Little League All Star action draws to a close for Girls

Is she out? Las Vegas' Ashley Lujan slides into 3rd base in the 11-12 year old championship game Tuesday afternoon. Las Vegas won that game in four innings 20-0

Out at third and one of the few close outs of the game between Raton and Las Vegas 11-12 year old girls Tuesday afternoon in the District 4 championship game in Raton.

Clank as the bats meets the ball in the 9-10 year old championship game where Raton took the championship game against Santa Rosa.

The last out of the game. A throw from 2nd baseman Baylor Walton to Crystal Ortiz to clinch a 9-7 win over Santa Rosa in the 9-10 year old game held in Raton Tuesday afternoon.

Congrats Ladies as the 9-10 year old girls take the District 4 little league championship game 9-7

The 9-10 year old team from Raton (Not in order) Jerrilyn McDonald, Baylor Walton, Crystal Ortiz, Andie Ortega, Audrey Armijo-Bustos, Claire Durant, Alexia Romero, Sydnie Romero, Tayler Sandoval, Rachel Sandoval, Kaitlyn Gatti, Nevaeh Ortiz, coaches Mike Ortega, Logan and Michelle Wood

The Friday night performance of the 34th annual Raton Rodeo brought a great crowd out to see this year's event. While it was a bit breezy at times the crowd supported the cowboys and cowgirls with cheers along with a little help from this year's rodeo clown. 

The Saturday night performance at the rodeo was another exciting evening and for the local crowd a treat with hometown cowboys and a couple of area cowboys performing. Bryce Segotta, who now lives in Oklahoma, competed in the steer wrestling event while Wes Mack roped in the tie-down competition with a 12.2 run.

Roy Cowboy Magin Lane Montoya couldnt quite make the 8-second ride in the saddle bronc competition. Mosquero cowboy Robert Aragonalso competing in the saddle bronc competition found the ground before the 8-second buzzer.

By nights end Saturday night not a single bull rider made the buzzer leaving Craig Begay from Friday night's competition the winner. Cammo Mulins the only other rider to make the buzzer took second with an 81.

Samantha Bostilla carried the American Flag into the arena both Friday and Saturday night

There she goes in front of the Saturday night crowd

Saturday night was rough night for bronc riders as neither bareback bronc rider managed to score points

Hometown cowboy Bryce Segotta begins the chase

Dad Beaver Segotta hazes the steer keeping it close enough for Bryce to get a handle on the steer and bring him down in 5.1 seconds

Wes Mack another hometown cowboy lands the loop and starts off his horse for the tie down which he did in 12.2 seconds Saturday night

Roper Trell Etbauer makes the run in a quick 9.0 seconds to win the Saturday night Tie-Down round

Roy NM cowboy Magin Lane Montoya just cant quite make the 8-second ride on this rank bronc Saturday night

Mosquero Cowboy  Robert Aragon takes on this bronc and he too finds the ground before the 8-second buzzer Saturday night

Out of the shute and a runnin at Friday night's Raton Rodeo performance

Puttin on the Brakes is Dean McIntyre as he prepares to bring that steer to the ground. McIntyre had one of the fastest times but unfortunately broke the barrier

This saddle bronc rider prepares his mount at the Friday night performance of the Raton Rodeo

NO NO I don't want to follow you as this saddle bronc horse puts on the brakes

Dr Bobby Boyd DVM lays the rope out and over the horns of this steer during Friday night's performance at the Raton Rodeo

Caren Lamb, a Tucumcari cowgirl, posted a 16.56 run on the barrels Friday night

Gearen Hale the finds it isn't so easy to stay on that Bull

Unnecessary Farce Intrigue, Drama and Laughter

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

The historic Shuler Theater is once again alive with the sound of laughter, how can that be there is intrigue, a Swiss bank account, scandal and a water gun, donut toting cop, and laughter?

Unnecessary Farce, a play by Paul Slade Smith graces the Shuler stage as the Kaleidoscope Players begin the 2012 summer season. And, a start it was, as the crowd found themselves on the edge of their seat and the next minute laughing to the antics of a bumbling Barney Fife type police detective (David Trudeau) and his meter maid sidekick (Bethany Hernandez) as they prepare to make an arrest of the Mayor (Billy Donati) with the help of a hot, sexy accountant (Catherine Herrick).

