District 1A Volleyball battle continued Saturday

Springer        24 25 17 21

Des Moines  26 23 25 25

District 1A Volleyball battle continued Saturday

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

            The battle for supremacy continued Saturday night in District 1A volleyball as the Des Moines Lady Demons hosted the Springer Lady Red Devils yet it took the Lady Demons four games to stay off the Lady Red Devils.

            A walk in the park it wasn’t either as the lead changed several times in game one and was even tied going into the final points of the game at 24. The battle at the net was between Lady Demon Shelby Walker and Alisha Frye.

            As game two continued other net battles started such as the one with Samantha Bostillo and Brandy Burton. It was blocks and spikes back and forth again keeping the score close until Springer took the lead and went on to win it by two after a tie at 23.

            The match continued and was destined for four or five games by this time. The Lady Demons currently are in first place in the district and in game three continued to show why as they created a small lead and hung on to pulling out the game by eight.

            Game four was a bit closer yet strong play with good spikes from Shelby Walker and Samantha Bostillo lead the Lady Demons to a lead. But the Lady Red Devils wouldn’t give up that easily and created some long lasting vollies that kept up the excitement.

            By the end of game four it was a Des Moines match and a firm grasp on the lead in the district. District 1A will start tourney play this week as well with Cimarron traveling to Questa for match one on Tuesday and the winner will travel to Springer on Thursday. Des Moines will host the district championship on Saturday.

LRD Brandy Burton makes the hit as LD Samantha Bostillo goes up for the block during the match in Des Moines Saturday night (10-29-2011)

LRD Brandy Burton makes the hit as LD Samantha Bostillo goes up for the block during the match in Des Moines Saturday night (10-29-2011)

LRD Alisha Frye makes the block as LD Auna Walker sends the ball over the net Saturday night (10-29-2011)

LRD Alisha Frye makes the block as LD Auna Walker sends the ball over the net Saturday night (10-29-2011)

The Battle at the net continues with LRD Brandy Burton and LD Samantha Bostillo Saturday night (10-29-2011)

The Battle at the net continues with LRD Brandy Burton and LD Samantha Bostillo Saturday night (10-29-2011)

C-team

Raton               25 25

Robertson      21 21

JV

Raton                          25 25

Robertson      12 23

Varsity

Raton              18  25  25  25  14

Robertson      25  27  22  13  16

Robertson dowses first place hopes for Tigers

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

            It was another one of those volleyball matches that kept fans on the edge of their seat and whooping and hollering cheering the girls on. But when this one was over Raton saw a first place finish dashed as they fell to a 3-2 district record behind West Las Vegas 4-1.

            In game one fans were wondering if the girls would wake up as they fell short 25-18. During game one it was bad serves and missed hits that gave Robertson the win.

The girls began to come alive and play ball in game two as they kept close or took a brief lead during the game. Again it was the girls play at the net that kept things going. Robertson began to play the longer shot instead of the spike. As Raton adjusted they stayed close and tied the game at 24 and 25. West made the last two points and won that game.

Raton and Robertson again kept it close with neither team taking a solid and commanding lead during the third game. Raton finally took the lead and the win after a tie at 22.

In game four Raton took off and managed an early lead and later a commanding lead. From there they looked more like the Raton team they were known for. It was a 2-2 match and time for a tie breaker.

The heat was on and both teams kept this a close one. It was a tie game not once, not twice, but several times and again at 14. Hearts a pounding and sweaty palms and who was going to bring this one out. Robertson got a lucky hit and took the lead. It was 15-14, one point left for the win. The volley went back and forth and a hit went just out side the reach and hit the floor inside the white line. Robertson won 16-14 and the disappointment could be seen.

Instead of a tie breaker in Taos with Raton and West, as was talked about it, will be Taos traveling to Robertson on Tuesday for the beginning of the district playoff. The winner will come to Raton on Thursday and that winner will go to West Las Vegas on Saturday for the championship game and a chance of a state tourney trip.  Go Lady Tigers!!!

