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.     

NM State Aggies vs FIU Panthers Baseball 5-16-26

 

We’ll take a minute to go over what happened to Aggie Softball at the C-USA Tournament before we recount Aggie Baseball’s final games.   The Aggies were the #5 seed.    They beat Sam Houston, 3-0, as Kendal Lunar homered twice and Tamara Carranza also homered to account for all of the scoring.    Catcher Madi Bachman was listed as the starter, but Faith Aragon pitched all 7 frames with 11 strikeouts.   

The Aggies lost to Delaware, 11-7, in their next game.    Bachman was in this game and hit a grand slam, Devin Elam went 3 for 3 with an RBI.    Faith and Zantelle Rodriguez split the pitching duties and the runs given up.    I guess the Blue Hens got the final say after the teams’ bad blood in their previous game (4-26-26).

The Aggies bowed out of the tournament after their next game against LA Tech with a 3-1 loss.    They left it all on the field though, as the game took 11 innings!    Bless her heart, Faith pitched all 11 innings with 11 strikeouts.    Skye Johnson provided the final Aggie run of the season.    At 27-27 overall and 16-11 in conference, congratulations to Aggie Softball.    Finishing at .500 overall and over .500 in conference, you guys were the best Aggie team this year.     (Men’s Basketball was .500 overall, but under that in conference.)  

Back to Aggie Baseball, events have not gone well.    They had an 8-6 loss to Arizona.    The Aggies did score 5 in the ninth to make it interesting.    Camden Kaufman was 3 for 4 with an RBI and Aidan Taclas had a 2-run double.

Next, the team visited my Aunt Judy in Springfield, Missouri to play MO State.    All three games in the series were set for 11:00am CST, even the Friday game, which still had over 600 in attendance.    The morning games did not agree with the Aggies, as they lost all three.    It was a 14-8 loss in Game 1.    Aiden Lombardi went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI’s from a home run.    The Aggies lost the next game, 9-1.    Jack Turner took the loss, as he gave up 7 runs in 5 innings.    They dropped the final game, 7-6.    They never led, but made it a 1-run game in the ninth.    Taclas was the standout going 3 for 5 with 2 RBI’s.    The Aggies did accumulate 4 hit by pitches in the game.

Back in New Mexico and playing in Albuquerque, the Lobos beat Aggies, 12-6, on Tuesday.    The game was being streamed on the Lobos’ website.    Unfortunately, I only remembered the game in time to watch the ninth.    The Aggies committed 3 errors, which accounted for 7 of the Lobos’ 12 runs.    Asa Briggs got hung with 4 unearned runs.    Aggie pitching did allow 9 walks.    Easton Rulli had a good game going 2 for 4 with a 3-run homer.    The Aggies at least went 3 and 1 in the Rio Grande Rivalry.

The Aggies began their final series against FIU on Thursday.    It was a 17-12 loss.    FIU was 0-12 in conference road games until this win.    It was 15-6 FIU, until the Aggies had a 6-run eighth, but that was as close as they got.    All five Aggie pitchers gave up multiple runs.    Steve Solorzano had a great game going 2 for 5, had 4 RBI’s off a grand slam, and stole home.    Taclas went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI’s from a homer.    There were over 700 there for the weekday night game.

On Friday, the Aggies had a 6-5 win.    It was a close one.    There was a 5-run third for the Aggies and they led most of the way, but the Panthers came back and had a 2-run inside-the-park homer in the ninth to get it to one.    Turner got the win with 6 scoreless innings.    Dylan Weekly got the save with 2 and 2/3 innings of work, while only giving up that 2-run homer.    Solorzano was 3 for 5 with an RBI, Aiden Lombardi was 3 for 3 with an RBI, and Boston Vest doubled in 2 runs.    (I heard a rumor at work that Solo is on his way to Arizona next year, by the way.)

I was listening to the Tigers and Blue Jays on the radio Saturday morning.    The game was tied late at 1 off of 2 solo home runs.    I went to collect my neighbor, Monty, for the game.    I had told him that the time on the game had changed to 2:00pm yesterday, but he’d only remembered the original 11:00am time and had made other plans.     

I kept listening to the MLB game on the way over.    I’d hoped the Tigers would win it in the ninth, but that didn’t happen, so I brought in a portable radio to keep listening.    The Pan Am Center parking lot was full for Graduation Day.    I think game had been pushed back to accommodate graduation, but I’m not sure.     

