NM State Aggies vs Delaware Blue Hens Softball 4-26-26

 

As mentioned yesterday, today we were under a red flag warning for high winds.    I couldn’t miss the final game of the season and Senior Day, though.    I almost left the game, but not for the wind.    Thank goodness I didn’t, because this one was a classic.    I mentioned this game to neighbor, who was interested in going.    I had to tell him about the wind and he begged off.    This might not have been the best first experience to a softball game, anyway.    I don’t know if I’ll be back next season, but this was a heck of a way to go out.

I arrived for Aggie Softball’s rubber game against the Delaware Blue Hens and they were handing out hats at the courtesy table.    I do not need any more hats, but it was a kinda cool hat with “State” across the front.    My ethical dilemma was solved as they handed out the last hat when I got there.   

It was hot with a few clouds on the horizon.    Mainly, it was already windy and expected to get worse.    Thankfully, it wasn’t that bad in the stands, even with the wind sort of blowing in, though I did end up with some sand in my mouth.    On field, Taryn Bennett was working on her juggling.    She was working on teaching Destiny Perez.    A grad assistant got into the act, as well.    Taryn is really good.    Too bad I never got the opportunity to show her my chops, since I’m decent at it as well.   

The pretty, little blonde DU scorekeeper was back, along with the good-looking woman at the Aggie scorer’s table.    There was another hot chick in the stands in shorts and cowboy boots.    She was making that outfit work.    I got broadcaster Adam Young’s attention.    In the morning, I’d read about another baseball game with a diving catch in the outfield where the umps changed their initial call, but in this case, they changed it six times.    “So, you’re telling me, it could have worse,” he said.   

DU was in pretty bright blue uniforms with big white numbers.    The Aggies were in all black with crimson numbers.    During player introductions, Lauren Garica obviously had the most family and friends on hand for Senior Day.    Devin Elam was back in the lineup after her crash into the wall yesterday.    Senior Jaileen Mancha was our starter.    I didn’t see Faith Aragon anywhere on field.    The ceremonial first pitch were four balls thrown out by the parents of the four seniors.           

I basically redid these scorecards after the game with the official scoring.    They’re still wrong.    Stuff happened in the game that I saw, but didn’t understand.    Things were questionable at the beginning of the game and got worse.    I almost gave up.    What a game to forget my pencils, too.    Thankfully, I had a mechanical pencil with me for just such an emergency.    The new pen I’d brought also went dry.    I still had a backup.    I came prepared.         

Oh, boy.    Here we go.    Get comfortable.    I hadn’t seen Jaileen since early in the season (2-13-26).  Her start was rough right from the beginning, as she missed a comebacker for an error.    Next, the wind knocked down an easy flyball for a single.    After a walk to load the bases, Gianna Costaro came up and hit a grand slam that blew out to left.    The wind was not helping flyballs, but this one caught the breeze at the right angle.     

Jaileen came out.    She was just barely keeping it together going back to the dugout.    That wasn’t the way to make your final home start.    Faith came in.    I’m guessing she was warming up the whole time.    The plan was probably for Jaileen to get an out and then come out of the game.   

Maddie Diamond was Faith’s first batter.      She hit a foul into the stands that a fan caught on a bounce.    The guy got praise from the PA.    Diamond straightened it out and blasted one out to center.    The wind actually nearly blew it back in.    Taylor Baca in center jumped and hit wall trying to get it.    Faith walked the next batter, but got it together and struck out the following three batters to end the inning.    5-0 DU.

The Aggie dugout was singing to start the bottom of the first.    They weren’t discouraged.    Josie Crossman started for the Blue Hens, as she did yesterday.    She yielded two singles to start.    Kendal Lunar hit into a fielder’s choice, as the shortstop threw out the lead runner at third.    However, Crossman came up limping after the pitch.    She might have twisted her ankle and was taken out for Claire Woods.    I’m tempted to call this the turning point in the game, but we’ll never know what might have happened if Crossman had stayed in.