Mikala Vertovec makes the reach for the ball Saturday afternoon (10-29-2011)

Mikala Vertovec makes the reach for the ball Saturday afternoon (10-29-2011)

Tangled up is Shania Dorrance and Sarandon Walton as Sarandon gets low and the ball Saturday afternoon (10-29-2011)

Tangled up is Shania Dorrance and Sarandon Walton as Sarandon gets low and the ball Saturday afternoon (10-29-2011)

Its a stretch as Arissa Maldonado goes for the ball well out of bounds to keep the ball in play Saturday afternoon (10-29-2011)

Its a stretch as Arissa Maldonado goes for the ball well out of bounds to keep the ball in play Saturday afternoon (10-29-2011)

Yellow Flags Fly in Friday night game

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

           

            The AstroTurf at Perkins stadium in Las Vegas saw plenty of yellow (20 penalties) Friday night as the Dons hosted the Tigers for a district match up.

            It was also a night of big plays and missed tackles as both teams changed the numbers on the scoreboard often for a total of 100 points by both teams. Raton however put more on the board for the win, a final of 60-40.

            Scoring started late in the first after a troubling start for the Tiger offense. Raton held West and they turned it over on downs with Raton promptly turning it back over to the Dons. The defense held and again Raton took over on downs and it was a 45-yard TD pass to Mark Hightree that put Raton on the board first. The 2-point try was good and Raton was on top 8-0 at 4:20 on the clock.

            West fumbled again on their next series with Raton recovering it on the Raton 36. Raton started down field and a couple of penalties Raton makes it to the West 15 and a short pass to Seth Parker finishes the drive for six. This time the 2-point failed leaving Raton on top 14-0 with 2:06 on the clock.

            Stephen Urioster took the ball 90 yards on the kickoff and started the scoring for West. The 2-point failed and it was a 14-6 game with 1:48 still left in the first.

            A couple of punts later and Raton took the ball on the 46. A 14-yard run was called back on a holding penalty followed by a 49-yard pass to Troy Hall for six more Raton points. It was another pass to Hall for the 2-point try and a 22-6 ball game with 10:36 in the second.

            More yellow on the kickoff and a play later West fumbles the ball and Seth Parker takes it to the 39. Two runs later and another flag followed by a sack and George Marquez fumbles at the West 39. Here it comes another big West pass play to Jordan Lopez for 61 yards and six more. The 2-point failed and Raton was up by 10.

            The on-side kick off gave Raton great field position at the 50. Yet a holding penalty and a sack along with a bad snap on the punt gives West the ball on the Raton 19. Three plays later David Sanchez scampers the eight yards for six. Jay Morrales plowed through for the 2-point play and it was a 22-20 game with 4:54 on the clock.

            Raton suffers again from a yellow flag and is forced to punt. West starts up field and despite a 15-yard offensive interference call West gets the ball to the three where quarterback George Martinez scampers the three yards for six. With 35 seconds on the clock it was a 22-26 ball game after a failed 2-point try.

            Raton goes 45 yards in two plays and a short pass to George Marquez makes six with 11 seconds on the clock. Another pass and George finds the end zone again for the 2-point conversion and it’s a 30-26 ball game. The kickoff ends the half and a wild quarter.

            The third quarter starts where the second left off when Raton’s Matt Ortiz gets off a pass to George Marquez who zigs and zags the 45 yards for six with only 11:14 on the clock. Ortiz takes it in for the 2-point and a 38-26 game.

            Wow!! It’s another 90 yard plus scamper by Jordan Lopez for another West TD, the 2-point failed and with only 58 seconds gone on the clock it was a 38-32 game.

            Raton goes the 55 yards with the help of two offside penalties and finishes the drive with a Matt Ortiz scramble of five yards for six. Seth Parker takes it in for the 2-point and only 10:13 on the clock. That’s three scores in only a minute and 47 seconds and a 46-32 game.

