The return of Emily Schutz was overshadowed by the sudden importance of Mariah Gonzales.

The St. Michael's freshman center fielder missed the first game of a doubleheader against Raton, but returned to help the Lady Horsemen split a District 2AAA softball doubleheader at St. Michael's on Friday afternoon.

An 8-0 St. Michael's win came on the heels of an 8-1 thumping by the Lady Tigers, which Gonzales missed as part of her mandatory one-game suspension for her ejection against Pojoaque on Wednesday.

The Lady Horsemen (12-8 overall, 5-3 2AAA) were lethargic at the plate (six hits against Raton's Crystal Fissle) and committed six errors. Raton scored four times in the second inning and four more in the seventh. St. Michael's co-head coach Ron Noedel said Gonzales' absence took some of the life out of the dugout.

"She's a little spark plug," Noedel said. "The girls look up to her in the lineup and when she's messing around with the girls, it keeps them on their toes. I think that had something to do with it, but we also did not support our pitchers defensively."

It took one swing to see a different team in Game 2. Gonzales led off the first with a double, stole second and then scored for 1-0. The Lady Horsemen added three runs in the fourth and four in the sixth. Gonzales went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and two runs scored.

Schutz, who had not pitched in two weeks to let ligament strains in her right shoulder and elbow heal, was steady in her return. Raton managed just five hits and one walk off of the junior, while she struck out four.

"I think she threw well tonight," Noedel said. "There was not too much pain that we saw. We talked with her between every single inning and seemed to do well.



Pecos 21, Peñasco 3 (5 innings)

The Panthers (10-9) took third place in the tournament by pounding Peñasco pitchers for nine runs in the second and 10 more in the fourth.

Chris Duran had a hit in all five at-bats, which included two doubles, and he drove in three runs. Elliott Valdez's RBI-single broke a 1-1 tie to start the second and he went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and five RBIs.

Starter Richard Carter got a much-needed confidence boost by pitching a complete game. While he issued four walks and hit two batters, he allowed just four hits and struck out six.

"He needed this," Pecos head coach Augustin Ruiz said. "He had his curveball working and a good change-up. He was moving the ball around. He's one of the guys we need down the stretch."