PICTURED: The 2025-26 Bulldog basketball team poses with its Class 4A state runner-up trophy March 14 at The Pit in Albuquerque.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

MOST RECENT SPORTS WRAPS
• Bulldogs run it back to state title game with 71-52 semifinal win over Hope Christian
• Runnin' 'Dogs off the leash: Artesia storms into state semifinals
• Runnin' 'Dogs punch ticket to state quarterfinals; baseball and softball open with big wins; track already racking up state qualifications; tennis dominant vs. 5A competition; cheer wins final pre-state event
• Bulldog hoopsters win D4 Tourney, set sights on state; swim, wrestling bring home hardware from state events; cheer powering through final pre-state competitions; tennis opens season with strong results

BULLDOG BASKETBALL

Class 4A State Championship

PICTURED: The Runnin' 'Dogs huddle up during the state championship game against Highland.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

It's a strange feeling when destiny takes a detour.

Every team has experienced that displacing sensation on the biggest stage. It's just a part of sports. It felt like your day, you gave your all, you did enough to win, but then you just... didn't. What you did great, another team did extraordinarily, and just like that, you find yourself walking to your bus in a bit of a daze. All of Artesia shared those emotions Saturday, March 14, with the Runnin' 'Dog basketball team; they were felt, in fact, as far away as Southampton, England, where Duane Laight -- a member of the 1997 state championship team -- could find only one way to describe the Class 4A state title game: "quite weird."

"Artesia seemed the better team," Laight mused, "but then those guys just started nailing three's... unlucky." And in the end, that was what it ultimately boiled down to: Two quarters that saw the Highland Hornets shoot 75% and 60% from beyond the arc. The Hornets finished 50% from three-point range to Artesia's 17% in a game the Bulldogs lost by nine points -- or three treys -- 71-62.

But what hurts will always fade in time. Perspective helps with that. Whereas last year was the Bulldogs' time to bring home the program's first blue trophy -- third overall -- since that 1997 win, this year it was Highland's turn to resume the mini-dynasty it's built under head coach Justin Woody since it won its first title -- second overall -- in 50 years in 2022. Since then, the Hornets have taken three of the last five championships. And while red wasn't the color the 'Dogs were hoping for, a top-two finish in New Mexico's hyper-competitive high school basketball landscape is no minor achievement. Artesia has reached the title tilt just five times in school history, winning thrice.

Blue never really felt out of reach in the contest -- not until the Hornets' final three-point barrage, which ended midway through the fourth. Neither team got off to a prolific start from the field, shooting under 40% in the first quarter. Clay Kincaid answered Highland's first two baskets with a short-range jumper and an offensive putback, and a pair of buckets in the paint by Trent Egeland sandwiched the Hornets' first three of the afternoon -- by Juan Limas at the three-minute mark -- to give Artesia an 8-7 lead that Braylon Vega bumped to 10-7 on a breakaway layup on a steal by Charlie Campbell. Highland would score the final five points of the quarter, however, on a pair from the line by Limas and a Lenyn French three with 1:30 to go to lead 12-10 going into the second.

It was there that the Hornets took their first significant lead of the game, opening with back-to-back treys by Limas and Nico Sanchez and following a Campbell drive to the hoop with an 8-0 run that made it 26-12. The 'Dogs didn't manage their second bucket of the period until the four-minute mark on a fade-away jumper by Vega, and that was followed immediately by another Highland three, this time by Fede Nunez. A turn-around J by Kincaid and Artesia's first trifecta of the day -- courtesy of Vega with 1:35 to go in the half -- would be it for the Bulldogs offensively, as the Hornets added five free throws to a basket by Nunez to take a 17-point advantage up the ramp at the break, 36-19.

The boys in orange came out strong in the third but would continue to be off the mark from beyond the arc, while two more three's by the Hornets kept Artesia from cutting as deeply into their deficit as they otherwise would have. Another unfortunate trend from the first half -- an 0-7 showing from the charity stripe -- would continue to haunt the 'Dogs early in the second, as six more tries from the line went unconverted. With Cael Houghtaling, Egeland and Kincaid crashing the offensive boards, however -- the latter throwing down a putback dunk -- and Campbell and Vega fighting through un-whistled fouls for layups, the Bulldogs were able to put together a 14-6 run. And on a Tootie McNeil breakaway layup off the steal with just over two minutes to go in the third, Artesia pulled back within 10, 45-35.