            Raton recovers the on-side-kick but West intercepts a Matt Ortiz pass at the West 36. West heads up field and despite a holding call keeps on going and then George Marquez finds a George Martinez pass and takes it to the 23. A pass interference call on a pass to play puts the ball at the West 40 then West intercepts an Ortiz pass and takes it to the 46 and tacks on a facemask penalty. Dylan Aragon picks off a Martinez pass in the end zone to save a West touch down.

            Raton gets a couple of big plays with a 33 yard Ortiz run and 15 yard pass play and this drive ends with a 2-yard pass play to George Marquez and six more. The 2-point fails and it’s a 52-32 game.

            Three and out for West then a play later its another pass interception giving West the ball at the Raton 42. Another three and a fake punt and a holding penalty gives west a chance but still turn the ball over on downs.

            Raton has a 34-yard pass to Hall followed by a 49-yard pass play to Tyler Vertovec for six. Ortiz scampers in for the 2-point conversion and it’s a 60-32 game with 4:40 on the board.

            George Martinez scampers 48 yards to Raton 1-yard line and then dives over the line with 2:42 left. A pass to Jordan Lopez adds 2-points and it is a 60-40 ball game.

            Raton with the help of two offside penalties and a procedure call manage to run the clock out and put to bed a wild ball game and a 2-1 district finish. Raton will now host Santa Fe St. Mikes Friday night.

squirt there goes the ball. Raton recovered this one but it didn't last long as they fumbled a couple of plays later Friday night (10-28-2011)

squirt there goes the ball. Raton recovered this one but it didn't last long as they fumbled a couple of plays later Friday night (10-28-2011)

There goes George Marquez as he scampered down the field Friday night (10-28-2011) in Perkins Stadium

There goes George Marquez as he scampered down the field Friday night (10-28-2011) in Perkins Stadium

In the open Jonathan Roybal bears down on Raton's Troy Hall as he catches a Matt Ortiz pass and then heads for the goal line Friday night (10-28-2011)

In the open Jonathan Roybal bears down on Raton's Troy Hall as he catches a Matt Ortiz pass and then heads for the goal line Friday night (10-28-2011)

            

C-team

WLV 25  25

Raton 9    9

JV

WLV   26  14

Raton 28  25

Varsity

WLV    25  26  17  13  15

Raton  13  24  25  25 11

Tough Loss for Lady Tigers

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

            Wow oh wow, wipe the sweat from my brow, heart pounding, sweaty palms kind of volleyball Saturday afternoon in Tiger Gym as the Lady Dons came to play and play they did taking the Lady Tiger to five games in the district match.

            As game one got underway it looked like both teams had just woke up and were sluggish then the Lady Dons came alive and worked the net with great blocks turned points and hits that fell to the court. Finally the Lady Dons scored the final point and ended the Lady Tiger misery.

            Game two however started the sweaty palms as both teams came alive and the battle of the net began in earnest. Both teams were making the blocks and hits at the net and the score went back and forth as players like Maya Roybal and Faith Romero went head to head with Arissa Maldonado and Mikala Vertovec. Others at the net for West included Ellena Armijo, Larissa Gallegos and Rebecca Goldean. Goldean one of the taller West players was deadly at the net with spikes while Maggie Honeyfield, Jordan Valdez and Makayla Mondragon along with Breannon Trujillo battled the blocks and hits. The lead had changed hands several times and the game was tied multiple times with the last coming at 24. Yet by the final whistle the Lady Tigers had powered their way to 26 and a win.

            This battle continued throughout the game two and into game three. The girls had some extended vollies that kept the heart pounding as the ball went back and forth with diving saves and hits stretching the out of bounds line. The crowd by now was well into the games cheering both teams on and making this an afternoon to enjoy and remember for the girls.

