Sandoval News

Congrats to Castillo

Longtime “right-hand woman” to the athletic director at Cleveland High School, Annette Castillo will be honored with the New Mexico High School Coaches Association’s Distinguished Service Award at the annual coaches clinic in Albuquerque in July.

Each year, the NMHSCA recognizes an individual each year who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to help the association or New Mexico coaches.

This award is for individuals who believe in the value of great coaches and the impact coaches make on the lives of others.

Castillo is assistant coach for Storm softball head coach Angel Castillo. She makes life easier for CHS Athletic Director Matt Martinez.

Former Rams assistant has new job

Lubbock Independent School District named one-time Rio Rancho High School assistant football coach Lou Mora as its assistant athletic director.

Mora held the same position in Austin ISD since 2010, overseeing baseball, football, swimming and diving, water polo and wrestling. Mora was also director for track and field and cross country meets.

Mora was an assistant to Rams head coach Phil Lopez (2003-06).

“He was our assistant head coach and defensive coordinator,” Lopez said. “He was an excellent coach and an even better person. I met and coached Lou over at Eastern New Mexico University.”

Latest on the local lanes

Two more bowlers added their names to the entry list for the $60,000 New Mexico Open tournament at Tenpins & More in Rio Rancho.

Eric Carriaga and Eric Vanderlip are among 39 bowlers entered so far for the 18th renewal, expected to reach bowlers by the start date of Aug. 19.

Carriaga, a smooth-stroking righthander, and second to early leader JD Nance with two games to go, finished with a flawless 268-255 for a winning six-game total of 1,470.

Vanderlip, a speedy, heavy-rolling southpaw, was even more brilliant, closing with 276-264 to steamroll Native American Aaron Johnson (236-245), while Nance struggled with 237 and 204 to finish fourth.

Final placings: Carriaga (1,470); Vanderlip (1,442); Johnson (1,417); Nance (1,409); Dan Brenning (1,371); Dominique Muller (1,339); Karen Barcal (1,328); Matthew Tran (1,324) and Joseph Sanchez (1,305).

The Summer Games Center Championships recently started a two-weekend run at Tenpins & More, featuring teams of four, doubles and singles in men’s, women’s, mixed and youth divisions.

RRHS has another volleyball camp

The second of two volleyball camps is planned at Rio Rancho High School in August.

Ram Camp 2 is designed to prepare players for tryouts in their respective grade. This camp will emphasize volleyball skills and drills to prepare seventh- thru 12th-grade players for school tryouts. Fundamentals and techniques for all basic volleyball skills will be emphasized. Additional time will be focused on small and large group team play.

The camp runs Aug. 1-3 from 6-9 p.m. each day. The cost per camper is $85 ($100 on day of), and campers get a T-shirt and the chance to win a door prize each night.

Rams varsity volleyball coach Toby Manzanares, his assistants and area coaches will instruct.

Fore! Chamber holds annual tourney

The Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce is holding its “Rio Rancho Open” golf tournament Aug. 12 at Santa Ana Golf Club with an 8 a.m. shotgun start.

Registration at rrrcc.org/golf is due by Aug. 5 Entry fee includes breakfast and lunch, plus a goodie bag, a raffle and prizes, plus fun.

Sponsors have until July 22 to get on board.

CLL signs players for fall season

Cibola Little League’s fall season starts in September, and the registration fee is $50. The league only provides shirts and hats for the fall season.

It is important that players register ASAP. Teams/players will be limited to ensure a successful fall season. Once the spots in each division fill-up, players will go on a waitlist. If CLL doesn’t fill teams in other divisions, more teams in the filled divisions will be opened.

There will not be a skills assessment or try-out for the fall season at any level, and requests may be made for coaches/teams, but the league is unable to guarantee that your player will be placed on the team requested. This fall, CLL will balance the teams specifically in the minor player pitch division and above. This is designed to help with the development of players that are moving up to the next division in the fall to be ready for the spring.

Practices will begin Aug. 8. Games will be played Sept. 6-Oct 29.

Registration will be online only at cibolalittleleague.com/Default.aspx?tabid=2734972.

If you need assistance with registration costs, reach out to see what options are available. Registration costs should not prevent your player from being part of the Little League experience. Plus, volunteers are needed; select how you can help volunteer when you go through the registration process.

Wrestling camp for girls only

Girls in grades K-12 are invited to attend a two-day wrestling camp at Rio Rancho High School July 30-31.

The cost is $50, with registration closing July 30.

On the 30th, after a meet & greet that starts at 8 a.m., session 1 runs from 9:30-11:30, followed by lunch, provided by the RRHS wrestling program.

Session 2 runs from 12:30-2 p.m.

On the 31st, session 3 takes place from 9-11:30 a.m., followed again by lunch provided by the RRHS mat team, with session 4 running from 12:30-2 p.m.

For more information, contact Rams wrestling coach Mike Santos at michael.santos@rrps.net or 505-417-0039 (or JoAnne 505-907-4557).

Gladiators idle after third loss in a row

Giving up 23 unanswered points in the fourth quarter June 25 led to a Duke City Gladiators’ 49-41 loss in Prescott Valley to the Northern Arizona Wranglers.

The Gladiators (6-8) gave up only seven points, in the game’s opening quarter, while Duke City reached the end zone three times in the second stanza, en route to a 21-14 halftime lead.

The second half’s kickoff was fumbled by the Gladiators, scooped up by Wranglers linebacker Darin Hungerford, and run into the end zone for the touchdown.

The teams traded touchdowns, with Duke City holding a 35-26 lead as the third quarter ended.

The lead grew to 41-26 on quarterback Ramone Atkins’ fourth and final TD pass of the game, a 6-yarder to Greg Dent. The point-after was missed but returned for two points by the Wranglers – and the Gladiators were done scoring in the game, holding a 41-28

Northern Arizona added three TDs in the fourth quarter, sealing the deal when the Gladiators coughed up the kickoff – their lone turnover of the game — following the score that made it a 49-41 Wranglers’ lead with nine seconds to play.

Atkins was 7 of 18 passing for 128 yards, including four TD passes, without an interception.

The Gladiators are idle this week, heading to San Diego July 9 to meet the Strike Force (3-10).

The Gladiators’ regular season ends July 16 when the Wranglers visit the Rio Rancho Events Center in a 6 p.m. kickoff.

Original source found here.