McNeil also split a pair from the stripe awarded to Highland on a walk and another three-pointer with an offensive putback, and after Kincaid and Campbell combined for Artesia's first four free throws of the contest, the Runnin' 'Dogs trailed by just nine, 50-41, heading into the fourth. And as the volume steadily rose from the Sea of Orange, a quick transition layup by Vega and old-fashioned three-point play from Campbell made it a four-point game, 50-46, with just one minute gone in the fourth.

All signs were pointing to an epic comeback story. But Highland had another ending in mind.

Simply put, everything the Hornets put up from three-point range over the course of the ensuing two minutes went in. Two longballs off the hand of Treavon Carter and one from Nunez came in quick succession to not only firmly swing the momentum back Highland's way but push their lead back into double digits as well, 62-48. Kincaid took up the cause in the paint for Artesia, hitting a trio of baskets as the two-minute mark approached, but with Highland shooting lights out from the perimeter as well, the margin remained intact. A Campbell free throw with 1:52 to go in the game and Kincaid's fourth bucket of the quarter with 1:19 on the clock could only trim Highland's lead by one, 70-57. And although Campbell would follow with a three and a putback, time had unfortunately run out on another historic season for the Artesia Bulldogs, 71-62.

Kincaid would lead all scorers on the afternoon with 18 points, followed by Campbell with 17 and Vega with 13. Nunez, Sanchez and Limas finished with 17, 16 and 14, respectively, for the Hornets. Artesia closed out at 42% from the field, 17% from beyond the arc, on the game to Highland's 48% and 46%, and the 'Dogs were 6-20 from the line to the Hornets' 15-18.

The boys in orange closed out the 2025-26 season as both the seven-time champions of District 4-AAAA and the District 4 Tournament champs with a final record of 25-6. The team will bid farewell to a host of seniors, including Kincaid, Houghtaling, Egeland, McNeil, Jack Byers, Diego Morales, Derrick Warren, Sawyer Whitehead, and two of the top scorers in program history -- Campbell and Vega -- who both took their place in the 1,000 Point Club this year. Artesia will return two juniors from its varsity roster in Corbyn Dominguez and Jace Deans.

STAT BOX

#1 Highland 71
#2 Artesia 62

Artesia (25-6): Clay Kincaid 8-14, 2-11 18; Charlie Campbell 6-19, 4-5 17; Braylon Vega 6-13, 0-0 13; Trent Egeland 3-6, 0-2 6; Tootie McNeil 3-3, 0-2 6; Cael Houghtaling 1-7, 0-0 2
Totals: 27-65, 6-20 62

Highland (27-4): Fede Nunez 6-11, 2-2 17; Nico Sanchez 4-9, 7-8 16; Juan Limas 5-13, 2-2 14; Treavon Carter 2-5, 1-2 7; Lenyn French 2-2, 1-2 7; Jerry Moody 2-4, 2-2 6; Edwin Montelongo 2-3, 0-0 4
Totals: 23-48, 15-18 71

Field Goals: Artesia 27-65 (42%); Highland 23-48 (48%)
Three-Pointers: Artesia 2-12 (Campbell 1, Vega 1)(17%); Highland 10-22 (Nunez 3, Carter 2, French 2, Limas 2, Sanchez 1)(46%)
Free Throws: Artesia 6-20 (30%); Highland 15-18 (83%)
Rebounds: Artesia 40 (21 offensive, 19 defensive); Highland 33 (9 offensive, 24 defensive)
Assists: Artesia 12; Highland 14
Steals: Artesia 11; Highland 9
Turnovers: Artesia 15; Highland 20
Fouls: Artesia 20; Highland 18
Fouled Out: Artesia 1 (Vega); Highland 1 (Limas)

LADY BULLDOG SOFTBALL

Southern New Mexico Softball Invite

PICTURED: The Lady Bulldog softball team stands along the foul line during pregame March 13 at the Field of Dreams Softball Complex in Las Cruces.

There's no foray into a new softball season quite like the Southern New Mexico Invite. Las Cruces' annual fastpitch extravaganza is a whirlwind two days of nonstop action between 16 of the top teams Class 5A and 4A -- and defending 3A State Champion Cobre for good measure -- have to offer. It's an often stark yardstick for where a squad stands as they kick off a new campaign, and for the 2026 Lady Bulldogs, this year's answer was "right in the thick of things."

The Artesia girls went a solid 3-1 at this year's Invite, picking up two quality wins over 4A competition -- 10-3 vs. Deming and 8-1 vs. Silver -- and a big 11-8 decision over 5A Cleveland while coming up short only to 5A Las Cruces High, 8-4 in a winners' bracket quarterfinal. With that, the Lady 'Dogs came in fifth overall and once again proved themselves a team to beat in the 4A landscape.