All is going as planned until Agent Frank (T.J. Mendez) city hall security man on the spot, who is also associated some how with the Scottish Clan. The Scottish Clan, spelled with a “C” of course. What do they have to do with this you ask as a bagpipes toting Highland hitman (Jason Wells) appears to play away the accountant no that’s blow away the accountant. You see, he plays his bagpipes so badly you will want to kill yourself and if that doesn’t work he then will kill you himself.

The laughter continues as the two-room sting scene plays out with more twists and turns than a crooked road. Finally the mayor returns to the room and they prepare to hear how he swindled the town out of $16 million. Then the final twist comes to light when the mayor’s wife (Wanda Henson) is revealed for what she really is.

Unnecessary Farce plays again June 22, 23, 30 and July 1, 5, 6 on the Shuler Stage. What? You wanted me to reveal the total plot, no, no make a trip to the Historic Shuler Theater to witness for yourself the drama, the intrigue, no wait this is a comedy remember the water gun toting meter maid and the bagpipes playing hitman. 7:30 at the Shuler is the time and place to learn how the Scottish Clan spelled with a “C” is controlled by Big Mac.

The first twist in the play as Detective Eric ( David Trudeau) and accountant Karen (Catherine Herrick) have the hots for each other

Whats this, the accountant is in bed with city hall security man on the spot Agent Frank (T.J. Mendez) as Detective Eric walks in on them

Its the bagpipes playing hit man(Jason Wells) he is here to off the cops. Billie (Bethany Hernandez) plays the sidekick meter maid held by Agent Frank

The stage is set for the final twist as the accountant (Catherine Herrick) and Mayor (Billy Donati) on the right and on the left Detective Eric(David Trudeau) Agent Frank(T.J. Mendez) Mary Meekly(Wanda Henson) and Todd(Jason Wells) as they watch the mayor as he reveals ......

RATON GIRLS ROLL AT STATE TRACK/FIELD

The Raton Tigers Lady Track team at the NM State AAA Track/Field Championships did not have a lot of members, but what they lacked in numbers they more than made up for in performance. Etta Briscoe lead the team by winning a state championship in the Shot Put with a 35 feet, 10 inch heave to beat out fellow teamate Haley Ganz. Ganz who won the event last year, earned the silver with a 35 feet one and one half inch throw. Ganz also earned points for the Raton team with a second place discus throw and a fifth place Javelin throw. In the javelin, Raton's Michelle Guara earned second in the state in the Javelin with a 108' 5" effort. Raton's 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams both qualified for the finals after Friday's prelims. The 4x100 team consisting of Brittni Garcia, Arissa Maldonado, Callie Wilson and Dominique Zamora finish fourth to overall champion Hope Christian and the 4x200 team took seventh place. In the individual sprints: girls 100M Dominque Zamora finished 6th; 200M Arissa Maldonado was fith; 400M Brittni Garcia was seventh. As a team Raton earned 35 points for an outstanding fifth place finish. Hope Christian was first followed by Pojoaque with 55, Socorro with 43 and Sandia Prep with 35.5. Following Raton was Robertson with 29, St. Mikes with 24, Portales with 20, Lovington 19 and West Vegas with 18. Congratulations!! from KRTN and Billy D.

Tiger Moms Honor Student Athletes

Student Athletes honored by Tiger Moms

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

            Each year about this time of year Raton High student athletes are honored at a banquet put on by a small-dedicated group of Moms who spend the school year tirelessly fund raising just to put on this event.

            The athletic banquet has been a yearly tradition for many years where students often receive their first athletic letter and a pin for each year of play in a given sport. It gives the coaches an opportunity to thank those who have helped or supported each team during the year.

            The Tiger Moms put on this great banquet through various fund raising activities each year and support the kids in various other ways. This year they also presented the 27 athletic seniors with plaques provided by First National Bank and a great meal catered by Mr “C’s”.

            Yet the future of the banquet may be in question, as it seems harder and harder for Tiger Moms to put together a dedicated group of moms after their kids graduate. The logistics for such a banquet takes the better part of the year to prepare and set up. Like many other organizations Tiger Moms needs volunteers.

Each year I see the smiles on those moms’ faces and see the joy and pride they take in what they do. Yes quite often they don’t get a thank you for the many things they do, but when they do get that thank you I know it makes them feel it is worth the trouble.