It was hot and sunny.    It was 89-degrees to start and got hotter.    A stiff breeze blew over stadium.    This was the first time it’s been hot this season for a game I was going to.    I’d had leftover pizza for lunch and was too full for corn-in-a-cup.    I missed it for the whole season.    

I got lousy reception on my radio in the stands.    The Jays scored in the tenth and won it, 2-1.    Bah, humbug.    There was a Senior Ceremony before game recognizing the 10 seniors on the team.    I noticed the team photographer was wearing a throwback Randy Johnson Diamondbacks jersey.    Looked cool.    The umpires huddled up in prayer before the game.    It was a light crowd, at 431, but they were enthusiastic.    I was seated with Fan Michael, as usual.    His sister, Esther, joined us.    I didn’t see the Reese family there.    Michael said there was a big party that Nellie was going to later.    Nothing was out of the ordinary to this point.

They’re unreal aren’t they?    I had no idea what I was walking into here today.    I never exactly lost the scorecards.    The scoring in this was reasonably straightforward, but I certainly ran out of space in places.    There were a couple of scoring variances in places that made it hard to add up, especially when you’re dealing with large numbers.

JT Price started for the Aggies and the FIU Panthers started early with a 3-run homer in the first.    Jonatan Clough punched right back in the bottom with a triple into the right field corner.    Aidan Taclas cashed him in on a groundout.    3-1 FIU.    There was a friendly couple behind us.    Michael got a souvenir hat for the lady.    It was a nice hat and I passed up several opportunities to get one.    I just couldn’t justify another hat when I have a crate full.

Price got the first two outs in the top of the second.    Aiden Lombardi at third battled the sun and a clear blue sky to get a foul fly for the second out. After a walk, Mario Trivella was hit for the second inning in a row and hard this time. Lombardi made a heroic effort on an infield single, but Cooper Rasmussen beat it out to load the bases.    Andrew Ildefonso then drove in 2 with a single and then another single drove in a third run.    6-1 FIU.

The Panther backup catcher warmed up the pitcher, while the starter got ready.    They head knocked heads when exchanging positions.    Boston Vest began the bottom of the second by getting plunked.    He set the program record for getting hit by pitches during this series.    Lombardi brought him in with a double.    Dane Woodcook singled Lombardi in.    There was a near double play, but the ball to first was thrown away.    The Aggies weren’t able capitalize further.    6-3 FIU.

The FIU Seniors were recognized before the top of the third.    The PA got a tip of the cap from a Panther player.    Jaden Davis came in to pitch in the third.    He worked a scoreless 1-2-3 third inning.    For what was to come, this inning was an accomplishment.     

Steve Solorzano singled to begin the bottom of the third.    Easton Rulli skipped a ball past third base and the two runners hustled to take an extra base.    Vest was hit for the second inning in a row to load the bases.    That “Hit Me” sign he wears really works.    Lombardi came up and dropped a bunt in front of the pitcher.    Solo flew into home just ahead of a glove flip from the pitcher to the catcher.    6-4 FIU.    Cole Cleveland in center made a play on a shallow flyball and then threw out Rulli at the plate to end the inning.

I saw a kid in the crowd wearing a Texas Tailgators t-shirt.    El Paso was hosting Banana Ball games this weekend.    I got to watch one of them on Youtube on Friday.    From seeing the crowd, they do some brisk merchandise business.   

Trey Reese arrived and brought drama with him.    His daughter, Nellie, was not invited to a senior party at the country club. This brought about some angry e-mails from her mom, Robin, to Athletic Director Fields, who was here for the Senior Ceremony, and others.    Soon enough, Nellie was on the guest list, but the slight hadn’t been forgotten.    This doesn’t sound like a big deal, but Trey and Robin were taking this deadly seriously.    Trey wasn’t blaming Coach Jordan for this, but he thought the coach would be gone soon.     

Enough gossip.    Davis gave up two doubles in the top of the fourth, which scored a run to make it, 7-4 FIU.    To start the bottom, Woodcook hit an infield popup that dropped in between five fielders for a gift double.    Camden Kaufman walked, before Solorzano singled in a run.   

Taclas was next called out on a check swing, which was called by the second base ump behind the pitcher.    The crowd was not happy with that.    I mentioned that Triple-A is now using ABS on check swings.    Trey was surprised about that.    Vest cleared the bases with a double and got the crowd up.    Rasmussen snatched a low liner at third to end the inning, but the Aggies were up, 8-7.