Artesia opened Friday, March 13, against Deming at the Field of Dreams Softball Complex, and the Lady Wildcats were quick to issue a challenge, taking two runs out of the top of the first inning on a pair of errors, a Jaylin Holguin RBI double, and an RBI infield hit up the middle by McKenzie Trejo. The Lady Bulldogs didn't give the deficit time to steep, however, countering with three of their own in the home half. Danyela Munoz and Katrin Marquez got the ball rolling there with a walk and liner between short and third, respectively, but a pair of quick fly-outs had them standing in scoring position with two away. A walk by Jenna Whitmire loaded the bases, and a fielder's-choice-turned-error tied things up, as the 'Cats failed to force Whitmire out at second as both Munoz and Marquez scampered home. Whitmire would then score from second on a base hit to center by Brooklyn Fuentes to make it 3-2 Lady 'Dogs.

Artesia then gave itself some additional insurance in the bottom of the second when -- with the bases loaded on an error, a Marquez walk, and a Munoz infield hit -- senior Kayden Apodaca stepped to the plate and launched a grand slam over the center-field fence to put the girls in orange up by five, 7-2. Starting pitcher Munoz and her defense continued to hold Deming scoreless through four, but the Lady Wildcats were able to add a run in the top of five when leadoff Cristal Enriquez -- aboard with a double -- came home on an Holguin sacrifice fly. Any hopes of a rally were immediately squashed, however, when the Lady 'Dogs tacked on three more in the bottom half on a two-RBI single to left by Apodaca that scored Munoz and Marquez -- both on with singles -- and a base-hit-turned-error from A'dyn Levario. That 10-3 tally would carry into the top of the seventh, where a leadoff walk was erased by a 6-4 force and the contest would end on an F-4-3 double play.

Munoz finished with seven hits and one earned run allowed through six. Marquez was 3-4 at the plate on the afternoon, while Munoz, Fuentes and Apodaca all went 2-4, the latter with six runs batted in.

The Artesia girls battled in their winners' bracket quarterfinal Friday evening against Las Cruces, but one big inning boosted the Lady Bulldawgs over the top in an 8-4 victory. Cruces loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first, but it looked as if the Lady 'Dogs might escape unscathed following a strikeout by sophomore starter Marquez and a fly out to center. A hit batsman, however, made it 1-0 Bulldawgs, and that score would stand through two. But in the top of the third, the Lady Bulldogs were able to put two runners on via a leadoff walk by Miranda Perez and an error, and -- with two away -- Levario sent a homer over the fence in left to give the Lady 'Dogs a 3-1 lead.

Unfortunately, the advantage wouldn't last long. After a quick out in the home half of the fourth, the Lady Bulldawgs were able to take advantage of a pair of walks and an error, pulling back within one on a throwing error during a pick-off attempt at third and tying the game on a base hit to left by No. 9 batter Cami Munda. The 'Dawgs would then retake the lead, 7-3, on a passed ball, a hit off the handle to shallow left by Erica Silva, a triple down the right-field line by Leah Pacheco, and an error. Artesia trimmed the gap to three in the fifth on a leadoff homer to dead center by Marquez, but that would be it offensively for the girls in orange, and Las Cruces rounded out the 8-4 final in the sixth on an RBI ground out. The Lady 'Dogs outhit Cruces 5-4 on the night but committed four errors to the Bulldawgs' one.

The loss dropped Artesia into the fifth-place bracket, where they opened Saturday morning against Silver. With Apodaca in the circle, the Lady 'Dogs were able to hold the Lady Colts scoreless through two while themselves taking four runs out of the bottom of the second on four costly errors by the girls in blue. The Colts were able to get on the board in the third when Mia Sanchez -- on with a one-out single to left -- came around on a two-out double down the left-field line by pitcher Azariah Madrid. But Artesia gave itself some extra breathing room in the fifth on another error and an RBI double by Whitmire, then closed outs its 8-1 win in the sixth on a base-hit-turned-error by Marquez.

Apodaca closed out her complete game with four hits and one earned run allowed, striking out nine. Marquez led the Lady Bulldogs at the plate, going 3-4 with a double and an RBI, while Whitmire was 2-4 with a pair of two-baggers and a run batted in.

The Artesia girls found themselves facing a tough test Saturday afternoon in the tournament's fifth-place game against 5A Cleveland, but the Lady 'Dogs came out swinging. Artesia picked up two quick runs in the top of the first on a two-run homer to deep center by Marquez on the first pitch she saw from her Storm counterpart: senior Julia Montoya. Cleveland would tie things up in the home half, however, on back-to-back RBI singles by Lilliauna Gomez and Naia Thompson before going up 5-2 in the second on a three-run shot by Montoya.

