Meet the Preps

Socorro baseball in the playoffs

Anything short of the Final Four (state tournament) will be a disappointment for those in the Socorro baseball community. Expectations are at an all-time high for what is believed to be the city's first-ever nationally ranked high school baseball team.

The Bulldogs (33-2) are ranked No. 12 in the nation by USA Today and are No. 4 by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association.

Socorro has reached the Class 5A regional finals twice, including an appearance in 2006, but have gone no further.

They have swept their first two playoff opponents this spring (Lubbock, Mansfield Summit).

This weekend, the Bulldogs will head into their eighth regional quarterfinal series since 1991, fifth since 2003.

Their next opponent is Abilene (21-11), which is making its first playoff appearance since 2005. That series will begin Friday (May 16) and continue Saturday at Christensen Stadium in Midland.

Ysleta baseball making history

Just a couple quick notes on Ysleta baseball.

From what Ysleta baseball head coach David Aragon tells me, this is the first time the team has made it past the Class 4A area playoff round.

This is the 10th attempt in 15 years under Aragon.

Coaches and players point to heart, attitude and team unity as factors for finally getting over the hump.

Seniors Carlos Maese and Ruben Barrientos, along with junior Robert Gonzalez, have led the way both offensively and on the mound for Ysleta.

Ysleta is coming off its second District 2-4A title in three years. They finished as co-champs with Riverside this year.

Next up for the Indians is 4-4A champ Lubbock Estacado (25-7) in a best-of-three series beginning Friday (May 16) at Kokernot Field at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas.

Estacado advanced to the 4A regional finals last season and has advanced to the Sweet 16 (regional semifinals) four of the past five seasons. They made it to the regional quarterfinals in 2006.

High school sports in review

El Paso Times librarian Trish Long has put together a collection of high school sports photos from 2007-08.

The gallery includes photos from El Paso high school baseball, softball, football, basketball, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, track, cross country, volleyball and wrestling. Go the gallery by clicking here.

Talking high school sports

The latest high school sports podcast is now available.

KTSM's Beau Bagley joins John Erfort and Matt Johnson from the El Paso Times to talk about high school sports, including Socorro baseball being nationally ranked.

To listen to or download the podcast, click here.

Update on New Mexico star distance runner Jackie Campos

El Paso is having a tremendous year in track and field, having qualified 11 athletes to the University Interscholastic League state championships May 9-10. Four of them advanced in two events, two set Region 1-5A meet records and another set a Region 1-4A meet record.

But let's not forget about the great Jackie Campos from Santa Teresa, a small New Mexico school that often gets overlooked. Sure, Santa Teresa isn't in the El Paso Times' coverage area when it comes to sports, but Campos deserves mention considering she's competed toe-to-toe with some of El Paso's most talented distance runners.

Santa Teresa head track and field coach Epifanio Solis e-mailed me some recent information on Campos, a junior, and these are the highlights of her accomplishments in 2008.

Campos is heading to the New Mexico Class 4A track and field championships May 16-17 and will be looking for her third consecutive 3,200-meter title and first 1,600 crown.

She currently is ranked No. 2 in both the mile and  2-mile among state-qualifying girls.

Her best times are 11 minutes, 46 seconds in the 2-mile and 5:19 in the mile, both run this season. Campos annually races against El Paso athletes in cross country and in track, and Solis gives credit to El Paso runners for helping give her quality competition.

Solis also said Campos continues to gain strength and speed, much stronger than last season. Going into the state championships, Campos has won 10 of her 12 events ranging from the 800 to the 3,200.

Best of luck to Campos at the state meet, as she continues to represent Santa Teresa at the highest!

Some quick hits on Campos cross country and track and field accomplishments at state:
•Freshman year
—3,200, first place
—1,600, fourth place
(Didn't run cross country)

•Sophomore year
—Second place, cross country
—3,200, first place
—1,600, third place

•Junior year
—First place, cross country

Just some extra quotes from Montwood track star Chris Muncie

Here are just a few extra quotes from my conversation with Montwood junior Chris Muncie on a story that will run in today's El Paso Times.

For those unfamiliar, Muncie will compete this weekend at the Region 1-5A championships in Lubbock, with great shots to advance in the 200- and 400-meter dashes.

Muncie:

—On getting into track and field:
"In seventh grade, my track coach from Ensor Middle School, Mr. Sanchez, recommended I run track because I was very fast in football and basketball. I gave it a shot, and it changed my mind about sports. I liked it. It's my favorite sport."

—On having to run junior varsity his sophomore season after transferring from Americas:
"I was really disappointed. I just wanted to be out there with the big boys. We had a boy on our team, Andrew Sano, and I felt I could compete with him. He was one of the best 400 and 800 runners in the city. I really wanted to run varsity. I wish they had some type of regionals for JV because I felt I could have done well. I ran 48.3 (seconds) as a sophomore, and that would have put me third in the region and seventh at state as a sophomore."

—On setting the Ratliff Stadium (Odessa) record in the 400 (47.35 fully automatic):
"I felt that was the right place to run my times, at Ratliff Stadium. There was a pretty decent crowd, and I wanted to get some type of reputation and it worked out well. It was an awesome experience. I'm hoping to go 46 at this (regional) meet. I know I can."

—On the season so far:
"It's been a huge season of success. I can't explain it more. I wasn't expecting it to be this good, and it just got better and better and it's still getting better."

—On accusations of him using performance-enhancing drugs (I only post this in reference to at least one post on this blog alleging Muncie is using steroids).
"I didn't know how my name got involved with that. I don't do anything, just 100 percent strength and everything. I hate to be accused of using those substances. It's not true at all. It's just hard work every day in practice."

Who do you think will advance to the UIL state track meets?

Good evening,
I'm offering this space to any individuals who would like to mention athletes they think have a shot at making the UIL state meet in May.

El Paso's high school track and field athletes will be competing next weekend (April 25-26) at the regional meets (Lubbock for Class 5A, San Angelo for 4A and Odessa for 3A).

I think we have three solid chance in 5A and four in 4A (sorry, I'm not up to speed on the 3A track athletes). Now, I'm probably leaving out some others, but these are just the ones who stand out the most to me. I'm sure we'll score several third-place finishes and we probably will get a kid out to state who isn't listed here, but this is just off the top of my head, without really scrutinizing the El Paso top 10 lists or looking around the region.

Class 5A
•Kendra Chambers, Hanks senior - Mainly the 400-meter dash (sixth in state last year) but possibly also the 200.

•Chris Muncie, Montwood junior - Mainly the 400-meter dash but possibly also the 200.

•Jessica Ubanyionwu, Eastwood senior - Triple and long jumps (won triple at state last year; second in long jump at state)

Class 4A
•Evonne Britton, Chapin junior - Both hurdles races (qualified to state in both as a freshman).

•Matt Dudley, Parkland senior - Discus and possibly shot put (won state discus title as a sophomore; won bronze as a junior)

•Miguel Edwards, Irvin sophomore - 100-meter dash

•Marissa Paz, Chapin junior - 800-meter dash and 1,600 run

Talking high school sports

The latest high school sports podcast is now available. John Erfort and Lenny Jurado from the El Paso Times talk about Del Valle's state championship in soccer, as well as baseball, softball and track.

To listen to or download the podcast, click here.