OK, so I lied. I don't have answers, but I can give odds as to who I think will become the head coaches at Capital (for football) and at Santa Fe High (Or in Lenny Roybal's case with the boys basketball position, will remain). The positions ought to be filled within the next seven-10 days, and then both coaches will have to hit the ground running because the summer is coming very quickly. And the summer is when programs are made. So, here's my handicap. Please, no bets of over $50, the house might not be able to cover it.
Capital football
1. Bill Moon (4-1 odds). You look at Moon's resume and it screams "proven." But you look at his record, especially since he left Capital in 1996, and it indicates a coach who can get a program to the creek. It just doesn't get that sip of water. Perhaps because it rider (Moon) was picked off before he could get that next step. He set the Rio Rancho program up for success, and it made a playoff appearance before falling apart after he left in 1999. Santa Fe High got to 5-5 in 2002, but politics and a 3-7 season in '03 paved his departure route. At Española Valley, Moon's teams went 2-8, but again administrative squabbles ended his tenure.
But that in itself is also a troubling trend, which is why the odds are higher.
2. Quevin Redding (7-1). Redding's youth and enthusiasm make him a strong candidate. His spread offense could attract more talent because of the wide-open brand of football, compared the Moon's tried-and-true I-formation philosophy. He brought Pojoaque its first winning varsity record last year as well as the school's second playoff appearance. He also has experience with programs at schools that has a higher ratio of students from lower-income backgrounds, having coached at Española Valley. The question then, will be can he get a strong enough staff around him.
3. (tie) Mike Dalton and Johnny Carson (15-1). Both are assistant coaches (Dalton with Albuquerque Valley, Carson at Ruidoso) looking to get a valued head coaching job. Dalton has experience at Capital, having coached under Steve Castille in 2004, so he does know the program. It will take a knockout interview for them to move ahead of the other two.
5. Joshua Wallace. If a coach ever gets a job from a phone interview, especially at Capital, he's got to be the second coming of John Calipari or he has no idea what he's getting into. And if he does, why apply?
Santa Fe High boys basketball
1. Porter Cutrell (2-1). He was a very successful coach at Denver prep school Mullen High, compiling a 234-107 record with two Class AAAAA state titles and four championship appearances. Cutrell also has coached athletes to the Division I level, so he has the pedigree. His resume is impressive enough to make him the leader out of the group of nine interviewees. However, coaching at a public school - and at Santa Fe High - is a different ball of wax. No doubt the Demons will be successful under Cutrell, but how long would he stay?
2. David Rodriguez (3-1). He was good enough for Hobbs (albeit that was 11 year ago), but not good enough for Santa Fe High (three years later). But Rodriguez, who coached the Demons from 1992-2002, still commands respect as a candidate. That he will face the likes of Capital, Espanola and Los Alamos instead of La Cueva, Sandia and Valley plays into his hands. The Rodriguez coaching family tree is steep (dad Bob coached the Demons and St. Michael's; brother Ernie is the SFIS head man) and Rodriguez has a reputation that is above reproach. If the committee wants to play it safe, he would be the perfect choice.
3. Rick Apodaca (6-1). I'll say this right off the bat: I'm an Apodaca fan. He was done wrong at Taos, but he had the program moving the right direction. Two seasons under St. Michael's head coach Ron Geyer's tutelage makes him that much better. He already knew Geyer's system, having been under another Geyer protege in Mark Gallegos at Portales, but he is a head coach in waiting. He's communicative, affable and very much a coach players will rally under. Any program - be it Santa Fe High or otherwise - would be better to have him handling it.
4. James Branch/Lenny Roybal (10-1). Sorry, Lenny, I like your chances as County Commissioner better. Roybal says he has the program ready to win a AAAA title right now, but he also said he felt the Demons would play for a state title in the next three years. That was in 2007. The 2009-10 season was a huge disappointment, and I attribute much of that to the falling out between Roybal and former top assistant Gordon Betancourt. Branch is hedging his bets that he won't keep his job at Taos (he is being investigated by the school district over his handling of players), but I've always felt his heart was set on Taos. And I believe he'll stay there.