Madi Bachman was up, no sub for her today.    She smashed a sure home run to center, but it was blown back in.    The centerfielder dropped it standing at the wall and this scored an Aggie run.    Allie Nankivell was initially given an error.    I actually turned around to the press box and said, “Come on!”    No flyball today was “ordinary effort.”

From my perch in the stands, I could see dust filling in on the horizon.    The wind was scheduled to get worse by noon.    Madi, the backup catcher, stole second.    This was mostly to bait the catcher, since there was a runner on third.    The throw from second to third missed and Kendal came home on the error.    The scoreboard error count didn’t change, so it replaced the reconsidered outfield error.   

DU had a conference in the circle.    A player came in from the dugout, but then went back, as far as I could tell.    Unexplained events will get weirder.    A walk and a line out followed.    There was a foul ball back at me.    Thankfully, it landed just behind me.    I think I heard Faith’s dad after another foul ball laughing at somebody dodging it saying, “Maybe you need a weak little girl from the field to catch that for you!”    Later, a foul popup at plate had the umpire dodging and covering his head, so I felt a little better.   

Lauren grounded out to third, but the throw was dropped at first and another run scored.    Tamara Carranza then singled in a run.    The Blue Hens brought in yet another pitcher.    During the warmup, we got extended walk up music for Taylor.    It was a great tune for that, Bell Biv Devoe’s Poison.    She was hit by a pitch.    The DU fans shouted that she ran into it.    This might have been the beginning of their irritation with the umps.               

Devin popped a little Texas Leaguer, which was another wind knocked down flyball, and plated 2 more runs.    She made a walking steal of second, again trying to bait the catcher with a runner on third.    Skye Johnson then singled in Taylor.    Finally, a groundout, no error, finished the inning.    Shockingly, the Aggies were now up, 8-5.    That was 13 total runs and 5 pitchers used in a 50-minute first inning.    “They sure know how to play in this weather better than we do,” remarked one of the Blue Hens fans.

I’d told dad I would call him after the game about a late lunch.    Suddenly, I was wondering we’d be meeting for dinner.    In the top of second, Faith gave up a line drive home run to left by Sydney Shaffer, which was the only hit in the inning.    I tell you, the wind was blowing in.    In the inning a fan caught a foul in the stands.    Well, it caught him in the gut.    Foul balls kept coming straight back.       

The wind was picking up in the bottom second, as forecast.    Madi singled to start the inning.    After an out, Destan Burks hit a slow roller that Katie Scheivert at second wasn’t able to get to and Lauren followed with a single to load the bases.    Tamara hit a grounder to short and Sorella Gallucci threw home get the runner.    The bases were still loaded.    Taylor came up and hit third base on a grounder.    The ball shot off and Destan scored to make it, 9-6 Aggies.    The Blue Hens brought in Karli Challburg to finish off the inning.

The umps met between innings.    I was concerned that it might be about the weather, but play continued.    In the top of the third with the first batter, the home plate area was hit with a blast of dust during the pitch.    It was called a strike.    I kind of agree with the Blue Hens fans that it should have been a no-pitch.    Thankfully, this was about the only time dust was an issue on the field.    The wind was going over the stadium.

After a strikeout, Faith hit the next batter.    Faith stared in and didn’t seem to agree with the call.    My notes then literally read, “Not sure what happened next.” A single put two on.    Another single scored a run, but the runners kept going and Kendal made a bad throw that scored another run.    It wasn’t over, as a bobbled ball and a bad throw from short brought in another run.    On a bunt back to Faith, she made a bad throw to put on another runner.   

I’m losing the scorecard by this point and considering quitting. The DU coach did the Aggies a favor by bunting again.    Faith got that putout, but a walk loaded the bases.    Faith reared back for a strikeout to finally end the inning.    That was 3 runs and 3 errors.    We were tied at 9 and I’m eating dust in my mouth.    Oddly during this self-destruction, the DU fans were getting really angry over balls and strikes.    Shouldn’t you all be cheering?

It was a 1-2-3 bottom of the third.    Diamond at third fell on a ground ball, but managed to get up to throw out the runner.    People were clearing out by now. Maybe it was the wind, or the game going long, or the obnoxious DU fans.    Honestly, I kind of wanted to leave myself because of their constant complaining about the umps.   

