SPORTS DIGEST: Soccer, signings, golf and the Gladiators

Gladiators slip to 0-4

Host Northern Arizona scored the game’s first 19 points Saturday in Prescott Valley and went on to beat the visiting Duke City Gladiators 39-23.

Former Tucson Sugar Skulls quarterback Geremy Hickbottom, the new starting QB for the Gladiators, scored all three touchdowns for Duke City on runs of 5, 3 and 1 yards.

The Gladiators (0-4) got within three, 19-16, on Hickbottom’s second TD in the third quarter, and were within four points after his third TD and point-after by Ernesto Lacayo, 27-23.

Duke City managed only 76 rushing yards and 31 passing yards.

The Gladiators are in Las Vegas, Nevada, Saturday to meet the Knight Hawks, then idle the following weekend.

The Gladiators’ next game at Rio Rancho Events Center is 6:05 p .m. May 11 vs. San Antonio.

Learn from Legendre

Nick Legendre, a former soccer standout at Cleveland High School and now a soccer player at the University of Notre Dame, is hosting a soccer camp from 2-6 p.m. May 11-12 from at the Bernalillo soccer complex.

It is for boys and girls ages 5-14 and costs $125 per player.

Legendre, who played in a few indoor soccer games this past season for the New Mexico Runners, said his “mission for this camp is to spread the importance of education all the while making sure each person has fun. This is going to be a great opportunity for young soccer players to grow not only through their soccer skills, but they will grow holistically as well.”

Campers will be surrounded by high-level college players from many universities who seek to challenge every player to better themselves on and off the pitch.

“We are also giving out flowers to each of the kids to give to their moms on Mother's Day at the end of camp,” he added.

For more information, email Legendre at nich28680@gmail.com.

Signing their letters of intent

Eight Rio Rancho High School seniors signed their national letters of intent April 17 to continue their careers at the college level.

Among them was another Martinez girl, Mia, who signed to play softball at New Mexico State University. Her older sister Briana, a one-time Gatorade Player of the Year in softball, is at Howard University in Texas while another sister, Savana, plays at UNM.

Mia’s softball teammate Ellie Kissinger signed to play at Howard University.

Also signing NLIs were soccer player Douglas Cutshall (Eastern New Mexico University), track and field athletes Addisyn Leeds (Ft. Lewis College) and Arianna Valenzuela (Air Force Academy), plus a trio of baseball players: Dylan Archuleta (Air Force Academy), Casen Savage (New Mexico Junior College) and Bryson Martinez (University of the Southwest).