            In game four it looked like West might have lost their rhythm as they dropped this game by more than 10. It didn’t last and the tiebreaker was just as exciting as game two and three. Raton took an early lead but West stayed close and tied it up before they extended the lead by four 10-6 But Raton continued to battle and keep it close until West put together a rally that extended their lead and as the final whistle blew gave them the win by four.

            Raton with a 3-1 record in district play is easily in front and on their way to a district title. The way the district plays out will now fall to how Robertson and West play each other. West beat Robertson 3-0 in their first meeting. Taos is in last and with losses to all three district opponents will likely stay there. Raton will host Taos on Thursday and travel to Robertson Saturday to end regular season play. 

Senior Arrissa Maldonado demonstrates the magic of volleyball as she makes the hit with her eyes closed Saturday evening (10-22-2011)

Senior Arrissa Maldonado demonstrates the magic of volleyball as she makes the hit with her eyes closed Saturday evening (10-22-2011)

Brittny Garcia makes the hit and slides it by Larrissa Gallegos and Ellena Armijo Saturday evening (10-22-2011)

Brittny Garcia makes the hit and slides it by Larrissa Gallegos and Ellena Armijo Saturday evening (10-22-2011)

Here Elena Romero goes tip to tip with Maggie Honeyfield Saturday evening (10-22-2011) in Tiger Gym

Here Elena Romero goes tip to tip with Maggie Honeyfield Saturday evening (10-22-2011) in Tiger Gym

Cardinals stun Tigers at Home

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

            Two plays, only two plays and a PAT, Robertson was on the scoreboard with seven and only 45 seconds have run off the clock. Coach Brock Walton later said, “I thought we were better prepared than we really appeared to be.” As The Robertson Cardinals stun the Tigers in a 35 to 6 romp.

            The Robertson defense did their job as well and held Raton at bay. The next Robertson series ended with a field goal attempt that went wide. Raton now had the ball on the 20 and with the help of a persona foul penalty they moved forward. Matt Ortiz laid out a short pass to George Marquez and 60 yards later Raton had six. The PAT wobbled wide and it was a 6-7 game at 3:58 on the clock.

            As second quarter action got underway Robertson’s Justin Bustos made the 37-yard field goal, 11:52 on the clock and it was a 6-10 score. Again the Cardinal defense did their job and kept Raton clear of the goal line and getting the ball back on their 23.

            The next Robertson series was all Dalan Abreu with a little help from Cardinal quarterback Girard Maestas who took it on the ground and rambled up the field. Abreu himself went 10, 15, and then 30 yards, which placed the ball at the Raton one. Abreu did the honors and went in almost untouched. Bustos missed the PAT and left Robertson on top 16-6.

            The second half was even crueler to the Tigers when Robertson’s Dalan Abreu picked off a Matt Ortiz pass at the Raton 40. A 28 yard run by Maestas was called back on a hold and then a procedure penalty had Robertson on a 1^st and 25. A run then a 25-yard pass play and it was at the five. This time James Gonzales took the honors and six. Bustos shanked the PAT and it was now a 22-6 ball game.

            The Robertson defense forces a Raton punt and from the Robertson 37 they march up field. Penalties plague this series but they go both ways and a facemask penalty puts the ball on the Raton six. Maestas rambles in from the six and Bustos nails the PAT for a 29-6 game.

            Raton rumbles down the field, inside the red zone Raton suffers a sack and then in the end zone it goes, no not a Raton touchdown but a Robertson pass interception by Dominic Lucero. Robertson took the ball at the 20 and worked it to the 35 where Girard Maestas seals the deal with a 65-yard romp for six. The PAT failed and left the score a dismal 35 to 6 with only 5:42 left on the clock.

            Robertson again ended another Raton drive deep in Cardinal territory when Lucero found another Matt Ortiz pass. It was only a matter of running out the clock and Robertson did that with the second-string offense then the first-string defense held Raton and forced the ball over on downs. A knee ended the game and a stunned Raton team wondered what happened.