A few of the Volleyball girls were here, the ones with Baseball player boyfriends.    They looked so pretty.    Michael and I were invited into the Diamond Club by Trey for drinks.    “I’d take a cold cup of piss right now,” I said, as I was sweltering in the heat. “Let’s see if they have water before you ask for that,” Trey said wisely.    (I did get a cup of water.)    I missed a couple of outs, which was too bad, as it was Davis working another 1-2-3 inning.    I didn’t realize how precious this was at the time.

I stayed for the bottom of the fifth.    It wasn’t a great view, much like when the club was situated down the other baseline (4-10-22).  I was standing at a table next to the field and still with no shade.    (There was a pavilion there, but it was full, as were the tables with umbrellas.)    Going back for more water, I met the guy that runs the place.    There wasn’t any food out there and the alcohol drinks weren’t free.    I don’t know if they had any sodas.    Let’s just say, this place isn’t exactly selling itself.    

Bryce Campbell doubled to start the bottom of the fifth.    A pair of sacrifices brought him in.    Clough painted the right field line for another double.    I finally got to see it go into the corner, which I can’t see from the stands.    (Actually, ump’s call was a little questionable.)    Solo doubled again down the right field line and that was definitely fair.    Clough scored to make it, 10-7 Aggies.    Rulli struck out to end the inning, but I have to mention his epic at bat fouling off pitch-after-pitch.

Graduate Connor Wylde started the top of the sixth.    He hit the first batter.    Clough made a great diving catch for the first out.    Coach Angier came out and got him for Carson Timmons, who struck out the next two batters to end the inning.    In retrospect, this might have been the turning point of the game for the worse.    Wylde probably should have finished the inning.    The Coach seemed committed to letting all of the seniors play, which would have disastrous results.           

The bottom of the sixth brought out a new FIU pitcher.    One of his warm up pitches went straight to the backstop, which brought out jeers from the crowd.    It was foreshadowing.    Vest was walked to start the inning and two wild pitches moved him over to third.    Campbell brought him on a groundout.    11-7 Aggies.    It was all looking good.

The top of seventh and I can’t do it.    I can’t do all of the details.    Let’s just hit the total button here: 11 runs (there wasn’t enough space on the scoreboard to show it), 10 hits, 16 batters, 4 pitchers. Timmons gave up four-straight hits to begin the inning, which culminated in a grand slam by Cole Cleveland over the batter’s eye.    I think I’ve only seen two other shots go over the batter’s eye.   

Vest went ole’ on a grounder next, but no error.    Woodcook took a bad foul tip off his hand.    It really must have hurt, as he was shaking out his hand for about a minute, but he stayed in.    The first out of the inning was on the ninth batter.    Worse, it was a badly executed attempt by Solo to get a double play that only got one.    The Volleyball girls left.    “Tsk.    Baseball boys losing.    Volleyball girls out,” they said walking by.    (They came back later.    Did they have to go to the bathroom together?) By the time the inning finally, blessedly, ended, the crowd was completely deflated.    The PA did the Stretch, but then there was silence afterward.    18-11 FIU.

The Aggies did come back in the bottom of the seventh.    A walk, a hit batter, and an error from short that pulled the first baseman off the bag, loaded the bases with no outs. After a strikeout, there was an attempted double play.    The ball went to second, but the fielder dropped it.    The umps conferenced.    It was ruled an out and that the fielder lost it on the transfer.    The crowd was unruly, but that did score a run.    After a pitching change and another walk to load the bases, Lombardi was hit.    That drove in a second run to make it, 18-13 FIU.   

The top of the eighth began with a single, a walk, a pitching change, and then an FIU 3-run homer by Ildefonso.    The Panther dugout didn’t even seem to care about it.    There wasn’t any big celebration.    A solo homer followed along with another pitching change.    It was be another 4-pitcher inning with 6 more runs scored.    Rulli slammed into the wall in right field to get the final out.    24-13 FIU.   

We were in run rule territory which would have finally ended the game, but it was not to be.    FIU did not help themselves here with 2 walks, 3 wild pitches, 2 errors, and a hit batter.    At one point, the FIU Coach gave the pitcher an angry talk we could hear in the stands.    Aidan Cohall at first fell down catching a foul to finally end the inning.    The Aggies came up with 6 runs, as they batted around.    24-19 FIU.