But the Lady Bulldogs' bats were hot, and they put them back to work in the top of the third. Consecutive base hits by Marquez and Apodaca gave Artesia two on with one away, and a double to the left-field fence by Levario saw Marquez home. Apodaca then crossed on a low liner up the middle by Whitmire, and Levario made it 5-5 on an infield single by Leslie Molina. The girls in orange then proceeded to throw down the gauntlet in the top of four, plating five on three- and two-run homers to dead center, respectively, by Marquez and Levario to take a 10-5 lead.

Cleveland wasted no time chipping into that, pulling back within two in the home half on a leadoff homer by Lia Mier, a throwing error, and an RBI fielder's choice. But Artesia added an insurance run in the sixth on a base knock to right-center by Whitmire, and Munoz -- who came on in relief of Marquez in the bottom of the third -- and the Lady 'Dog defense proceeded to hold the Storm scoreless from there on a 5-U-3 double play and a strikeout in the sixth and a pair of ground outs and a pop-up in the seventh.

Marquez and Munoz both finished with four hits allowed in the 11-8 win. On the batting front, Marquez went 3-4 with two home runs and five RBI; Apodaca 3-3 with a double; Levario 2-5 with a double, a homer, and three runs batted in; and Munoz and Whitmire 2-4, the latter with two RBI. The Lady 'Dogs finished with 15 total hits in the bout, six of those for extra bases.

The winners' bracket semifinals turned out to be a Battle for Las Cruces, with Cruces High taking on Centennial and Mayfield facing the only non-Cruces team to make it through: Carlsbad. The Hawks edged the Bulldawgs 7-6 and the Trojans dispatched the Cavegirls 15-8 to set the final, which was won by Mayfield, 11-7 over Centennial. The Lady Bulldawgs then made it a Cruces top-three sweep with a 14-4 run rule of Carlsbad. Sandia placed seventh overall.

STAT BOX

Round One

Deming 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 3
Artesia 3 4 0 0 3 0 - 10

Artesia
Batting: Danyela Munoz 2-4, 1-BB; Katrin Marquez 3-4 (1-2B), 1-BB; Kayden Apodaca 2-4 (1-HR), 6-RBI; A'dyn Levario 1-4; Jenna Whitmire 0-0, 4-BB; Leslie Molina 1-4; Brooklyn Fuentes 2-4, 1-RBI; Janae Molina 0-4; Jade Hammond 1-4
Pitching: Munoz, jr.: 6-IP, 7-H, 3-R, 1-ER, 2-K, 0-BB; Michelle Loya, sr.: 1-IP, 0-H, 0-R, 0-ER, 0-K, 1-BB
Team: 12-H, 3-E, 0-SB, 7-RBI, 10-LOB

Deming
Batting: Cristal Enriquez 1-3 (1-2B), 1-BB; Kaylee McMillan 1-4; Jaylin Holguin 2-3 (1-2B), 1-SAC, 2-RBI; Carmen Duran 0-3; McKenzie Trejo 1-3; Brissa Lopez 0-3; Alejandra Milo 1-3 (1-2B); Kayzleen Apodaca 1-2, 1-SAC; Tennille Valdespino 0-1; Destiny Ortega 0-2
Pitching: Apodaca, sr.: 6-IP, 12-H, 10-R, 5-ER, 1-K, 6-BB
Team: 7-H, 4-E, 4-SB, 2-RBI, 6-LOB

Winners' Bracket Quarterfinal

Artesia 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 4
Las Cruces High 1 0 0 6 0 1 - 8

Artesia
Batting: Danyela Munoz 0-4; Katrin Marquez 1-4 (1-HR), 1-RBI; Kayden Apodaca 1-3 (1-2B); A'dyn Levario 1-3 (1-HR), 3-RBI; Jenna Whitmire 1-2, 1-BB; Leslie Molina 0-3; Isabel Cruz 0-3; Jade Hammond 1-3; Miranda Perez 0-2, 1-BB
Pitching: Marquez, so.: 3 1/3-IP, 1-H, 5-R, 4-ER, 3-K, 5-BB; Apodaca, sr.: 2 2/3-IP, 3-H, 3-R, 1-ER, 2-K, 0-BB
Team: 5-H, 4-E, 0-SB, 4-RBI, 4-LOB