            After the game the Raton huddle was quiet and coach Walton shaking his head told KRTN we will have to go back and look at the video. He added the coaches will have to study the video and see what went wrong. One thing that did go wrong was allowing the run to the outside, which often times ended in big yardage.

            Raton will now prepare and travel to West Las Vegas for the final district game of the season Friday night.

            

It right there as George Marquez makes it look so easy as he brings in a beautiful Matt Ortiz pass Friday (10-21-2011) night in the Jungle

It right there as George Marquez makes it look so easy as he brings in a beautiful Matt Ortiz pass Friday (10-21-2011) night in the Jungle

Sticky hands and concentration and Mark Hightree brings this one in for a Raton first down and puts them in striking distance Friday (10-21-2011) night

Sticky hands and concentration and Mark Hightree brings this one in for a Raton first down and puts them in striking distance Friday (10-21-2011) night

Its an open field tackle as Dylan Aragon brings James Gonzales down Friday (10-21-2011) night in the Jungle

Its an open field tackle as Dylan Aragon brings James Gonzales down Friday (10-21-2011) night in the Jungle

The clock explains it all as Girard Maestas goes down the near sideline toward the pylons and the final six of the night for Robertson (10-21-2011)

The clock explains it all as Girard Maestas goes down the near sideline toward the pylons and the final six of the night for Robertson (10-21-2011)

Cteam

Robertson 25  23  15

Raton         18  25  12

JV

Robertson 18  22

Raton          25  25

Varsity

Robertson 16  15  19

Raton         25  25  25

Tigers taste Cardinals in district match

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

            Raton Lady Tigers continue their district win streak with a 3-0 win over the Robertson Lady Cardinals Thursday evening in Tiger Gym.

            Again as in other games the Lady Tigers worked the net well as Mikala Vertovec and Arissa Maldonado teamed up for blocks and Mikala with hits over the net from sets from Arissa. Jordan Valdez and Breannon Trujillo were also big contributors at the net.

            In game one the Lady Cardinals kept the backcourt busy for Raton setting up the passes so the net squad could do their job. Raton took an early lead and didn’t look back. Abbey Bradley and Caelin Bustos along with Jenna Rhoads worked the net for Robertson but often found the ball falling back in their laps from the blocks put up by the net squad.

            Game two was another runaway as Raton put up a big lead of 11 or 10 points before they finally put it away by 10. Maggie Honeyfield along with Vertovec made the hits sail and tough to handle for the Lady Cardinals.

            In game three the Lady Tigers took off but faltered and the Lady Cardinals cut the five to seven point lead to one. It was 18-19 and Raton pulled the plug on the Lady Cardinals with a couple of aces and hits that dropped in the Robertson court.

            Raton finished the Lady Cardinals off to go 3-0 in district play and will now host the Lady Dons Saturday afternoon in Tiger Gym. 

Breannon Trujillo makes the hit as Brittnay Boyle goes for the block in the varsity game with Robertson Thursday (10-20-2011) evening in Tiger Gym

Breannon Trujillo makes the hit as Brittnay Boyle goes for the block in the varsity game with Robertson Thursday (10-20-2011) evening in Tiger Gym

Lady Cardinal Jenna Rhoads makes the hit as Breannon Trujillo gets the block and Mikayla Mondragon helps out Thursday (10-20-2011) evening

Lady Cardinal Jenna Rhoads makes the hit as Breannon Trujillo gets the block and Mikayla Mondragon helps out Thursday (10-20-2011) evening

Tigers tame Tigers in Taos

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

            It looked like it might be a run away game as the Raton Tigers took off on their first possession and went the distance for six followed by another TD before the end of the first quarter for a 13-0 lead.

            Raton went the 75 yards on their first drive in the air, in part with one 50-yard pass play to Mark Hightree. The drive culminated with a 7-yard pass play to Devon Casias. Jordan Darras’ PAT was good and Raton was up by seven.

