Volleyball Raton at Trinidad 9-20-2012
Cteam
Raton     16   25   4
Trinidad 25  19  15

Jv
Raton     25  24 15
Trinidad 17  26  8

Varsity
Raton     26  25  25
Trinidad 24  13  21

Highlights
Mikala Vertovec served five aces about midway through game one to help the Lady Tigers pull out a tight one. Even still the Lady Miners tied it at 22 late in the game.

Little mistakes by Raton put the Lady Miners in the lead until Raton pulled it together and tied the game at 15. Raton finally pulled out in front and went on to maintain a 4-point lead to win.
 

Ila Medina, Rhiannon Barela and Kristina Jansen vie for the ball during the JV game in Trinidad Thursday

Harley Smith slams it past the fingertips of Lady Miner Josie Waldo during the JV game Thursday in Trinidad

Lady Tiger Leah Cimino up for the slam Thursday during the JV Game

The team of Kallista Dorrance(9) and Makayla Mondragon for the block. Kallista makes the block and sends it back over the net

Lady Miner Ashleigh Vecellio meets Shania Dorrance at the net during the Varsity game

Mikala Vertovec meets Molly Roth during the Varsity game in Trinidad

Dominique Zamora passes it back over the net Thursday during the Varsity game

Shania Dorrance makes the pass on the line

Tara McDonald and Alicia Pais meet on the court for the ball during the C-team game Thursday afternoon in Trinidad

Long Trip Down I-25

Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

            One of the tough things in Tiger Football is traveling for a Friday night game at a far away school and Friday night was no exception for this young Tiger team as they made the trip to Socorro to play the Warriors.

            That long trip was only made tougher on the first drive of the game as Socorro went 62-yards in four plays for six followed by Raton going three and out. Soccorro followed that one up with a 72 yard six play drive that ended with another run by Zeb Esquivel for six. The 2-point conversion was good and Socorro lead 14-0 with 5:53 on the clock in the first quarter.

            Raton’s next drive looked like they finally started to gel and they rumbled down the field only to be interrupted by an interception that gave Socorro the ball on the 20. With the help of two offside penalties and a 62 yard run by Damian Baca the Warriors put up six more and Zach Binger split the uprights to make it 21-0.

            Another great kickoff return by Seth Parker, his second that took the ball to the 35, started the next Raton drive. They rumbled down the field again this time turning the ball over on downs at the half-yard line.

            Soccorro a running team finally tried to change things up with the passing game and ended their drive with three incomplete passes. Raton took the ball on their 31 and Jordan Mendez plowed it in from eight yards out. Toby Henson made the PAT and Raton was on the board 21-7. Raton would end the half with a pass interception by Luis Ruiz who scampered 65 yards only to be pushed out of bounds after the clock had run out on the half.

            The third quarter was a much different ball game, as Raton looked like a team revived, with a kickoff return by Seth Parker that went 45 yards to the 50. However it was a back and forth quarter with neither team making it to pay dirt. Raton ended the quarter with the ball, and on the move, only to end it with a punt pinning the Warriors at the 11 followed by a holding penalty that set the ball on the Warrior 5-yard line.

The Tiger defense did the job and the Warriors went three and out. Zach Binger boomed the punt and Raton took it at the 42 but on the next play Binger stripped the ball out of a scrambling Toby Henson’s hands and gave the Warriors the ball on the 35.

Zeb Esquivel did it again with a 26-yard romp to pay dirt. With 4:40 on the clock it was 28-7 Socorro lead.

Raton took the ball once again with a great kick off return by Seth Parker to the 39. Unable to make connections and a penalty forced Raton to turn the ball over on downs at their 45. Socorro’s Damian Baca took the ball wide and turned the corner with three Tigers in tow and scampered the 45 yards for another Warrior TD. Binger’s PAT made it 35-7.

Raton however was not finished and put together a 66-yard drive that finished with a 9-yard run by Seth Parker for six. A high snap doomed the PAT and left the final score at 35-13.

As coach Brock Walton points out this team is young and will continue to work on the mental game. Two offside penalties to give Socorro a first down is just one sign that shows Raton’s aggressiveness and desire. As a young team they can only get better and as they work on the mental mistakes Raton fans can look forward to an improved team for their first home game Friday night against Portales in the Jungle.

Miners Retrieve Coal Bucket from Tigers

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

            After three years in Raton the traveling coal bucket trophy is back in Trinidad after a tough game in Trinidad Friday night. Coach Brock Walton commented after the game that this is one of the best Trinidad teams he has seen in the last 10 years as they tromped the Tigers 41-6.