Las Cruces High
Batting: Erica Silva 2-3, 1-BB, 1-RBI; Leah Pacheco 1-3 (1-3B), 1-BB, 2-RBI; Zaysha Hawkins 0-3, 1-BB; Krista Barela 0-3; Emma Madrid 0-3; Denae DiMatteo 0-1, 1-BB, 1-HP, 1-RBI; Joclyn Renteria 0-3; Amaya Pinedo 0-2, 1-BB; Cami Munda 1-3, 1-RBI
Pitching: Pacheco, jr.: 7-IP, 5-H, 4-R, 1-ER, 9-K, 2-BB
Team: 4-H, 1-E, 3-SB, 5-RBI, 4-LOB

Fifth-Place Bracket Semifinal

Silver 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
Artesia 0 4 0 0 2 2 - 8

Artesia
Batting: Danyela Munoz 1-4; Katrin Marquez 3-4 (1-2B), 1-RBI; Kayden Apodaca 1-3, 1-BB; A'dyn Levario 0-3, 1-BB; Jenna Whitmire 2-4 (2-2B), 1-RBI; Brooklyn Fuentes 0-3; Leslie Molina 0-3; Janae Molina 0-2, 1-BB; Jade Hammond 1-3 (1-2B)
Pitching: Apodaca, sr.: 7-IP, 4-H, 1-R, 1-ER, 9-K, 1-BB
Team: 8-H, 2-E, 0-SB, 2-RBI, 6-LOB

Silver
Batting: Mia Sanchez 2-3; Vanessa Lucero 1-3; Azariah Madrid 1-3 (1-2B), 1-RBI; Jaelynn Cardenas 0-3; Isabell Villa 0-3; Estrella Orosco 0-3; Kenia Nieto 0-2, 1-BB; Estrella Jimenez 0-3; Alivia Beck 0-3
Pitching: Madrid, jr.: 6-IP, 8-H, 8-R, 3-ER, 6-K, 3-BB
Team: 4-H, 7-E, 1-SB, 1-RBI, 5-LOB

Fifth-Place Game

Artesia 2 0 3 5 0 1 0 11
Cleveland 2 3 0 3 0 0 0 8

Artesia
Batting: Danyela Munoz 2-4, 1-BB; Katrin Marquez 3-4 (2-HR), 1-BB, 5-RBI; Kayden Apodaca 3-3 (1-2B), 2-BB; A'dyn Levario 2-5 (1-2B, 1-HR), 3-RBI; Jenna Whitmire 2-4, 2-RBI; Leslie Molina 1-4, 1-RBI; Jade Hammond 1-4 (1-2B); Myra Bustamante 0-3, 1-BB; Isabel Cruz 1-4
Pitching: Marquez, so.: 2-IP, 4-H, 5-R, 5-ER, 0-K, 3-BB; Munoz, sr.: 5-IP, 4-H, 3-R, 3-ER, 2-K, 4-BB
Team: 15-H, 2-E, 0-SB, 11-RBI, 8-LOB

Cleveland
Batting: Isabella Chavez 1-3, 2-BB; Danika Jaime 1-4; Julia Montoya 2-3 (1-HR), 1-BB, 3-RBI; Lillauna Gomez 1-3, 1-BB, 1-RBI; Naia Thompson 1-3, 1-BB, 1-RBI; Kaitlin Joyner 0-4, 1-RBI; Jazlyn Quiroz 0-3, 1-BB; Laila Romero 1-2; Marisol Romero 0-2; Lia Mier 1-2 (1-HR), 1-BB, 1-HP, 1-RBI
Pitching: Montoya, sr.: 2 1/3-IP, 5-H, 5-R, 5-ER, 1-K, 1-BB; Gomez, fr.: 4 2/3-IP, 10-H, 6-R, 6-ER, 5-K, 4-BB
Team: 8-H, 2-E, 0-SB, 7-RBI, 8-LOB

Lady 'Dog Invitational

PICTURED: Jenna Whitmire slides home on a passed ball for the first run of the game Friday against Cobre.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

This year's Lady 'Dog Invitational may not have turned out to be everything Artesia was hoping for in terms of record. But where experience is concerned, it was yet another valuable weekend for the girls in orange at the Mack Chase Athletic Complex.

The Lady 'Dogs notched just one win in their home tournament, which was again this year conducted in a round-robin format with time limits that saw most games called in the fifth or sixth inning, regardless of score. Artesia saw solid pitching throughout the three-day event, with seniors Kayden Apodaca, Danyela Munoz and Michelle Loya and sophomore Katrin Marquez give up just 16 hits combined through four games, striking out 34. The thorn in the Lady Bulldogs' side on the tourney was hitting. Typically prolific at the plate, Artesia averaged four-and-a-half hits per game with just three total extra-base hits, and it spelled the difference in their trio of losses to Class 3A Cobre and Class 5A Los Lunas and Alamogordo.