5. Danny Trujillo/Tom Montoya/John Carpenter (50-1). Trujillo and Montoya are assistant coaches (Trujillo at Taos; Montoya at Santa Fe High) with different backgrounds. Trujillo is looking for his first head coaching opportunity; Montoya is still trying to get back into the game after resigning at St. Michael's in 2002. Both are good coaches, but given the caliber of candidates here, they, too, will have to knock the committee out to get to the top of this list. Nothing is known on Carpenter, so he remains a mystery.
May 15, 2010
Nightcap: No. 1 NMHU vs. No. 6 St. Cloud State
Top of second inning
Oscar Sigala, who had a grand slam in the win over Mesa State, adds a solo poke over the right-field wall for 1-0.
Bottom third
The Huskies manufacture a two-our run when Nate Hammes' chopper bounced of Cowboys shortstop Kyle Gutchewsky couldn't glove. Jordan Smith had an RBI single, then Nate Hammes' grounder up the middle went off Cowboys shortstop Kyle Gutchewsky's glove to let Joey Benke score for 2-1.
Bottom fourth
St. Cloud State continues to get to Wischmann. Steve Rindelaub's single scores Tyler Horning.
Phil Imolte's sacrifice scored another run. Wischmann needs one out to minimize the damage, but no.
Travis Cariveau singles in a run. Joey Benke hits a two-run homer for 7-1 before Wischmann gets out of the inning.
Top fifth.
The inning starts off well with a Gutchewsky single and Phillip Rodriguez is hit by a pitch, as is Thomas DeAngelis to load the bases. But as the Cowboys' luck is with the Huskies, Christian Garcia lines to short and Rodriguez is doubled off. Then St. Cloud State starter Shawn Riesgraf unravels. He hits David Bustillos and then bounces three of four intentional walk pitches to Jason Carr for a run. Then Danny Brown walks on four pitches to push across another run. New pitcher Ryan Schwenke hits Brad Morgan for another run. 7-4. Sigala strikes out to end the inning.
Bottom of sixth
Again, Wischmann can't get the job done and Tyler Shaddy, the closer, is called in with the score 8-4. Benke doubles to put runners on second and third, then Jordan Smith hammers a triple to right center for 10-4. Horning's sacrifice bunt scores smith for 11-4, then all hell breaks loose.
On Rindlaub's groundout to second, he collides with Cowboys first baseman Jason Carr. Words are exchanged and the umpires step in to prevent any escalation.
After a brief conference, Carr is ejected, and Highlands head coach Steve Jones is livid. Eventually he is thrown out as well, and he tries to rally his troops.
Top eighth
It takes a while for the spark to set, but it starts with a Garcia single, then Bustillos is hit by a Jamie Kissell pitch. Brown sends one to the deepest part of center field but it is off the wall. Two runs score and he then scores on Morgan's infield hit for 11-8.
Final
St. Cloud State 12, New Mexico Highlands 8
The Cowboys got nothing going in the ninth, and the Huskies advance to championship Sunday to face Minnesota State.
New Mexico Highlands ends the season at 41-13.
Oscar Sigala, who had a grand slam in the win over Mesa State, adds a solo poke over the right-field wall for 1-0.
Bottom third
The Huskies manufacture a two-our run when Nate Hammes' chopper bounced of Cowboys shortstop Kyle Gutchewsky couldn't glove. Jordan Smith had an RBI single, then Nate Hammes' grounder up the middle went off Cowboys shortstop Kyle Gutchewsky's glove to let Joey Benke score for 2-1.
Bottom fourth
St. Cloud State continues to get to Wischmann. Steve Rindelaub's single scores Tyler Horning.
Phil Imolte's sacrifice scored another run. Wischmann needs one out to minimize the damage, but no.
Travis Cariveau singles in a run. Joey Benke hits a two-run homer for 7-1 before Wischmann gets out of the inning.
Top fifth.
