Ark Valley Round Up by Randy Robinson

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Ark Valley Round Up by Randy Robinson

Week 5 is in the books here in the Arkansas Valley, and things are starting to heat up quite a bit. With Regional Softball right around the corner, the Tri-Peaks League race is starting to tighten up. Volleyball is right in the middle of the league season and football started their leagues for some.

Starting it off with softball, we had quite the week with a rivalry game in the rain to start us off and a crucial league matchup that went extra innings. Rocky Ford finished the week 1-1, bringing their record to 10-8 overall and 2-1 in the Tri-Peaks, where they sit in 4th. La Junta went 3-1 which put them at 11-9 overall and 3-2 in the Tri-Peaks which has them in 6th.

We started our week of softball with both teams going head to head in the rain at Babcock Park. With both teams not wanting to give an inch and giving everything you’d expect of this rivalry to those that braved the elements, Rocky Ford took a 4-3 lead into the 6th inning. The Meloneers would add two more in the bottom half of the inning giving them a 6-3 lead. La Junta would give all they have but ultimately only plate one in the top of the 7th. Rocky Ford took the league and rivalry matchup 6-4.

The Meloneers were back in action on Thursday in another Tri-Peaks matchup as they would head to Wiley to take on the Panthers. Rocky Ford would get out to a 2-1 lead as we headed to the 3rd. With the Meloneers only scoring one and the Panthers having two cross in the inning, we went to the 4th all square at four. Wiley would take the lead in the 6th while Rocky Ford would answer right back in the 7th. In the inning Rocky Ford would not get a run across so Wiley took their turn, the Panthers had their leadoff runner aboard and would take the win on a shot down the third base line that kicked up the chalk. Wiley takes it 5-4 in 8 innings.

After their loss to Rocky Ford the La Junta Lady Tigers were on a mission, winning the next three games. They would host Dolores Huerta on Thursday and just walk all over the Scorpions winning by a score of 15-0. The Tigers would finally play their game against the Florence Huskies on Friday and the offense for the Tigers traveled with them La Junta would run rule the Huskies 18-1. The Lady Tigers weren’t finished, a Saturday morning matchup with Pueblo Central would end their week. For the third straight game the Tiger bats were alive. La Junta would pull away from the Wildcats taking the win 13-5.

A rough week was to be had by Arkansas Valley volleyball teams as they would go 4-7 overall with two head to head matchups.

On Monday, the Crowley County Lady Chargers would travel to Granada for a non-conference matchup. The Chargers would get the set one win but would fall to the Bobcats 3-1 (19-25, 25-10, 25-17, 25-17).

Five matchups highlighted the schedule for Tuesday. In 1A High-Plains action the Cheraw Wolverines would see their undefeated season come to an end as they would be swept by Eads (30-28, 25-20, 25-19). Fowler would hosts Las Animas in a 2A Santa Fe League clash with the Grizzlies coming out on top in four (25-13, 21-25, 25-20, 25-16). Also in Santa Fe League action, the Rocky Ford Meloneers rough season continued as they would fall to Hoehne in three straight (25-11, 25-11, 25-15). The Swink Lions would continue their stand out campaign with a three set sweep of Swallows Charter (26-24, 25-14, 25-21). Rounding out our Tuesday schedule La Junta picked up a win in the 3A Tri-Peaks as they swept Florence (25-20, 25-17, 25-12).

Thursday saw much more action on the court. The Cheraw Wolverines would bounce back for a three set sweep of Las Animas (26-24, 25-10, 25-7). La Junta would win the second set and fight in the fourth over St. Mary’s but ultimately fall 3-1 (25-22, 24-26, 25-15, 30-28). The top team in the 2A Santa Fe League the Rye Thunderbolts would sweep Fowler (25-17, 25-14, 25-17). And Swink kept it going with a three set sweep of Walsenburg (25-13, 25-16, 25-15).

Our only volleyball contest on Friday was the Cheraw Wolverines homecoming game against the Eads Eagles. The Eagles played spoiler as they would take down Cheraw 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 27-25, 25-18).

Only two matchups took place Saturday both in non-conference action. The Crowley County Chargers would welcome in the McClave Cardinals with McClave not being the best guest. McClave would win 3-0 (25-12, 25-5, 25-12). Swink would travel down to the San Luis Valley for a matchup with the Sangre de Cristo Thunderbirds, the Lions made the trip worth it as they would get the win in four (29-27, 24-26, 25-20, 25-9).

Our football schedule was bare as only four teams were in action this week. Arkansas Valley teams would go 0-4. On Friday night, Cheraw hosted Eads in their homecoming game with the Eagles coming out on top 62-34. Las Animas would play their final non-conference game as they traveled to Walsenburg losing 42-0. And Rocky Ford would play Banning Lewis in the Stallions homecoming game, the young Meloneers would fall 46-8.

Manzanola would play Hanover on Saturday with the trip being a bust, the Hornets took the win 60-0.

GAMES TO WATCH:

SOFTBALL