The Lady 'Dogs' victory came in their opener Thursday evening against the only fellow 4A squad they faced in the tournament: Bernalillo. Apodaca kept the Lady Spartan batters well in check throughout that contest, striking out 12 and allowing just one fourth-inning hit on a one-out single to right by third-baseman Kylee Herrera. The senior also completed a 1-3-5 double play with first-baseman Leslie Molina and Marquez at the hot corner on a bunt in the top of the fifth. Offensively, the Lady 'Dogs did just enough against Spartan junior Calandria Montoya. Artesia manufactured its first run in the first on a pair of walks, a sac bunt, and a wild pitch and wouldn't notch its first hit until the third. They'd make it 3-0 in that inning, however, when Munoz -- on with a leadoff infield single -- scored on a triple to right by Apodaca, who then crossed on a passed ball. Apodaca then completed her all-around stellar outing in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run homer to left-center that capped the 5-0 shutout.

Friday afternoon pitted the Lady Bulldogs against defending Class 3A State Champion Cobre, and through the bulk of the contest, the girls in orange appeared to be headed for their second win of the weekend. In the circle, Munoz gave up her only hit to Cobre's first batter of the game -- pitcher Bella Saiz -- who sent a double to the fence in right-center. From there, however, the Lady Indians could get nothing going against Munoz, who struck out seven and walked only one in her four complete innings. At the plate, the Lady 'Dogs' hitting woes were continuing, but they were able to bring one around in the second when Jenna Whitmire -- on with a one-out walk -- advanced to second on a Jade Hammond bunt single, stole third, and came home on a passed ball. Artesia then tacked on two more in the bottom of five on back-to-back two-out singles by A'dyn Levario and Whitmire and an error in center that plated them both.

But with Loya on in relief of Munoz, the Lady Indian bats awoke in the top of the sixth. A leadoff double by Alysiana Alvarado was followed by an Annie Garcia triple to put Cobre on the board, and -- with help from an error -- the Indians would tie things up at 3-all on a two-RBI single to center by Shandin Francisco. A two-out base knock from Serenity Madrid gave them the lead, and a bases-loaded walk as Munoz re-entered the game and Cobre batted around made it 5-3. Shell shocked, the Lady 'Dogs unfortunately only had one at-bat to respond due to the tournament's time limit. The bottom of the sixth began with a leadoff walk from Janae Molina, but two consecutive dropped pop-flies that resulted in Saiz tossing the ball to second for the force out quickly erased Artesia's baserunners, and a fly out to right ended the game. The Lady 'Dogs left eight runners stranded in the bout, with Levario going 2-3 at the plate.

The Artesia girls faced their first of two 5A opponents Friday evening at The Mack, and they'd start from behind after quickly tumbling into a two-run hole in the top of the first.

Los Lunas let no dust settle on the plate in their inaugural at-bat, with leadoff batter Kelsie DeGraaf belting a triple to the fence in right before scoring two pitches later on a sacrifice fly to left from second-baseman Jaslene Duran. A pop-up to catcher Munoz in foul territory gave Artesia two away, but Natalie Madrid would double to the opposite-field fence and come home on another two-bagger to the same spot to make it 2-0. Ashley Baca was caught off the bag following her double, however, to end the half-inning.

From there, the two squads would go scoreless for much of the contest. The Lady 'Dogs put runners on in all four of their first trips to the plate on a pair of errors, two walks, and a Whitmire base hit up the middle. But all were left standing, and the Lady Tigers would bump their lead to 5-0 in the top of the fifth on RBI singles from Madrid and Haidyn Garley and an Artesia throwing error. The Lady Bulldogs finally got on the board with a chance to do more in the home half. Brooklyn Fuentes sent a flare into shallow left-center to lead off and advanced to third on consecutive base hits by Marquez and Apodaca before scoring on a Levario RBI ground out. Marquez and Apodaca were left in scoring position, however, and while Artesia would get a double from Whitmire and an infield hit from Munoz in the bottom of the sixth, they'd leave three more on the paths as time ran out on the 5-1 loss.

Following a frustrating Friday, the Lady Bulldogs saved their toughest test of the tournament for last Saturday as they squared off against the undefeated 5A Alamogordo Lady Tigers. The bulk of that outing would play out as a high-caliber pitchers' duel between Apodaca and Alamo sophomore Khloe Lunar, but the Tigers would take advantage of a pair of Artesia misfires in the fourth to take the lead before breaking the game open in the fifth and final.

