Nine locals selected to North-South

It's not over yet.

High school varsity baseball season ended in Albuquerque a week and a half ago, but all-star games are still to be played at the Bob Ogas North/South All-Star Baseball Classic next month. And for nine area seniors — three from Clovis, two from Portales, two from Texico and one each from Dora and Floyd — high school baseball will last one more weekend.

They're part of an All-Star weekend series that will include a 1A-4A All-Star game series being played at the University of New Mexico's Santa Ana Star Field in Albuquerque, and a 5A-6A All-Star series to be held at Las Cruces' Field of Dreams. The 1A-4A tilts open on June 8 at 7 p.m., followed by June 9 games at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The 5-6A series will begin on June 8 at 7:30 p.m., with two games on June 9 - one at noon, the other starting at the completion of the earlier game.

In the 5-6A game, representing Clovis' 6A state quarterfinalist that tied a school record with 23 victories are pitchers Connor Langrell and Colson Faircloth, along with their battery mate, catcher Jace Piepkorn. Having a trio picked to play in such a game gives high praise to Clovis' baseball program and what it accomplished this spring.

"It is an honor," Clovis coach Richard Cruce said. "Any time that your kids get a chance to continue, especially when they're selected by other coaches around the state, it's a big deal. ... Three of them going together ... to get to go out and play one more time together, that's always fun."

They will compete on the North All-Star team with players from Albuquerque Academy (Markus Parrish), Albuquerque (Luke Wilson) Atrisco Heritage (Steven Barboa, Trent Dewyer, Ethan Harden and Andres Quintana), Cleveland (Jack Murano), La Cueva (Jack Pineda, Austin Schlagel and Hunter Straub), Manzano (Mitchell Parker and Kevin Gutierrez), Miyamura (Brandon Vidal), Piedra Vista (Cody McGaha, Deylan Pigford and Chase Silseth), Rio Grande (Eliazar Torres), Santa Fe (Izaiah Apodaca) and Valley (Ross Montoya).

Piedra Vista's Mike McGaha will coach the 5A-6A North team. Valencia's Carlos Carrasco is coaching the South.

In 1A-4A, all local players are competing on the South All-Star team. Portales' 4A state semifinalist team is represented by catcher Joel Legarda and pitcher Josiah Lucero.

"The guys worked really hard, not only this year but over the course of their careers to get to where they were," Portales coach Dusty Nusser said. "They had a good year, and the rest of the coaches saw that and selected them to the All-Star team."

Pitcher Ben Crist and first baseman Nathan Phipps were selected from Texico's 3A state champion. Rounding out the local representatives are Dora's Aaron Jasso, Floyd's Conner Martin.

As of Tuesday night, Texico coach Ty Thatcher was waiting to hear about a possible third Wolverine representative, with catcher Brock Thompson and center fielder Brayden Wines in the running for an alternate spot.

"We have the possibility of getting a third on," Thatcher said. "I'm not sure if it'll be Brock or Brayden; that's a little bit up in the air. But we definitely will get to see Ben throw again and Nathan hit again, so that's good news."

Crist didn't pitch in Texico's 3A championship-game victory over Estancia on May 11 at Albuquerque's Isotopes Park because junior Dalton Thatcher tossed a complete-game shutout. Crist did, however, make his presence felt with the bat, collecting two hits in the Wolverines' 5-0 victory. Phipps had only one hit, but what a hit it was - a solo homer to left-center.

"Any time that you get those seniors on board, getting to wear the uniform again, it gives them one more chance to perform before they move on to life or move on to the next level," Coach Thatcher said. "It's pretty exciting for them to get to play baseball with some people they've competed against."

Hope Christian's Glen Copeland will coach the team that also includes: Capitan's Price Bowen; Cobre's Josh Arellano; Matthew Otero and Fernando Polanco of Dexter; Hatch Valley's James Gimler; Hope Christian's Aidan McNichol; Jemez Valley's D'Mitry Vigil; Loving's Kevin Martinez; Magdalena's Richie Chavez; Moriarty's Ben Lipke; Gavin Maloney and Francisco Rivera of New Mexico Military Institute; Santa Rosa's Erik Lopez; the Silver duo of Austin Larm and Adrian Saucedo and Tucumcari's Josh Walker.

Robertson's Rick Armijo will coach the 1A-4A North team.

"I'm excited for our kids to get to play with the Maloney kid and Rivera from NMMI, and the Portales guys they've played against the past two years," Coach Thatcher said. "I know they've had respect for the Bowen kid from Capitan. ... So it'll be exciting. Any time you're around the best athletes in the state, it's going to be a fun time."

A fun time that has previously included Thatcher as a coach. He remembers well how positive an experience it is for the players.

"They get to swap stories and play together for a couple of days," he said. "It's a good event."