Kate Segal, left, and Samantha Baltz of Rio Rancho High School won the APS Metro doubles title last weekend.

Baltz and Segal top field
Rio Rancho High School senior Kate Segal and junior Samantha Baltz won the APS Metro doubles title last weekend, disposing of winning team La Cueva’s top doubles players.
In the semifinals, Baltz-Segal posted a straight-sets (6-0, 6-2) victory over the Bears’ Kendall King and Ella Lundahl, then didn’t lost a game in their 6-0, 6-0 sweep of LCHS’s Janie Xiong and Yana Outkin.
The Rams’ duo will be a force to be reckoned with at state, after previously playing only in the singles competition.
• In 2018, Segal lost in the first round.
• In 2019, Baltz lost in the first round and Segal fell in the quarterfinals.
• Last year— the 2020 event was canceled because of the pandemic — Baltz lost in the quarterfinals and Segal was ousted in the semifinals.

McKinley leads Storm girls
Last Monday, the Cleveland High golf teams participated in the APS Metro Championships at Ladera Golf Course.
Although the Storm didn’t field a girls team, junior Lilliana McKinley finished with a personal-best 82 to finish third in the 40-girl field.
The Storm boys team finished fourth of 15, with 74 boys competing.
Leading the way for the Storm was senior Ethan Manhan (77), who finished seventh; the squad as rounded out by senior Treyvin Harrington (81), juniors Aiden Paquin (81) and Jordan Martinez (91), and sophomore Mason Giese (86).
Next up for Cleveland golf is the District 1-5A tournament on Monday at Twin Warriors.

Latest from the lanes
Former Volcano Vista Hawks bowling team anchor Josh Burnett of Rio Rancho won his first Junior Bowlers Tour title at Whitewood Lanes in Lubbock last weekend.
Burnett, who throws a powerful rolling-hook ball, led qualifying with games of 278, 227, 210, 178 and 237 (1,130), then added 190 and 222 in the quarters, 227 in the semis and a closing 226 to beat Artesia’s Justin Wedge in the championship round.
His 221 tournament average and potential for further improvement in his physical and mental game has garnered him a significant scholarship to Arizona Christian University in Phoenix in August.
• Today, bowlers from Rio Rancho and Melbourne, Australia, will engage in an international “bragging rights” challenge match via email.
The outcome will be decided by total average bowled by the two sides at local Tenpins & More and Wyncity Keon Park Bowl in the northwest suburb of the Victorian capital city.

Youth basketball camp at RRHS
Two Rio Rancho summer youth basketball camps, hosted by head coach Wally Salata, his assistant coaches and current players, are set for May and June at Rio Rancho High School.
Session 1 runs May 31-June 3; Session 2 runs June 13-17. Each camp runs from 9 a.m. to noon each day, with fundamentals stressed from 9-11 and games played from 11 to noon.
The camps are open to boys and girls in four divisions (fall 2022 grades K-2, 3-4, 5-6 and 7-9, and no experience is necessary. The cost is $125 per session, with a maximum of 120 kids per session, and 30 campers per division. Every camper receives a camp basketball and T-shirt, and a concession stand with “Ram cones” will be available.
For more information and registration, go rioranchocamps.net.

Basketball camp at Cleveland, too
Cleveland High girls basketball will be hosting two “Next Level” basketball skills camps this spring for girls and boys going into grades 3-9.
The first session runs May 31-June 2 from 8:30 a.m. to noon; the second session runs June 13-15, also from 8:30-noon. The cost is $85 for one session or $150 for both sessions.
Sign up at clevelandcamps.net. For more information, contact head coach Susan Kubala at [email protected] or 505-550-2523.

Storm boys have hoops camp
An individual summer camp hosted by Cleveland High boys basketball coach Sean Jimenez takes place in the CHS gym, aka the Thunderdome, June 6-8 from 9 a.m. to noon each day.
It’s for boys and girls ages 7-14, costs $85 per camper in advance ($100 on June 6 registration, if spots still available) and includes a T-shirt and prizes.
A concession stand will be open.
For more information, contact Jimenez at 505-730-8878 or [email protected].
Soccer assistants sought at RRHS
Longtime Rio Rancho High School girls soccer coach Uwe Balzis is in need of an assistant head coach and a coach for his freshmen team for the 2022 season.
Both positions come with a stipend. Contact Balzis at [email protected] if interested, or for more information.

Dodgeball tourney helps SONM
A 16-team benefit dodgeball tournament is taking Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Taft Middle School, 620 Schulte Road NW.
Entry fee for a team of at least five players is $100, with only “public safety members” allowed to participate. Proceeds raised go to Special Olympics NM. Two games for each team are guaranteed.
To register, or get more information, call Manuel Ortiz at 505-609-7610 or Gary Chavez at 505-480-5948.

Gladiators’ streak ends
A 34-20 halftime lead became a 41-20 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining in the third period, but the visiting Duke City Gladiators yielded the game’s final 22 points in their 42-41 loss at Frisco on April 23.
Justin Rankin’s second-half scores on runs of 2, 3 and 3 yards led to a tie at 41, and the point-after on the final TD, which came with 16 seconds to go, turned out to be the difference.
Gladiators quarterback Ramone Atkins was 17 of 28 passing for 213 yards and three TDs; he also rushed nine times for a net 2 yards and scored twice.
Receiver Jarden Elmore caught 11 passes from Atkins, good for 127 yards and two TDs.
Duke City’s next three games are on the road: Tucson (April 30), Bay Area (May 7) and Las Vegas (May 21). The Gladiators’ next home game is on May 28 at 6 p.m. when San Diego Strike Force visits the Events Center.