Apodaca K'd seven of the first 11 batters she faced in the contest, walking one in both the first and third innings and giving up her first hit -- a single up the middle from Amani Cosom -- in the third. The Lady 'Dogs, meanwhile, were putting more runners on, getting a leadoff single from Munoz in the bottom of the first and walks from Apodaca, Munoz and Whitmire. They could bring none around, however, and in the top of the fourth, a one-out throwing error led to the game's first run, as Alamogordo's Daviana Gonzalez then scored on a stolen-base-turned-error to end the drought.

The Lady Bulldogs left two more on in the bottom half of that inning, and the Lady Tigers finally got the opening they were looking for in the fifth. Consecutive walks put ducks on the pond for Cosom, who plated one on a ground-rule double down the left-field line. The second would score on a throwing error during a pick-off attempt at third, and Cosom came home on a wild pitch. One more Tiger would cross before at-bat's end on a double-steal to make it 5-0. The Artesia girls were able to mount a rally in the home half when Marquez -- aboard with a base hit to right -- and Apodaca -- on as a hit batsman -- scored on an error and wild pitch, respectively. But Lunar ultimately struck out the side, and the time limit was once again no friend to the Lady Bulldogs, as the game ended after five.

With the 1-3 finish, the Artesia girls moved to 8-4 on the season. They'll now have 11 days off to prepare for their first non-tournament action of 2026: a 5 and 7 p.m. double-header against Roswell High Thursday, April 2, at The Mack. Tickets for that outing are available for purchase now via GoFan.

STAT BOX

Game One

Bernalillo 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0
Artesia 1 0 2 0 2 - - 5

Artesia
Batting: Danyela Munoz 1-2, 1-BB; Katrin Marquez 0-1, 2-SAC; Kayden Apodaca 2-2 (1-3B, 1-HR), 1-BB, 3-RBI; Leslie Molina 0-3; Jenna Whitmire 0-3; Myra Bustamante 0-2; Jade Hammond 0-1, 1-BB; Janae Molina 0-1, 1-BB; Brooklyn Fuentes 0-2; A'dyn Levario 0-1
Pitching: Apodaca, sr.: 6-IP, 1-H, 0-R, 0-ER, 12-K, 2-BB
Team: 3-H, 2-E, 2-SB, 3-RBI, 4-LOB

Bernalillo
Batting: Aasia Duran 0-2, 1-BB; Calandria Montoya 0-2, 1-HP; Kylee Herrera 1-3; Bella Perez 0-1, 1-BB; Teyonna Trancosa 0-2; LeAndra Valencia 0-2; Jenasie Arriola 0-1, 1-SAC; Tatiana Madrid 0-2; Ryanna Mortensen 0-2
Pitching: Montoya, jr.: 5-IP, 3-H, 5-R, 4-ER, 6-K, 4-BB
Team: 1-H, 3-E, 0-SB, 0-RBI, 3-LOB

Game Two

Cobre 0 0 0 0 0 5 - 5
Artesia 0 1 0 0 2 0 - 3

Artesia
Batting: Danyela Munoz 0-4; Leslie Molina 1-4; Kayden Apodaca 0-2, 1-BB; A'dyn Levario 2-3; Jenna Whitmire 1-2, 1-BB; Jade Hammond 1-3; Brooklyn Fuentes 1-2; Janae Molina 1-2, 1-BB; Miranda Perez 0-3; Michelle Loya 0-1
Pitching: Munoz, sr.: 4 1/3-IP, 2-H, 0-R, 0-ER, 7-K, 2-BB; Loya, sr.: 1 2/3-IP, 4-H, 5-R, 2-ER, 3-K, 2-BB
Team: 7-H, 2-E, 2-SB, 0-RBI, 8-LOB

Cobre
Batting: Bella Saiz 2-4 (1-2B); Alysiana Alvarado 1-3 (1-2B), 1-BB, 1-RBI; Annie Garcia 1-4 (1-3B), 1-RBI; Ayvah Ortiz 0-2, 1-BB; Zayah Martinez 0-3; Itzel Valdez 0-3; Shandin Francisco 1-2, 1-BB, 2-RBI; Serenity Madrid 1-3, 1-RBI; Alora Aguirre 0-2, 1-BB
Pitching: Saiz, sr.: 6-IP, 7-H, 3-R, 1-ER, 9-K, 3-BB
Team: 6-H, 1-E, 3-SB, 5-RBI, 7-LOB