The top of the fourth inning began with a hit batter and there was a walk, but Faith navigated that for a scoreless frame.    Johnna Aragon began the bottom with a single and was sac’d over.    Jojo Hair came in as a pinch runner.    Lauren got on via an error and was also replaced with a pinch runner.    Scheivert caught a low liner at second and the inning ended . . . with two outs?    I didn’t see her a touch or throw to a base to double off Jojo.    Nobody complained.    I’m getting too frazzled to care.

The Blue Hens began the top of the fifth with a single.    Taylor, playing shallow in center, had to run back and dive for a catch for the first out.    After a walk, DU attempted a double steal, but Kendal threw out the lead runner at third.    Faith then gave up a double on a full count with 2 outs to Costaro. That scored the go-ahead run, 10-9 Delaware.    Faith stood in the circle for a moment clearly irritated.    She got a strikeout to end the inning, but was still annoyed with herself.   

The field was in shade now.    I’m not sure if it was from a small cloud or the dust in the air.    By the bottom of the fifth, the DU fans were going after the ump so bad, an Aggie mom piped up and said, “Good job, Blue!”    She turned to her family, “I never say nice things about the ump.    I just feel bad for him.”    Scheivert bobbled a grounder from Taylor to start the frame.    Taylor was safe, but called out.    Out of the baseline?    Interference?    I don’t know.    The official scoring was no help.    Nobody complained.    Play on.    Ellie Mulligan made a great diving catch in left field for another quick inning.

We had the final souvenir toss of the season.    Marketing Director, Nicole Sack, came out with a bag full of goodies and tossed out everything.    In the top of the sixth, Faith was getting tired, but giving everything.    She struck out two and had a groundout.    The ump issued a warning to the DU dugout (I think) on a check swing?    I wish it was on the DU fans, who wouldn’t shut up.    They were all over the first ump, too, for check swings in the game.   

You can’t lose on Senior Day.    That’s the rule.    I’m sure that the team wanted to pick up Jaileen after her start, as well.    The first three Aggie batters of the bottom of the sixth all singled to load the bases with no outs.    The Blue Hens changed pitchers and Crossman surprisingly came back out.    Maybe she wasn’t hurt that bad earlier.    Maybe she talked her way back in.   

Destan came up and hit a flyball knocked down by the wind that fell in front of centerfielder.    That was good enough to get a run in and tie it.    Lauren hit a solid single next and drove in two runs.    I was standing and waving my cowbell.    I was perhaps more energetic than usual, after two hours of listening to the DU fans.    Destan was out on the play at third.    Somehow she was tagged out for being off base without calling time?    That’s what I heard in the crowd.

The unexplained weirdness wasn’t over.    Tamara and Taylor both struck out on lazy swings to end the inning.    Were Crossman’s offspeed pitches that good?    The swings were so late, it sort of looked on purpose.    Now, I’m getting paranoid.    This is weird even for softball, which is known for weirdness.

The top of the seventh began with a hush falling over the crowd.    I am not overstating this.    The DU fans were quiet.    This was a high-tension situation.    The girls in the dugouts were piping up, though.    They were into it.    Play began with Johnna deflecting a grounder at third and Tamara didn’t try making a play on it.    (This wasn’t helping my conspiratorial thoughts that the game was being thrown.)    It was the Aggies’ fifth error of the day.    This was followed by a single.   

Faith was grunting with maximum effort on every pitch.    I think I saw Jaileen in the dugout screaming encouragement to her.    Aggie fans were getting angry after repeated bunt attempts, which they thought should have been an out from the ball hitting the batter.    Scheirvert came up and singled to right field.    Devin came up with it and threw out the runner at home by a step.    Aggie fans exploded.             

There were still two on with one out.    The next batter hit a liner back to Faith.    She caught it, whirled to first, and doubled off the runner.    It was that quick.    Aggies win, 12-10!    That was with the wind blowing in.    Imagine what the score would have been if it was blowing out.    As is, the game went 2 hours and 43 minutes.           