            Raton took a fumble at the Taos 29 and turned it into six more when a Matt Ortiz pass was tipped by Taos Tiger Max Suazo that fell right into Devon Casias’s hands at the five, Casias then walked into the end zone. Darras’ PAT went wide leaving the score 13-0.

            Max Suazo took the kickoff to the Taos 44 and then a 47-yard pass play from Dakota Swinehart to Max Suazo took the ball to the Raton three. From there it was Isaac Gonzales who took it in for the Tigers and Swinehart’s PAT made it a six point game with 2:05 left in the first.

            Swinehart added three for Taos on a 30-yard field goal with 9:56 in the second.

            It became a defensive struggle until Raton fumbled at the Taos 15 the on the next play Taos fumbled on their 21 and Raton was able to make that turnover work in their favor and put six more on the board when Mark Hightree took it in from the five. At 7:02 in the second it was a 19-10 game.

            Taos turned it around and went 79 yards with the help of a 68-yard TD pass play to Josh Valencia. Swinehart’s PAT was good and brought the score to 19-17 with 6:25 on the clock.

            Dakota Swinehart with his leg and kicking ability took away any chance of a kickoff return by putting the ball deep into the end zone preventing any Raton returns most of the night. From the 20-yard line Raton moved forward, yet a holding penalty moved it back some. Later a pass interference penalty and an offside call helped move the ball down the field to give Raton good field position. From near mid-field Matt Ortiz put up one beautiful pass to Devon Casias that resulted in a 37-yard pass TD to extend the two-point lead to eight. The 2-point try failed and Raton ended the drive with a 25-17 score.

            Taos in hurry up mode took the ball to half-yard line and a tried to punch it in but a penalty and a tough Raton defense denied the score and ended the first half of the game.

            Raton began the third the way they did the first with a 8-yard pass play to George Marquez for six more and Matt Ortiz ran in the 2-point try to extend Raton’s lead 33-17.

            Raton spoiled the next Taos drive when Dylon Aragon picked off a Swinehart pass yet Raton failed to capitalize and turned it over on downs.

            Taos retaliated with a 5-play drive that ended with a 26-yard pass play to Suazo to begin the fourth quarter with a TD and another pass to Suazo for the 2-point conversion making it a 33-25 game.

            Raton started the 80-yard drive with a 49-yard Matt Ortiz scamper. Unfortunately a couple of penalties pushed Raton back 20 yards leaving Raton with a third and long. Ortiz found one of his favorite receivers in Devon Casias on a short pass and it was one of those tackle-breaking sprints to the end zone for six more. George Marquez took it on in for the 2-point try and Raton lead 41-25.

            But it ain’t over until it’s over and the final buzzer sounds as Taos took the ball down to the three and Suazo punched it in. A penalty pushed Taos back five yards and the 2-point try failed. It was 41-31 with 6:47 left on the clock.

            It was left up to the defense now to hold on and keep Taos out of the end zone. Coach Brock Walton later told KRTN that the key to holding Taos back was to keep the ball away from Max Suazo which Raton managed to do rather well on the last Taos drive. Both teams turned it over on downs as the defenses dug in and held. Fortunately for Raton Taos made the final try and failed leaving Raton with the ball to run out the clock with just over two minutes left in the game. A Matt Ortiz run for nine and a five-yard romp by Seth Parker gave Raton the needed first down to keep the clock running and the game.

 Raton will host Robertson Friday night in the jungle, which should prove to be another close game. 

Taos Tiger Max Suazo tipped it and there he was, Devon Casias, all he had to do was walk it on in to the end zone for six Friday night 10-14-2011

It's one of those picture perfect passes to Devon Casias as Matt Ortiz lays right in his hands for six more Raton points Firday night(10-14-2011) in Taos

Its up and away as Isaac Gonzales can't quite handle a Dakota Swinehart pass, Raton's Luis Ruiz can't get turned enough to bring it in. (10-14-2011)

Dylan Aragon gets a hand on the ball to break up this pass to Josh Valencia late in the game Friday night (10-14-2011) in Taos