Academy blows by Valley in 7th

March 18--During a prep baseball season, you sometimes get those days in which no lead is safe.

Monday was one of those days.

No. 10 seed Albuquerque Academy trailed No. 7 Valley 8-2 in the middle of the game, and was still down 10-7 in the seventh, but the Chargers shoved across seven runs in their final at-bat as they downed the host Vikings 14-10 in a wind-swept first-round game of the Albuquerque Metro Championships.

Sophomore Seth Jones' two-run single gave the Chargers an 11-10 lead, and Zeke Long provided some insurance with a two-run, bases-loaded single two batters later for a 13-10 cushion.

"I started off really bad last year," said Jones. "One of the things I wanted to do this year was come out and hit the ball really well."

It was the Chargers' second win over Valley (0-5-1) this season.

Academy led early 2-0 as Jake Wyly homered. But Valley struck for eight runs in the bottom of the fourth, including a bases-loaded, three-RBI double to left center by Eric Chavez.

Academy (5-1) has only a 1-0 loss to La Cueva so far this season.

Valley, meanwhile, has had several late losses like this one.

"That's been the story of our team," Vikes coach Chad Kuhn said. "We have to learn to seal the deal."

The quarterfinals are today at 4 p.m. at the higher seeds. La Cueva, Rio Rancho, Eldorado and Sandia were seeded 1-4.

La Cueva'sWyatt Briggs threw a five-inning no-hitter Monday against Highland.

___

(c)2014 the Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N.M.)

Visit the Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N.M.) at www.abqjournal.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services