Faith and the team were exuberant with the win.    They led the crowd in singing the Aggie fight song.    The DU Coach was arguing something with the ump after the game.    The two teams lined up and briskly shook hands.    I wouldn’t have expected it to be cordial.    Suddenly, there’s a fracas.    Shouting words are being exchanged with the Aggies on field and the Blue Hens in their dugout.    Thankfully, the angry Delaware fans had left before this happened, otherwise this might have really gotten ugly quick.    (They were all together outside the stadium when I left.    I was mildly concerned while passing by them.)         

Pitching Coach Paige Bachman was really going at somebody.    I have to give credit to whoever started it on the DU side.    At nearly 6’ and powerfully, athletically built like Wonder Woman, Paige was main Aggie you wouldn’t have wanted to piss off.    Devin was holding her back, but then let the Blue Hens have it herself.    The umps were long gone, too.    The teams were going to settle it themselves, which they did without a fight, barely.    (Wait till the tournament, though).    A fight is only thing I haven’t seen at a Softball game.    This was actually a bit shocking.       

   

Gameballs seem insufficient for this titanic struggle, but it’s all I got.    For the Blue Hens, Gianna Costaro had a heck of a game going 2 for 4 with 5 RBI’s, including a grand slam home run.    For the Aggies, Madi Bachman went 3 for 4 with an RBI and Lauren Garcia went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI’s, which were the critical go-ahead runs.   

I wouldn’t ordinarily give a Gameball to a pitcher that gave up 6 runs in 7 innings, but Faith Aragon earned it.    This was her third day in a row pitching and she pitched a complete game starting off 5 runs down.    In the first and seventh innings, Faith took a punch, but delivered the knockout to end it.    For that matter, props to Jaileen Mancha.    I’m not even sure even sure how long it had been since she’d been in a game, but these were rough conditions to come back to.    Also, DU starter, Josie Crossman, who left the game hurt, came back in to try and finish it, likely volunteered.    It was a tough day to be a pitcher . . . outfielder . . . infielder . . . fan at the game.    (The hitters did okay.)   

Senior Day Ceremony

This is going to be quick.    We had four seniors making their final home appearance today.    AD Fields was there.    I was surprised Coach Rodolph wasn’t here for the game or at least the ceremony.    (Granted she would have been covering her eyes for much of the game.    She would have only enjoyed the result.)    Unlike every other Senior Ceremony I’ve seen, no mention was made of the other team’s seniors.    Usually, they hand them roses.    Not today.

Jaileen Mancha was walking very slowly to receive her framed jersey.    She may have really been hurt from pitching, which may have been why she hasn’t been.    Kendal Lunar was all tears.    She wouldn’t cry from getting hit by any number of foul tips.    She was saving up the tears for this.    Lauren Garcia was a mix of emotions.    Devin Elam was all smiles.       

Congratulations to Aggie Softball.    I had no expectations for the team with the loss of Desirae Spearman and Coach Rodolph.    Coach Higgs has done a good job putting out a competitive team.    Whatever happens in the conference tournament, she should have the “interim” tag taken off her coaching title.    This has been the one Aggie Sports team I haven’t been disappointed by this year.    I don’t know how they’re doing it (well, it’s mostly Faith Aragon), they have been scrapping it out this season to a winning record in conference.

Aggie Baseball ***next week.***     

NM State Aggies vs Delaware Blue Hens Softball 4-25-26

Aggie Softball had mixed results on the road since sweeping UTEP two weeks ago.    They took two of three from Middle Tennessee.    Faith Aragon was dominate in the two wins, allowing 2 hits and double-digit strikeouts in each.    Her second win was a tense 1-0 decision, which Devin Elam won with a solo homer.    The middle game was a 7-5 loss.    Taryn Bennett gave up 5 runs in 2 innings.    Tamara Carranza did have a 3-run homer in the seventh to make it close.     

The Aggies also had a mid-week loss in Albuquerque against the Lobos, 10-6.    Madi Bachman had a 3-run homer as part of a 4-run first.    However, Destiny Perez didn’t get an out in the bottom of the first and gave up 3 runs.    Taryn came in in relief and gave up 2 more and the lead for the rest of the game.   

