    The other setter, Kat, made a tip/dump to put the Crimson up 16-15.    Kate and Emma traded kills.    19-18 was another long point that went for the Crimson.    Kate finished it with a tip kill.    On the point, Jac got a dig off a hard shot to the chest from a swing by Maggie.   

A block by Katie and a kill by Zoe got the White to the turn first.    A block by Zoe gave White a 22-19 lead.    A kill by Sadie and an ace by Maggie tied it at 22.    PA Ed called her, “The ace of Hearts.”    Tess gave the Crimson the lead and White took a timeout.    Ava tied it at 23 with a kill.    Kills by Tess and Kate and a finishing ace by Paige gave the Crimson the extra points set win, 26-24.

Set 4: Crimson 3, White 0

PA Ed made sure to tell everyone there would be a fourth set at the end of the third set and that it would be first to 15.    I noticed Jack Nixon was over by the scorer's table.    Glad to see the broadcasting legend taking in a game.    Sadie and Kat went over to the White, while Mia M went to the Crimson.

           

Maggie began the set with a kill.    Katie and Kate had opposing kills.    On Kate's kill for the Crimson, two White players collided into each other and another player went into the sideline table.    Nobody hurt; play on.    Jae and Jac traded kills, but Crimson was pulling ahead, 7-3.   

Sadie out-jousted Tess at the net for a point for White.    Jae had another kill.    9-4 Crimson, Maggie got a tip kill.    White saved two tips on that point.    Jae knocked down Kat with a kill next.    Sadie and Jac had kills, but a block by Kate made it, 11-6 Crimson.        Kate went back to the reserves and Coach Jordan high-fived her for that play.    Maggie blew one right through Emma, 12-7.    Jac got one more kill, but Ash burying one and Mia F making a block got it to match point.    Jac put a serve in the net to end it, 15-9 and 4-0 Crimson.

There aren’t any official stats for the game.    (I suppose if I chatted up Lilliana, maybe she’d tell me.)    My own count is highly suspect, but here we go.    I had Jaelynn Kohli with 14 kills to lead everyone.    Maggie Lightheart had 11 kills, 3 blocks, and 2 aces.    Jacqueline Corcoran had 7 kills and 2 aces.    Tess Fuqua had 6 kills and 2 aces.    (Her and Maggie are still having serve receive issues.)    New freshman Sadie Ross had 6 kills.    Mia Fox had 3 kills and 4 blocks in the middle.    Take all of these numbers with a grain of salt.

My non-professional evaluation of the team is that it is essentially last year’s team with new setters.    The returning players are, I think, better with more experience, especially Maggie Lightheart.    If Jaelynn Kohli stays healthy, she’s going to be a monster on the court.    Of the new additions, Sadie Ross distinguished herself, though the team already has plenty of hitters.    It’s hard to judge the setting situation without being able to watch Coach Jordan’s reactions to it.    What I saw seemed to be working.   

However, if this is basically the same team, it is the same team that had a sub-.500 record last season.    I could say they’ll probably do better only because UTEP is no longer in the conference.    It’s an overall pretty good-looking team, at least.    The Baseball and Football guys will have plenty to fight over.

After the match, I finally went to Smokey’s Barbeque.    I’d meant to do this since June.    I’d tried doing this a couple of weeks ago (8-2-26), but ended up sweaty and eating at McAlister’s.    For all that anticipation, it was just okay.    I ended up getting a chocolate-covered paleta bar afterward, because I felt I needed some ice cream to settle the meal.    Smokey’s offers a barbeque pizza.    I might try that in the future.   

Honestly, I enjoyed the game, but felt miserable there by myself, especially when I ‘d hoped to have someone with me.    I kind of like to go next weekend, even though it’s a lower-level opponent, because they’re offering autographs.    We’ll see if I can get anyone to go with me.