PHS softball drops three at Artesia

ARTESIA —The Portales High softball team had a tough time in the Lady Dog Invitational here over the weekend.

Portales (7-7) finished last in the eight-team field after dropping 4-3 and 12-9 decisions on Saturday to Roswell Goddard and Roswell High, respectively.

PHS’ only senior, Adriana Romero, was taken to a hospital in Lubbock in a 4-3 first-ross loss to host Artesia on Friday after she was hit on the helmet by a throw to first and sustained an eye injury. She was airlifted to a hospital in Lubbock and will remain there until Tuesday, PHS coach Robbie Crowley said Saturday night.

Crowley said the injury appears to be healing well, but doctors want Romero to remain inactive at least for the time being.

PHS trailed Artesia just 4-3 before the Lady Bulldogs scored nine in the bottom of the sixth to end the game on the 10-run rule.

In Saturday’s consolation semifinal, the Lady Rams were in front 3-0 before Goddard plated four runs in the fourth and held on for the win. Roswell High then erased a 9-6 deficit with three in the sixth and three in the seventh, scoring the go-ahead run when Lindsey Dubiel stole home on a throw back to the pitcher.

“We’re just young,” Crowley said. “Especially as young as we are, you better stay focused and know what’s going on in all situations — all the time.”

PHS returns to action on Saturday when it hosts a pre-district tournament for District 4-3A. The Lady Rams meet Lovington at 10 a.m., followed by Lovington against Ruidoso at noon and PHS against Ruidoso at 2 p.m.

Track — Competing for the first time this spring, Portales High’s track teams earned two state-qualifying marks in Thursday’s Jal Invitational, which was called with seven running events left due to cold and high winds. No team scores were available.

For the boys, senior Tyler Johnson qualified in discus with a throw of 136 feet, good for second place. Freshman Jordan Roehl qualified in girls shot put, winning the event at 34-4 1/2.

Alonzo Ontiveros took the boys’ only event win, throwing 111-6 in javelin. Joe Derrick Rodriguez was sixth in the event in 111-6.

Other field event points for the Rams came in high jump, with Bo Gabriel finishing second (5-10), Richard Cage fifth (5-6) and Hunter Rackler sixth (5-6); in shot put, where Tyler Johnson was fourth (38-4) and Tyson Johnson fifth (37-6); in discus, with Ontiveros placing sixth (111-0); in long jump, with Joey Moore finishing sixth (15-8), and in triple jump, with Deonte Wysche placing sixth (35-0).

On the track, Justin Jones was second in the 3,200 (12:00.76); Richard Cage was second in the 110 hurdles (17.71; Jason Needman came in second (11.21) and Eric Segovia third (11.3) in the 100), and Evan Hinton was third in the 1,600 (time not available). The 400 relay team of Robert Kemp, Amador Lujan, Segovia and Wysche was second in 47.02.

“We’re probably in the best overall condition we’ve been in going into a season,” PHS boys coach Glenn Johnson said. “We’ll be able to tell more when we go to Hobbs on Tuesday (for a quadrangular), but I’m very pleased with the way we’re competing at this point in the season.”

For the Lady Rams, junior Michaela Alexander won the 1,600 (6:46) and 3,200 (13.47), with Desirae Petersen second in the 1,600 (7:06) and Caroline Knudson was fourth in the 100 (13.5). The 400 relay team of Katherine and Caroline Kundson, Kim Lopez and Miller took third in 57 seconds.

Other girls field points came from Roehl, fourth in discus (87-5 1/2) and Misty Miller, fifth in long jump (13-8).

“Considering it was our first time out, I was pleased,” PHS girls coach Ruth Chavez said of her squad. “I thought they did really well.”

Tennis — Portales High finished 10th in the 16-team Amarillo Relays tournament on Friday and Saturday.

Each school posted two entries in singles and two in doubles.