Friday night, the Aggies started their final homestand of the season playing the Delaware Blue Hens.    The Aggies won it, 3-1.    I was very busy with work and only made two notes.    Faith got the complete game win only giving up a run.    Johnna Aragon hit a 3-run homer for all of the Aggies’ scoring.

Driving in to the ballpark on late Saturday afternoon, I saw broadcasters Adam Young and Brian Cox on the video screen doing the pregame.    Thank goodness the screen is working again.    I ended up running into Adam in the bathroom.    I thanked him again for answering my e-mail about the questionable call in Aggie Baseball last week.  He was unusually salty and angry about the overturn of the call on the diving centerfield catch and hopeful that they’d institute instant replay in the near future.    He did clarify that the home plate umpire overruled the second base umpire on the play in the outfield though he was nowhere near it.   

The outfield had a large Pistol Pete logo on it with numbers of seniors.    The field also had a bunch of big yellow spots on it.    The grass is suffering without any rain.    Today’s weather was a bit breezy with some hot sun.    I was worried about the high wind forecast, especially for tomorrow.

There was an unexpectedly large number of Delaware fans in the crowd of 502.    I told a Blue Hens fan next to me that I liked their colors and their mascot.    He thanked me and didn’t speak to me again.    DU was looking sharp in their white uniforms with big blue numbers.    Several Aggie fans were in Aggie jerseys.    Some were giveaways, but some were real, maybe from the Aggie Equipment sale that I missed twice.    

These eventually added up, no thanks to the official scorer, who changed his mind a couple of times.    Some of the plays were ambiguous.    The Aggies and the Blue Hens have about even records, so I was looking forward to a good game.   

   

Faith Aragon was the Aggie starter again.    She started off with a looking strikeout, but it went straight downhill from there.    The next batter hit a double.    Then, there was a slow roller to third.    Johnna Aragon couldn’t come up with the ball to put two on.    It was ruled an error and later a hit.    (Probably correct.)    A wild pitch moved the lead runner.    (I had it as a passed ball.    The pitch hit catcher Kendal Lunar on the mitt.)    The runner was cashed in on a groundout.

It wasn’t over.    Faith then issued a walk.    Aggie fans were complaining about the strikezone.    One behind me might have been Faith’s dad.    He sounded familiar.    Faith hit the next batter to load the bases.    Caylin Blazys drove in two with a single.    Caylin then made a walking steal of second trying to draw a throw to score the runner from third.    Kendal didn’t bite on that one.    The inning finally ended with DU up, 3-0.   

From crowd chatter, I gathered that the Blue Hens were playing #1 WKU next week.    An Aggie fan told them that the Hilltoppers were tough from our meeting with them last month.  There was a pretty little blonde with her hair up at the DU scorer’s table.    Later, a hot brunette with her hair pulled back came in to sit at the Aggie scorer’s table.    She might have been a former player or coach.    Watching these two was more entertaining than the Aggies going down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first.

Faith hit the first batter to begin the second.    She got a comebacker next and threw out the lead runner at second base.    However, a single moved the runner to third and another groundout brought in a run.    Gianna Costaro came up and floated a two-run homer just over the left center wall and the defender there.   

The DU section was not the place to be for an Aggie fan at this point.    Faith’s dad was making a lot of excuses.    She was pulled from the game for Zantelle Rodriguez.    She was greeted with a single.    There was then a popup on the infield.    Destan Burks at second seemed to have it.    Lauren Garcia joined her and they collided and both dropped it.    It might have been the wind over of the field.    They had a chance to get the runner at second, but didn’t get her.    (No infield fly rule with two outs.)    Zantelle finished it out, but now the Blue Hens were up, 6-0.   

The first two Aggies singled in the top of the second, but were left stranded by Blue Hen pitcher, Josie Crossman.    It was suddenly turning overcast.    I had take off my sunglasses.    Bridget Chapman doubled to begin the top of the third.    In her at bat, Katie Scheivert was keeping the kids busy fouling off a bunch of foul balls that they were running down.    She eventually singled to drive in Chapman. 7-0 DU.     

