Vassil less than super, but wins for NMHU

Colorado Christian is Drew Vassil's kryptonite.

Yet, the New Mexico Highlands University ace survived his latest meeting, 18-7, in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference baseball opener for both teams Friday at Brandt Field in Las Vegas.

"We don't know what it is," said Steve Jones, Highlands head coach. "Last year, he lost and had a no-decision against them. I know its frustrating for him."

Vassil, the RMAC preseason pitcher of the year, remained undefeated after working seven innings. Vassil (4-0) surrendered 11 hits and seven runs. He struck out six and walked four.

"That's uncharacteristic of him," Jones said of the bases on balls.

The Cowboys, though, backed Vassil with 20 hits and plated the final 13 runs after trailing 7-5.

Kyle Gutchewsky went 3-for-6 with a home run and three runs batted in for the Cowboys (7-1, 1-0). Danny Brown was 3-for-5 with a triple and three RBIs, while Jason Carr finished 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

Jake Logan (2-2) suffered the loss.

Highlands (7-1, 1-0) and Colorado Christian (6-6, 0-1) meet in a doubleheader today, beginning at 11 a.m. Steve Becerra will make his mound debut for the Cowboys in the opener.

Blue Jackets hammer Rio Rancho in hockey

The Santa Fe Blue Jackets scored three shorthanded goals in a 7-0 rout of the Rio Rancho Rams on opening night of the New Mexico Interscholastic Ice Hockey League State Tournament at Outpost South in Albuquerque.

The Blue Jackets face the Albuquerque Cibola Cougars at 8:30 this morning in a quarterfinal of the composite bracket. The last time these teams met was in the season finale, which ended 5-5.

"It might be one of the better matchups," Santa Fe head coach Paul DeVincentis said. "It looks like we're the top two teams in the bracket."

Santa Fe broke open Friday's game with three goals in the second period. The Blue Jackets added three more goals in the final period.

"We finished better than we started," DeVincentis said.

Craig Parry scored four goals, with Jackson Spingler, Mike Specht and Danny Quinn adding single goals. Spingler and Quinn collected two assists apiece. Specht recorded an assist, as did Burch Ault, Christian Vigil, Mick Gonzales and Zak Krasnow.

Jordan Fuentes made 14 saves in goal for the Blue Jackets (15-0-2), including a breakaway stop.

Cibola advanced with a 6-2 win over Albuquerque OutKast on Friday.