            There are well over 70 athletes that participate in sports at Raton High School yet this year only 12 moms came together to put on the fund raising to make this event possible.

            How many volunteers will step up and help out next year? I sure hope there are a bunch because when it comes to honoring the accomplishments of our student athletes at the end of the year this event makes it all that much more special.

             It is a pleasure to work with these ladies and I hope to see them again next year.

To you, Tiger Moms, Thank You, Thank You for all you do through out the year.  

Tiger Moms Thank You so very much!!  Jennifer Valentine, Michelle Valdez,Stephanie Jansen, Wanda Henson, Lillian Maldonado, Vicki Walton, Aimee Feldman, Shelly Wood, Kathy Parker, Bernadette Romero.  Not pictured are Bonnie Sanchez and Wendy Mileta

Weekend Shutouts move teams on in State Tourney

Picture perfect weather Friday evening only made it that much more enjoyable as the Tigers took off in the second inning and over the next three innings made it look easy as they shut out the Shiprock Warriors 10-0 in five innings.

That was the first of a best of three in the first round of state tourney playoff action. Game two action started Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. to another great day. Again the boys started connecting while the Raton pitchers did their job. During Friday's game Blake Washburn racked up 10 strikeouts and Saturday morning Cam Baird followed with several of his own strikeouts.

Saturday's game took six innings but the Tigers did it once again with a 10-0 shut out while at the other end of the Raton sports complex the Lady Tigers walloped the softball for eight runs in the first inning against the Hatch Valley Lady Bears. The Lady Bears starting pitcher Rebecca Hays helped out the Lady Tigers with walks and she struck two batters for two scores in the inning. The next two innings were slow defensive battles then the Lady Tigers bats connected again this time for seven runs to end the game 15-0 in four innings.

The wins move both teams on to Rio Rancho for second round action. The girls will be at Rio Rancho field 3 Thursday at 10:00 a.m. where they will play West Las Vegas Lady Dons who have beat Raton three times in the regular season.

The boys will play Cobre at noon Thursday at Volcano Vista High School. 

Mayor Charles Starkovich throws out the first pitch to start the ball game Friday afternoon.

Its a picture perfect bunt except the umpire called Blake Washburn out as he stepped out of the batter's box

Safe at home!! Dylan Query slides in safe as the Shiprock pitcher can't hang on to the ball Friday afternoon at Gabrielle Field

Brackets for the state tourney can be accessed at the NMAA Web page:  for the boys   http://www.nmact.org/baseball_brackets/     
for the girls its http://www.nmact.org/   then click on the link to the PDF Files for the brackets.

Raton golf scores District Titles

By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media

What a beautiful chamber of commerce spring day it was as Raton hosted the District 2AAA golf tourney and when it was ll over and the scores were tallied it was the Raton Golf teams that came out on top to earn the district title.

Both Coach David Swanson and Joseph Quintana were chosen the coaches of the year for District 2AAA.

While most of the players struggled a little during the day Breanna Pais took third in the girls rankings overall and placed first in the Raton team scoring with a 92. Kevin Fissel scored a 3rd place overall with Dephen Chavez taking 4th. Both Kevin and Dephen were tied and it took scores from the third tie breaker hole score before Kevin finally took third.

Raton will be sending Johnathan Ford and Megan Holland to the state tourney next week as well as the girls team who barely qualified for state with a team score of 400 just under the 408 required for state qualification. The boys who scored a 341 were over the 21 strokes over the 320 that they needed to go to state as a team.

Congratulations Raton Golf and Coaches!!!!

The Raton girls get the before tourney briefing

Coach David Swanson gives the teams the before tourney briefing

Brianna Pais takes a look and prepares to make one of the puts that helped her score a 92 which gave her the best team score and individually gave her a 3rd place tourney finish

Coach Joseph Quintana strategizes with Kevin Fissel on the #9 green 

its a jump for joy after Taylor Hull made about a 100 foot chip shot that went in the hole to give her a par on Number 3

Megan Holland who has qualified for State works the long put on #3 green

Johnathan Ford sinks the put on #9 Green. Ford has also qualified for the State tourney

The score sheets for the District 2AAA Tourney

The banners tell it all Raton Golf has the District Title

Johnathan Ford signs the District Banner, it's a welcome treat for the RHS Senior