The Aggies went down in order in the bottom of the third.    Ellie Mulligan in left field squeezed the final out while fighting with the wall to make the catch.    Madi Bachman was announced in the lineup, but didn’t come up to bat in the second.    I finally saw her holding a clipboard by the dugout.    No idea what happened.    I thought I’d misheard the lineup announcement.

Zantelle began the fourth with two walks (and a wild pitch).    Sorella Gallucci came up to bunt and ran into the batted ball for an out.    Her mom was sitting in front of me judging by her t-shirt.    She was chatting with an Aggie fan in front of her for the entire game, so some Blue Hens fans were friendly.    On a grounder to short, Tamara Carranza tried to flip the ball to second and it was dropped.    A run scored and everyone was safe.    A pity double play ended the inning.    The runner at first looked safe.    The video board started to show the replay, someone thought the better of it, and stopped it.    DU coach was arguing.    Don’t give her any ammo.    8-0 Blue Hens.   

A guy next to me asked about the run rule (8 runs after 5 innings).    He might have been brother of an Aggie player, but was getting bored with the game.    Unfortunately for him (and maybe the rest of us), Skye Johnson doubled with 2 outs in the bottom of the fourth.    After a walk to Tamara, Violet Redondo, who took Madi’s place in the lineup, beat out an infield hit to score a run.    The throw from third got past first base, though Violet didn’t advance.    This was later ruled an error, but a tough one on the fielder.    8-1 DU and the early run rule was in doubt.

Mulligan homered to center to begin the fifth.    Centerfielder Taylor Baca nearly had a play on it, but it went out.    Run rule back on.    After a single and a walk, Zantelle was replaced by Destiny Perez.    Devin Elam in right wasn’t able to run down a single by Costaro, but did make the play of the game throwing out the runner at home.    The runners on base got a late start waiting to see if she’d catch the line drive.    Even the DU fans were impressed with the throw.    9-1 Blue Hens.           

I noticed Madi running with the clipboard between innings with bench players.    I guess she was okay.    Now it’s really a mystery why she wasn’t in the game.    The grounds crew was waiting by the left field wall.    This is usually a signal the game is coming to a close.    Go ahead and warm up the bus.   

Not so fast.    Three singles loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth.    A sac fly by Kendal, which was mis-scored by the scorer, brought in a run.    (As if, I haven’t mis-scored a half-dozen things on these scorecards, but anybody can make a mistake.)    9-2 DU and run rule averted.   

It’s probably too bad we played another inning.    In the top of the sixth, after a single, Devin hit the wall hard going after a line drive.    She was knocked out.    The ball rolled away and it was an inside-the-park 2-run homer.    The trainers ran out to Devin and she was taken out immediately.    She was able to walk off.    Bella Clapp came in for her and made a play on the next batter.    Two more singles followed.    After Scheivert’s hit, she stopped play to tie her shoe.    She gave a thumbs up to the dugout and she got a cheer from them.    11-2 DU.

The crowd was subdued.    Even the Blue Hens fans were quiet and likely making dinner plans.    In the bottom of the sixth, the fans were still complaining about balls and strikes.    At least the ump did manage to anger both fan bases with his calls.    It was another 1-2-3.    The Aggies did not have the offense going today.    Delaware wins, 11-2, in a 2-hour, 18 minute game.

Gameballs.    For the Blue Hens, Katie Scheivert went 4 for 4 with an RBI, Gianna Costaro went 2 for 3 with 3 RBI’s including a 2-run homer, and Bridget Chapman went 2 for 4 with a 2-run homer.    Josie Crossman pitched a 6-inning complete game, only yielding 2 runs.    For the Aggies, to be nice, Skye Johnson went 2 for 3.    That’s the best Aggie performance today.