The inning starts off well with a Gutchewsky single and Phillip Rodriguez is hit by a pitch, as is Thomas DeAngelis to load the bases. But as the Cowboys' luck is with the Huskies, Christian Garcia lines to short and Rodriguez is doubled off. Then St. Cloud State starter Shawn Riesgraf unravels. He hits David Bustillos and then bounces three of four intentional walk pitches to Jason Carr for a run. Then Danny Brown walks on four pitches to push across another run. New pitcher Ryan Schwenke hits Brad Morgan for another run. 7-4. Sigala strikes out to end the inning.
Bottom of sixth
Again, Wischmann can't get the job done and Tyler Shaddy, the closer, is called in with the score 8-4. Benke doubles to put runners on second and third, then Jordan Smith hammers a triple to right center for 10-4. Horning's sacrifice bunt scores smith for 11-4, then all hell breaks loose.
On Rindlaub's groundout to second, he collides with Cowboys first baseman Jason Carr. Words are exchanged and the umpires step in to prevent any escalation.
After a brief conference, Carr is ejected, and Highlands head coach Steve Jones is livid. Eventually he is thrown out as well, and he tries to rally his troops.
Top eighth
It takes a while for the spark to set, but it starts with a Garcia single, then Bustillos is hit by a Jamie Kissell pitch. Brown sends one to the deepest part of center field but it is off the wall. Two runs score and he then scores on Morgan's infield hit for 11-8.
Final
St. Cloud State 12, New Mexico Highlands 8
The Cowboys got nothing going in the ninth, and the Huskies advance to championship Sunday to face Minnesota State.
New Mexico Highlands ends the season at 41-13.
Figured since I am at the NCAA Division II Central Region Baseball Tournament ...
I could give those few interested fans an update, which I will do periodically today.
We are in the top of the fourth inning and New Mexico Highlands finds itself up on Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference rival Mesa State 5-0. Third baseman Oscar Sigala, who was 1-for-8 in the first two games of the regional, blasted a grand slam in the first inning to account for the bulk of the runs.
Right-handed pitcher Danny Brown has pitched well so far, allowing just three hits. He also is getting support from his defense, which has turned three double plays so far in the game.
Brown just gave up his fourth hit, an RBI single Chase Moore, as the Mavericks cut the margin to 5-1 but he averts further trouble.
Bottom of fourth
Highlands responds with a run on Thomas DeAngelis' double into the right-field corner, scoring Scott Heath from second for 6-1.
Top of sixth
The Cowboys score twice in the fifth, thanks to Kyle Gutchewsky's two-run single, but Brown can't make it through the sixth because of injury. Derek Grieve relieves him with one out in the sixth and the Mavs putting runners at first and third.
Exit Brown, enter the Mavs offense.
Grieves third pitch to JOhn Schmidtbauer is deposited over the center field wall for a three-run home run for 8-5. Peter Arakawa then bunts and Grieve throws the ball into right field to put him on second.
Top of seventh
NMHU comes right back, powered by Jason Carr's towering three-run home run that took forever to clear the center field fence. That puts the Cowboys in good position again, leading 11-5.
Bottom of eighth
Mesa State isn't quite dead yet. The Mavs score three in the eighth off of Grieve, with Brett Bigbur finally getting his first hit of the day - a two-run double to make it 11-8.
NMHU 11, Mesa State 8
The Cowboys keep their season alive, as closer Tyler Shaddy shuts the door on the Mavs with a 1-2-3 ninth. Now comes the rematch with St. Cloud State, which disposed of Highlands 11-2 on Thursday.
Game time is about 35 minutes away ...
We are in the top of the fourth inning and New Mexico Highlands finds itself up on Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference rival Mesa State 5-0. Third baseman Oscar Sigala, who was 1-for-8 in the first two games of the regional, blasted a grand slam in the first inning to account for the bulk of the runs.
Right-handed pitcher Danny Brown has pitched well so far, allowing just three hits. He also is getting support from his defense, which has turned three double plays so far in the game.
Brown just gave up his fourth hit, an RBI single Chase Moore, as the Mavericks cut the margin to 5-1 but he averts further trouble.
Bottom of fourth
Highlands responds with a run on Thomas DeAngelis' double into the right-field corner, scoring Scott Heath from second for 6-1.