By the top of the ninth, I’d now seen everything.    After Asa Briggs gave up a walk and a double, Kaufman, the second baseman, came in to pitch.    The Aggies were out of available pitchers, but at least all the seniors got in (ugh). Camden walked his first batter.    When he got his first strike, there was a cheer from the crowd.    They went wild when he got a strikeout. Unfortunately, things came back down to earth as 5 consecutive batters got on after. A chant went up from the crowd.    I was mishearing it at first, but figured out they were saying, “We want Solo!”    Solorzano was a pitcher when he started here, but his arm is apparently permanently on the shelf.    Six more runs and it was, 30-19 FIU.           

Solo, #15, started the bottom of the ninth.    A guy yelled, “Take us to the Promised Land, One-Five!”    You can’t buy that kind of support.    Solo doubled.    By this point, I’d suddenly noticed that the Aggies had scored in every preceding inning.    I was not surprised when Taclas jacked out a two-run homer.    I immediately began ranting to Michael, “They’ve scored in every inning!    Why are they losing!”    After that final outburst, the game finally, at last, definitely, ended.    FIU wins 30-21.    

Let’s examine this.    The Aggies scored in every inning.    Do you know how hard it is to score in 9 straight innings of a ballgame?    It basically never happens, even in blowouts.    The Panthers committed 4 errors and the Aggies played clean.    The Panthers also came into this series winless in 12 conference road games.    All that and the Aggies weren’t even close.   

Further, FIU scored 1 run over 4 innings, so they scored 29 runs over 5 innings.    The Aggies batted around in 1 inning; the Panthers did that for 3 consecutive innings.    There were 51 total runs in the game.    Don’t credit this to good hitting.    Today was batting practice level pitching.    There were 18 pitchers used in this game (well, 17 pitchers, 1 position player) and only 2 were not scored upon for a total of 2/3 of an inning.       

This was a bad team versus a terrible team.    The Aggies should have swept this series, but instead might end up as the butt of a joke on Sports Center for this game.    They’ve already been made a joke of this week.    On the Clay and Buck political talkshow, a Missouri senator talking about NCAA rules mentioned that Arkansas had cut their Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams.    He said, “They’re in the SEC.    They’re not New Mexico State.”    Nine teams make the C-USA Baseball tournament.    That’s not a high bar.    Heads need to roll.

Gameballs?    After that rant?    Obviously, the Panthers did well hitting today.    I’ll highlight two.    Andrew Ildefonso did particularly well going 5 for 7 with 9 RBI’s (!) and 2 home runs.    On the other end, Cole Cleveland went 1 for 6.    That 1 was a grand slam home run.    It was that kind of day for FIU.   

The Aggies did pretty well hitting, too.    Steve Solorzano, possibly in his final game as an Aggie, went 4 for 7 with 2 RBI’s.    Aidan Taclas was 2 for 4 with 4 RBI’s and a home run.    Boston Vest was 2 for 3 with 3 RBI’s.    Aidan Lombardi was 1 for 4, but worked out 4 RBI’s.    That’s lots of hustle and on defense, as well.    I will single out one pitcher today.    Jaden Davis worked 3 innings and gave up 1 run.    That was a masterpiece by comparison to everyone else.         

      

In spite of the 8 hit batters, the teams did line up and shake hands.    As the FIU guys lined up, they tossed their gloves to the dugout.    (Is that a Little League tradition?)    I helped Michael take his signed souvenir posters to hand out to the players and said, “Goodbye.”    I found Trey and Robin and ranted to them about the game and said my farewells there.    There were a couple of AggieVision guys talking in the bathroom.    They were horrified by the game and its length, but pleased with their coverage for the day.

If the game had been quick, I might have just gone home, still full from lunch.    Four and a half hours later in the heat, I had my appetite back and wanted something to drink and some ice cream to cool off with.    I flirted with going to McDonald’s, but didn’t think I could take the disappointment if their ice cream machine was down.    A Chik-fil-a sandwich sounded better than a burger anyway.    Unfortunately, it was a bit of a disappointing meal, much like the season.    Dad called and wondered why I wasn’t home and if there were extra innings.    “Nope,” I said, “Care to guess the score?”    

I do plan on coming back for Baseball next year and the Crimson and White Volleyball Scrimmage, but at $10 a game, there won’t be many for me.    This will end with them charging for parking.    The other sports I’m done with, unless I get a free ticket.    All of the teams were .500 or worse.    I’ve got no reason to expect better from any of the Aggie Sports next year.   

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.