I was just glad to be sitting down for a couple of hours.    I felt like I’d been going all day up to this point.    I did walk over to the Mall for Teriyaki chicken and a boba tea.      (It’s my most decadent recurring purchase.    The tea cost as much as the meal.)    I also saw and immediately a grabbed Rocketeer trade paperback.    I can’t wait to read it.    The guy at the restaurant was pleased to see someone with a book.    (Not sure how he would have felt, if he knew it was a comic book.)    I was actually at the bookstore looking first at a 96-page Superman magazine on the rack that cost more than the 350-page Rocketeer trade.    (Who can explain pricing?)    No point in talking about the game.    May as well talk about my day, instead.   

We’ll see what the weather is like tomorrow.    Hopefully, it doesn’t spoil Senior Day.

Archie Comics Review New Digests

I let this review go way too long. I don’t even remember when I bought this order last year. (Was it last year?) I don’t remember what brought on this purchase. Maybe it was the sudden cancelation of Archie’s digest line. Archie was publishing six different titles on something like a bi-monthly status. Suddenly, they were replaced with one bi-monthly title. The books’ dimensions were enlarged, though not to full magazine size, but the number of pages was halved. Archie did recently put out a magazine-sized reprint title. Disappointingly, it never showed up on my B&N newsstand, which you’d think would be the reason to publish in that format.

Five of the digests were 2023 and 2024 liquidation digests, where you had to order at least five. I got a sixth digest, maybe to qualify for free shipping. I liked the cover on it. I’ve missed out on a few digests that I wanted for their covers. I think most of the issues I got here are now out-of-stock.

Archie Jumbo Comics #345

I might have gotten these around Christmas, since there’s 3 holiday issues.

This digest started off with a fun Kennedy Brothers story featuring Archie and the superhero, The Shield. (He predates Captain America. He’s not a rip-off.) The story is filled with cameos of Archie and other MLJ characters. Archie Comics was trying to keep up the copyright on their older characters, especially their superheroes.

Jughead teams up with Big Ethyl to solve a Christmas mystery in this Rex Lindsey-drawn tale. Our holiday friend, Jingles, turns out to be the culprit (spoilers).

Still, we love the mischievous elf. It wouldn’t be Christmas without him having fun with the gang.

Getting away from the season, we have this weird drug trip. It’s the Archie Gang in space landing on a planet with advanced early 1900's technology? Was this ever a classic Star Trek episode? It seems like it could have been.

I just like the drama of this splash page.

The kids have a groovy party. It’s another fun panel.

It’s another acid trip, as Santa eschews the chimney to come through Archie’s flat screen TV. Dude, what was in that last batch? Nothing really special in this digest, except for the first two stories, but its good Christmas fun.

World of Archie Jumbo Comics #125

It’s another Christmas issue.

We like Jingles, but we also like Sugar Plum and Noelle. Bill Golliher does a pretty good rendition of Santa’s daughter here. This is followed by a couple more superhero crossovers with Captain Flag and Inferno. They’re silly, but fun. The heroes and villains are drawn realistically, but the Archie gang are still in the house style.

Jingles is up to his old tricks again impersonating people in this Dan Parent tale, but he gets the tables turned on him this time. They really should publish a Best Of Jingles book for the holidays. Stick this story in it.

The adorable-looking new girl with Archie is Summer Madison . . . a time traveler! She’s at Riverdale High to study an important person in the future there. (She’s not saying who.) This is a full-sized story well-drawn by Fernando Ruiz. It seems to be begging for a sequel or two.

We have another long story about a little Christmas tree observing the Gang’s holiday activities. I think I remember this tree from another story. This one does seem to be a sequel.

Ruiz draws this dynamic action-shot story.

A fashionable pinup. In another Christmas story, Archie shows a miserly “Mr. Scourge” (?) the meaning of the season. It’s another okay Archie Christmas digest.

World of Betty and Veronica Comics #30

I’m going to have plenty of reading material next Christmas to get me in the mood for the season.

I dig this story by Dan Parent. It’s a Christmas mystery party with a very glam Veronica and the gang in period costume. The story features Penny Parker, an MLJ legacy character, and a socialite sleuth. Parent draws and writes her very well. I’d like to see some more stories with Penny.