Top of sixth
The Cowboys score twice in the fifth, thanks to Kyle Gutchewsky's two-run single, but Brown can't make it through the sixth because of injury. Derek Grieve relieves him with one out in the sixth and the Mavs putting runners at first and third.
Exit Brown, enter the Mavs offense.
Grieves third pitch to JOhn Schmidtbauer is deposited over the center field wall for a three-run home run for 8-5. Peter Arakawa then bunts and Grieve throws the ball into right field to put him on second.
Top of seventh
NMHU comes right back, powered by Jason Carr's towering three-run home run that took forever to clear the center field fence. That puts the Cowboys in good position again, leading 11-5.
Bottom of eighth
Mesa State isn't quite dead yet. The Mavs score three in the eighth off of Grieve, with Brett Bigbur finally getting his first hit of the day - a two-run double to make it 11-8.
NMHU 11, Mesa State 8
The Cowboys keep their season alive, as closer Tyler Shaddy shuts the door on the Mavs with a 1-2-3 ninth. Now comes the rematch with St. Cloud State, which disposed of Highlands 11-2 on Thursday.
Game time is about 35 minutes away ...
May 12, 2010
When you're 22 years old ...
Make sure you do a better job of faking that you're 16. This means you, Guerdwich Montimere. The 22 year old, who played basketball at Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., tried for a second prep career in Odessa, Texas, as "Jerry Joseph."
He got to his sophomore year at Odessa Permian before the gig was up. On Tuesday, Joseph/Montimere admitted his rouge and was arrested. He can thank his appearance at an AAU basketball camp with the Albuquerque-based New Mexico Force team for blowing his cover. That's where his former AAU coach spotted him.
You can read the rest here from the Odessa American, which broke the story last week.
He got to his sophomore year at Odessa Permian before the gig was up. On Tuesday, Joseph/Montimere admitted his rouge and was arrested. He can thank his appearance at an AAU basketball camp with the Albuquerque-based New Mexico Force team for blowing his cover. That's where his former AAU coach spotted him.
You can read the rest here from the Odessa American, which broke the story last week.
Apr 13, 2010
Just act like the last month and a half never happened (Oh, and Sepulveda results!)
Would it be so wrong to just move on? Well, I am, so there!
So, since the Marilyn Sepulveda Meet of Champions on Monday, I figured I'd give a rundown on the area athletes at the event.
Without further ado ... :
Boys
Reece Goodman, Capital -200 meters, 3rd, 21.99 seconds; 400, 1st, 48.98; high jump, 7th, 5 feet, 10 inches.
Kyle Pittman, Los Alamos - 1,600, 1st, 4:25.05.
Tim Wermer, Los Alamos - 3,200, 9th, 10:41.51.
Morgan Redmond, Santa Fe High - 300 hurdles, 3rd, 41.27.
Oliver Funsten, Los Alamos - discus, 8th, 130-2.
Girls
Chase Ealey, Los Alamos - 100, 5th, 12.27; shot put, 1st, 45-2 1/2.
Kate Norskog, St. Michael's - 1,600, 5th, 5:31.79.
Holly Walker, Los Alamos - 3,200, 1st, 11:54.59.
Emily Pittman, Los Alamos - 3,200, 10th, 12:40.64.
Victoria Honnell, Los Alamos - 3,200, 14th, 12:50.63.
Laura Wendelberger, Los Alamos - high jump, 2nd, 5-0.
Lindsey Benage, Los Alamos - high jump, 7th,. 4-10.
Emily Weeks, Los Alamos - long jump, 4th, 17-4 1/4.
Yeshemabet Turner, Pecos - triple jump, 3rd, 37-9.
Linda Esquibel, West Las Vegas - triple jump, 6th, 35-9 1/2.
Alexandra Nichols, Los Alamos - javelin, 1st, 132-7.
So, since the Marilyn Sepulveda Meet of Champions on Monday, I figured I'd give a rundown on the area athletes at the event.
Without further ado ... :
Boys
Reece Goodman, Capital -200 meters, 3rd, 21.99 seconds; 400, 1st, 48.98; high jump, 7th, 5 feet, 10 inches.
