OBSERVER SPORTS DIGEST for October 13

University of New Mexico junior forward Leilani Baker was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week as it was announced by the league office on Oct. 7.

Baker, a native of Rio Rancho and a former Ram, earned her first-career conference weekly honor after she helped pace the Lobos offense during their 2-0 weekend of action that has placed the team in a three-way tie for first place. Across the two games, Baker totaled five points with two goals and an assist.

In the Lobos’ 3-1 win over Nevada on Sept. 4, Baker scored a goal. In the Lobos’ 3-2 win over UNLV on Oct. 6, Baker had an assist and a goal. Her assist led to the Lobos’ first goal of the game and her goal followed soon thereafter and ended up being the game-winning goal.

Baker now has four goals on the season to lead the team, and those four goals are already a single-season career-best.

Do you think you have what it takes to compete in the Major Arena Soccer League 2?

The New Mexico Runners have announced open tryouts for Sunday, Oct. 13, ahead of their upcoming 2019-20 Major Arena Soccer League 2 (MASL2) season. Tryouts will be held at ABQ Indoor Soccer, 5110-B Copper Ave. NE, in Albuquerque.

Tryouts will starting at noon, with a check-in time of 11.

Interested athletes must be 18 years of age or older and will have to pay $40 at the door.

Runners head coach Steve Famiglietta will oversee tryouts, along with his coaching staff, to find some outstanding talent in our community.

“Going into our second season, we now know what type of players will add to our roster of talented athletes. We have tons of local talent and I can’t wait to add to add to it,” Famiglietta said.

The Runners open their second season this December and will again play all home games at Santa Ana Star Center. Season tickets are now on sale, starting as low as $73 for all home games and can be purchased at newmexicorunners.com.

The third annual Rio Rancho Public Schools “Middle School Football Championship Doubleheader” is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 17, at Rio Rancho Stadium.

At 4, Lincoln Middle School and Eagle Ridge Middle School will battle in the consolation game to decide third place. At 6, the championship game for the third year in a row features Mountain View Middle School and Rio Rancho Middle School.

RRMS is the defending champion, after beating MVMS, the 2017 champion, last fall.

The University of New Mexico Alumni Lettermen’s Association recently announced that five individuals: Simon Arkell (track & field), Amy Beggin (basketball), Ryley Hendry (golf), Brandon Moss (soccer) and Joe Powdrell (track & field) will be inducted into the UNM Athletic Hall of Honor on Thursday, Nov. 7.

In addition, Clem Charlton (football) and Jim Ottmann (football) will be inducted as the 2019 Distinguished Service Award winners.

Along with the honorees, the 2018-19 Coach of the Year Joe Franklin (cross country/track & field), Female Athlete of the Year Weini Kelati (cross country/track & field) and Male Athlete of the Year Sean Carlon (golf) will be celebrated.

A reminder that fans can attend the awards dinner, which will be held at the Events Center at Sandia Golf Club. Tickets are $60 each or $600 for a table of 10. Call the UNM Alumni Lettermen’s Association at 925-5905 to purchase tickets.

The New Mexico State women’s golf team claimed the team and individual titles at the Aggie Invitational Wednesday, dominating the course and field en route to a 33-stroke victory.

It is the second tournament title that the Aggies have won this season, previously taking home the trophy at the Ptarmigan Ram Classic.

The entire Aggie fivesome finished in the top 25.

Senior Dominique Galloway, a Cleveland High alum and prep state champ, placed second at one-under-par 215, while freshman Alison Gastelum came in at two-over-par 218, tying for fifth.

NMSU closes out its fall season at the end of October. The Aggies will travel to Boulder City, Nev., to compete in the UNLV Collegiate Showdown Oct. 27-29.