            According to Walton the young Tigers team put together a great two and half quarters and watched as his team stumbled after a third Trinidad TD in the third quarter.

            Raton struck pay dirt first in the game after holding Trinidad to a three and out on the first series of the game. It took Raton 11 plays to go the 70 yards for their first score but event that wasn’t without a couple of penalties that at one point had Raton with a first and 22 that was followed by a sack. Then a 30-yard pass play to John Duran kept the drive alive. Quarterback Toby Henson scrambled the final 12 yards for the TD. The hike was missed on the extra point try leaving the score 6-0 Raton.

            Trinidad answered quickly with a 75-yard kickoff return by Thomas Bowman. The PAT went wide left and it was tie game at 6-6. From there it was a defensive game until Trinidad’s Danny Martin picked off a Toby Henson pass that gave the Miners the ball at the Raton 31.

            With a grinding ground game the Miners took it to the 1-yard line where Miner Quarterback Dante Begano drove it in with seven seconds left on the clock. The 2-point try failed and that left the score 12-6 Trinidad at halftime.

            As third quarter action got under way It quickly became a Miner’s ball game as they took the ball 83 yards in 10 plays and capped it off with a successful 2-point try by Devon Payne to make the score 20-6 Trinidad with 4:24 left on the clock. Coach Walton commented later that he could tell that TD was the breaking point for the Tigers. He could see the disappointment in the team even from up in the coach’s box.

            Trinidad scored again on a 2-play drive that ended with a 57-yard pass to Devon Miller for six followed by a Danny Martin PAT for a 27-6 lead. The scoring continued in the fourth quarter and with a 1-yard run by Chris DeAngelis with Danny Martin’s PAT good.

            A mishandled hike from center on a punt attempt and a mad rush by Trinidad left the ball on the Raton 8-yard line which allowed Trinidad another easy score when Chris DeAngelis rumbled the eight yards for six. Martin’s PAT was good and left the score 41-6 with 6:54 left on the clock in the fourth period.

            Both defenses carried out their assigned tasks well the remainder of the game. After the hand shakes Colton Ruscetti followed by some of the Miner Seniors retrieved the coveted Coal Bucket and returned it to Trinidad after a three-year absence.

            Raton will travel to Socorro Friday to take on another class AAA powerhouse. Coach Walton is looking forward to district play hoping the very tough on the road schedule Raton is enduring will have his team prepared to take on the tough District 2AAA opponents later this year.

Tiger Luiz Ruiz brings down a Toby Henson pass early in the game in Trinidad Friday night

 

Miner Chris DeAngelis carried the ball often and well for the Miners, here Tiger Jordan Darras gets a DeAngelis ankle to bring him down.

Tiger Seth Parker carries the ball for a few yards gain Friday night in Trinidad

Colton Ruscetti retrieves the Coal Bucket for Trinidad returning it to the Miner trophy case after a 3-year absence Friday night

The Miners rally around the coveted coal bucket after a 3-year stay in Raton

Coach Zack Romero is looking forward to a good season this year as he returns a strong group of girls to the court. There are five seniors and nine juniors on the squad this year, all returning from last year's team with lots of game experience. Coach Romero says if we can keep the team healthy and happy we should go well.

The Clovis tourney is first up for the varsity team this coming weekend. They will follow that up Sept 4th with Springer and in Clayton on Sept 8.

The 2012 Raton Lady Tiger Volleyball team
Back l to r Harley Smith, Courtney Harrison, Alyssa Eggebrecht, Coach Zack Romero, Michelle Guara, Mikala Vertovec, Makayla Mondragon
Middle l to r Dominique Zamora, Noelle McDonald, Leah Cimino, Breannon Trujillo, Sarandon Walton
Front l to r Kalista Dorrance, Ila Raine Medina, Shania Dorrance

The 2012 JV Lady Tigers Volleyball Team
back l to r  Leah Cimino, Courtney Harrison, Kristina Jansen, Christina Jaramillo, Tara McDonald
Middle l to r Ashley Neurauter, Rhiannon Barela, Harley Smith
front l to r Ila Raine Median, Alicia Pais, Caydence Sisneros  Coach tina Dorrance

The 2012 C-team Lady Tigers Volleyball Team
Alicia Pais, Daisey Earle, Alexis Lucero, Asley Neurauter, Kristina Jansen, Coach Tina Dorrance,  Caylee Garrett, Christina Jaramillo, Rhiannon Barela, Tara McDonald, Caydence Sisneros

2012 Lady Tigers Volleyball Seniors
Noelle McDonald, Dominique Zamora, Alyssa Eggebrecht, Breannon Trujillo, Makayla Mondragon

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 ......