Kyle Pittman, Los Alamos - 1,600, 1st, 4:25.05.
Tim Wermer, Los Alamos - 3,200, 9th, 10:41.51.
Morgan Redmond, Santa Fe High - 300 hurdles, 3rd, 41.27.
Oliver Funsten, Los Alamos - discus, 8th, 130-2.
Girls
Chase Ealey, Los Alamos - 100, 5th, 12.27; shot put, 1st, 45-2 1/2.
Kate Norskog, St. Michael's - 1,600, 5th, 5:31.79.
Holly Walker, Los Alamos - 3,200, 1st, 11:54.59.
Emily Pittman, Los Alamos - 3,200, 10th, 12:40.64.
Victoria Honnell, Los Alamos - 3,200, 14th, 12:50.63.
Laura Wendelberger, Los Alamos - high jump, 2nd, 5-0.
Lindsey Benage, Los Alamos - high jump, 7th,. 4-10.
Emily Weeks, Los Alamos - long jump, 4th, 17-4 1/4.
Yeshemabet Turner, Pecos - triple jump, 3rd, 37-9.
Linda Esquibel, West Las Vegas - triple jump, 6th, 35-9 1/2.
Alexandra Nichols, Los Alamos - javelin, 1st, 132-7.
Feb 28, 2010
Class AAA projections (final)
Juts a quick run-down and (maybe) a brief explanation when warranted.
1. Hope Christian (26-1).
2. Lovington (22-4)
3. Sandia Prep (17-9).
4. SFIS (20-7). Loss to St. Michael's dropped the Braves to No. 4 (although I had them there the whole time).
5. St. Michael's (17-10). Can thank Bloomfield for winning the 1AAA crown for this jump up.
6. Tohatchi (20-5). Missed out on a top five seed.
7. Pojoaque (19-10). Who did the Elks beat? SFIS, Socorro and Las Vegas Robertson three times.
8. Bloomfield (23-6). Who did the Bobcats beat? Tohatchi on Saturday. That's it.
9. Socorro (13-13). Sorry Warriors, that sad nondistrict record and schedule doesn't help. Besides, you still get a home game.
10. Wingate (18-10). Losing two of three times to Bloomfield knocked the Bears down a peg.
11. Robertson (18-9). The Cardinals benefit from Portales' run in the 4AAA tournament.
12. Portales (14-12). The Rams' went 6-3 to finish the regular season before losing to Lovingon in the 4AAA championship. Sorry to be ...
13. NMMI (18-10). Losing two of three to Portales didn't help.
14. Newcomb (14-12).
15. Thoreau (12-15).
16. Ruidoso (9-17). Beat Hot Springs. Went 3-1 against 3AAA. Enough said.
1. Hope Christian (26-1).
2. Lovington (22-4)
3. Sandia Prep (17-9).
4. SFIS (20-7). Loss to St. Michael's dropped the Braves to No. 4 (although I had them there the whole time).
5. St. Michael's (17-10). Can thank Bloomfield for winning the 1AAA crown for this jump up.
6. Tohatchi (20-5). Missed out on a top five seed.
7. Pojoaque (19-10). Who did the Elks beat? SFIS, Socorro and Las Vegas Robertson three times.
8. Bloomfield (23-6). Who did the Bobcats beat? Tohatchi on Saturday. That's it.
9. Socorro (13-13). Sorry Warriors, that sad nondistrict record and schedule doesn't help. Besides, you still get a home game.
10. Wingate (18-10). Losing two of three times to Bloomfield knocked the Bears down a peg.
11. Robertson (18-9). The Cardinals benefit from Portales' run in the 4AAA tournament.
12. Portales (14-12). The Rams' went 6-3 to finish the regular season before losing to Lovingon in the 4AAA championship. Sorry to be ...
13. NMMI (18-10). Losing two of three to Portales didn't help.
14. Newcomb (14-12).
15. Thoreau (12-15).
16. Ruidoso (9-17). Beat Hot Springs. Went 3-1 against 3AAA. Enough said.
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