New Mexico Open is this week
This week’s $65,000 New Mexico Open is shaping up to break records, according to event organizer Steve Mackie, manager of hosting Tenpins & More.
“As of August 9, we are at 168 entries in the main event (Aug. 19-21), 139 in the three Pro-Am squads (Aug. 16, 17 and 19) and strong sign-ups for the three sweepers (Aug. 15, 17 and 18),” he said.
The Open’s top prize is now $12,000, with money paid down to 48th place, along with squad high game awards and $400 prizes to out-of-cash high super-senior (over 60), senior (50-59) and woman.
“Sponsors signage, colorful masking units and a new set of Qubica/AMF pins will be installed over the coming days to add to the excitement and buzz this tournament (in its 18th year) always provides,” Mackie added.
The field has entries from 12 states, as far apart as Washington and Kentucky, plus Mexico, Canada and the United Kingdom.
There are 12 women signed up, including former finalist Maria Jose Rodriguez, a member of the Colombian national squad, who lost a close match Tuesday night to finish third in the PWBA season-ending title in Dallas.
Top level pros include Nathan Bohr, Jakob Butturff, Marshall Kent, AJ Chapman, Jake Peters and Steve Novak, while local New Mexico hopefuls include DeeRonn Booker, Jacob Gill, Brian Bledsoe, JD Nance and Robin Prioleau.
There is no admission fee to watch any of the action. For those who can’t attend in person, live streaming coverage is available through BowlStreamTV.com from Friday 9 am until the tournament’s completion.
A full-color, informative 24-page tournament program is available at tenpinsmore.com.
Coyotes return to The MAC
Youngsters can try hockey for free with the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes outreach team, returning to The MAC, 801 Loma Colorado Boulevard for the second summer in a row.
The “Try Hockey for Free” promotion takes place Saturday from 5-6:15 p.m.
This is a great opportunity for new skaters to try ice hockey — no experience is necessary. Kids should bring a bicycle helmet and gloves as the starting point; some gear will be available along with sticks.
For registration and more information, visit https://youth.arizonacoyotes.com/newmexico.
Wait – more hockey
The New Mexico Raptors hockey team and RJ Sports LLC present Marc Ciaccio of the New York Rangers for a 3-day skills and speed clinic, intended for players ages 6-18 at a cost of $65 (plus processing fee) for three evening sessions with Ciaccio.
The clinic will be divided into two groups, those ages 6-12 and those ages 13-18; there is a maximum of 35 skaters for each group.
The clinics run the evenings of Aug. 23, 24 and 25, with the younger group going first and the older kids skating after them.
For more information and/or to register, visit nmaha.org. Registration before Aug. 15 is urged. Once each group reaches 35 skaters, no further registrations will be accepted.
Leopard and a Ram with distinction
Thirteen-year-old Keegan Burke was one of 36 players from seven states selected to represent the Southwest region at USA Baseball’s National Identification Series Champions Cup in Cary, N.C., Aug. 24-28.
An eighth-grader at Lincoln Middle School, he is the only New Mexico athlete selected for the 13U Southwest squad.
And Rio Rancho High School/MAC Elite player Dean Ellison for made the 15U USA baseball National Identification team.
“That’s quite an honor for a kid who works hard in and out of the classroom,” said Rams coach Ron Murphy.
Ellison, who made his varsity debut at the Class5A state baseball tournament in May, is participating in the USA Baseball 15U National Team Identification Series, also in Cary, Aug.10-15.
In being selected, Ellison will represent this region at this year’s event to be identified as a candidate for next year’s 16U/17U National Team Development Program, making this program integral to the Team USA development pipeline.
The National Team Identification Series is an important part of our National Team selection process and is a great opportunity for these two local athletes to highlight their athletic ability against players from across the U.S.
Want to see the Lobos?
Now you can get $50 off your Albertsons Family Pack of four season tickets by doing what you do anyway: grocery shopping.
Through Friday, Aug. 19, Lobo fans can bring any Albertsons receipt of $50 or more to the Lobo Ticket Office to get $50 off an Albertsons Family Pack, which includes two adult and two youth (2-18 years old) season tickets in the north end zone. That breaks down to just over $6 per ticket for every game of the 2022 season, easily the best deal for any sporting event in town.
The Lobos open the season Saturday, Sept. 3, when Maine visits University Stadium for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