We next get a couple of Sabrina Christmas stories. Parent adds this little illustrated text piece with holiday shopping tips. I like these features. They’re not stories, but they’re fun.

I’m a sucker for Ronnie in a tie. It’s so cute. Someone else is also enamored. She starts going out with an artist, who’s inspired by her beauty. Who can blame him?

It’s another funky space story, as Betty dreams she’s on a vacation in the future with her parents.

I’m also a sucker for classy 50’s Veronica.

We have long story here at the end with Cheryl trying to upstage the Archies in a musical performance. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have any talent to do so, except for causing mayhem. This one is more holiday fun. I really liked that Penny Parker story.

Archie Jumbo Comics #347

It’s a Valentines issue, though there’s just three of holiday romance stories here.

Rex Lindsey draws this “sweet” story of Moose displaying his love for Midge by knocking out the opposing team and his own team. Okay, moving on.

Holly G draws this cute Sabrina story.

If the guys were a boy band, these might be acceptable outfits. Otherwise, don’t take fashion advice from them.

The Archies meet the Abominable Snowman. Unfortunately for them, he’s a music critic.

The girls are trying to win a contest and recruit Archie in drag to . . . moving on.

I’m posting the whole story for this one. This Fernando Ruiz story is one of the best Archie stories ever artistically. This story was pure joy to run into (especially after that last story). Valentine’s Day is not in Archie’s wheelhouse like Christmas, though it should be with the love triangle. I don’t think I’d recommend this one, except for that great Sno-kay by Me story by Ruiz.

Archie Milestones #24 Jughead Summer Fun

Let’s skip to the summer with this Jughead digest.

Juggie’s dog, Hot Dog, gets quite a bit of attention in this digest. Here he’s surfing and riding a skateboard.

Jughead has had enough bad writing making him look like an idiot. He takes over.

Harry Lucey draws a nice a Betty and Veronica. Ronnie is wearing glasses for some reason.

Jughead and his dad go on a fishing trip. On the way, after waffles for breakfast, they stop for donuts, chili dogs, a fried chicken picnic, and come home to steaks. No fish were caught.

This is funny enough, but I remember I was with a friend, who was visiting a girl working for a chicken place wearing a chicken suit in the parking lot. He drove up behind her and honked. The girl jumped up and flapped her arms and then turned and gave him the bird.

I can’t get enough physical humor.

Jughead meets one of his heroes: “The Major.” He wants Jughead to taste test his fried chicken. Jug is able to correctly guess all of the secret ingredients and the “Major” has to bribe him to keep his mouth shut.

Jughead has summer figured out. Okay, this wasn’t the greatest Jughead digest. It was just okay.

Archie Milestones #25 Jughead Fun For Fall

We seasonally move to the fall. Isn’t this a great cover? That’s why I tossed this one in with the order. Archie probably should do something about that smoke coming out of the back of his car, though. This is another Jughead title.

Jughead is finally chasing Ethyl, but it’s only to pop her piñata. That feels like a euphemism.

Betty looks cute here in this Rex Lindsey drawn tale.

Jughead changes places with a prince, who just happens to look just like him. I was watching the New Archies cartoon from the 80’s the other day. (I’m not exactly recommending the series, but you have to love that Totally 80’s theme song.) Some variation of this plot happened like three different times in a 13-episode series. No wonder it didn’t last. (Still, I kind of liked it. I liked the look of it.)

Robot Jughead is unfortunately just like real Jughead, especially when it comes to Robot Ethyl.

Hot Dog has had enough of Jughead’s abuse. Thankfully, it’s only dream. Whew!

Jughead will do anything for food, including kissing Moose’s girl.

Comic book origins are a tricky business, as this story illustrates.

Little Hot Dog is too cute for words. Again, not the greatest digest, but still fun.

This order was a bit mediocre, frankly, but the digests are always comforting entertainment. The Christmas ones were the best of the bunch. The Archie website still has plenty of back issues to sell. I keep getting the impression they’re trying to sell out their older stock in the store. They’ve been offering Buy 1, Get 2 Free on their graphic novels once a month. My problem is that I have nowhere to put these things.