Game Three

Los Lunas 2 0 0 0 3 0 - 5
Artesia 0 0 0 0 1 0 - 1

Artesia
Batting: Danyela Munoz 1-4; Katrin Marquez 1-4; Kayden Apodaca 1-2, 1-BB; A'dyn Levario 0-3, 1-RBI; Leslie Molina 0-3; Isabel Cruz 0-3; Jenna Whitmire 2-2 (1-2B), 1-BB; Jade Hammond 0-3; Brooklyn Fuentes 1-2, 1-BB
Pitching: Marquez, so.: 6-IP, 8-H, 5-R, 3-ER, 4-K, 2-BB
Team: 6-H, 2-E, 0-SB, 1-RBI, 10-LOB

Los Lunas
Batting: Kelsie DeGraaf 2-4 (1-3B); Jaslene Duran 0-3, 1-SAC, 1-RBI; Kellyn Lucero 1-4; Natalie Madrid 3-3 (2-2B), 1-RBI; Ashley Baca 1-3 (1-2B), 1-RBI; Haidyn Garley 1-3, 1-RBI; Brooke Baca 0-2, 1-BB; Calista Bertrand 0-3; Halie Delgado 0-2, 1-BB
Pitching: A. Baca, so.: 6-IP, 6-H, 1-R, 1-ER, 2-K, 3-BB
Team: 8-H, 2-E, 0-SB, 4-RBI, 7-LOB

Game Four

Alamogordo 0 0 0 1 4 - - 5
Artesia 0 0 0 0 2 - - 2

Artesia
Batting: Danyela Munoz 1-2, 1-BB; Katrin Marquez 1-3; Kayden Apodaca 0-0, 2-BB, 1-HP; A'dyn Levario 0-3; Leslie Molina 0-3; Jenna Whitmire 0-2, 1-BB; Jade Hammond 0-2, 1-BB; Isabel Cruz 0-2; Brooklyn Fuentes 0-1, 1-BB
Pitching: Apodaca, sr.: 5-IP, 2-H, 5-R, 3-ER, 8-K, 7-BB
Team: 2-H, 3-E, 1-SB, 0-RBI, 8-LOB

Alamogordo
Batting: Amani Cosom 2-3 (1-2B), 1-RBI; Hailey Evans 0-1, 2-BB; Khloe Lunar 0-2, 1-BB; Daviana Gonzalez 0-3; Alyssa Bautista 0-3; Elis Roman 0-1, 1-BB; Lola Carbajal 0-2; Allison Cisco 0-0, 2-BB; Khloe Evans 0-1, 1-BB
Pitching: Lunar, so.: 5-IP, 2-H, 2-R, 1-ER, 9-K, 6-BB
Team: 2-H, 1-E, 2-SB, 1-RBI, 3-LOB

BULLDOG BASEBALL

New Mexico Invitational

The Bulldog baseball team was on the hunt for a test following its season-opening sweep of Grants. The 51st Annual New Mexico Invitational was only too happy to oblige -- and then some.

The defending Class 4A State Champion Diamond 'Dogs were the only Class 4A team in attendance at the Invite, with Las Cruces High and Centennial also welcoming Los Lunas, Hobbs, Rio Rancho, Carlsbad, and Cheyenne Mountain, Colo., to the Field of Dreams March 12-14. And while the Bulldogs would ultimately go winless on the long weekend -- falling to Rio Rancho 8-2, Las Cruces High 10-4, and Los Lunas 9-3 -- the squad accomplished its goal of becoming better by facing the best.

The boys in orange kicked off their tournament run Thursday evening against 2025 5A second-ranked state semifinalist Rio Rancho, who entered the bout unbeaten at 6-0. The Rams wasted little time showing why, scoring the game's first run in the bottom of the first on a two-out solo home run to right by Logan Sunstrom. And after eight of the Bulldogs' first nine outs were recorded via strikeout by junior starter Matthew Cook, Rio Rancho batted the lineup in the bottom of the third to essentially put the game out of reach. All five of the Rams' runs in the at-bat were unearned after a two-base error with one away both plated their second run and extended the inning. From there, Brayden Bustillos would deliver a bases-clearing double before crossing on a single to left by DH Landon Fairhurst to make it 6-0 Rams.

The 'Dogs were able to prevent the shutout in the top of five after Logan Rodriguez doubled to right with one away and came around on a single to the same spot by Jarod Flores. They'd then pull within four, 6-2, in the sixth on a three-base error that scored Jett Fuentes, on with a double to center. But after Rio Rancho added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth on a Chase Rivera two-RBI double, the Rams recorded a rare triple play in the top of the seventh as relief pitcher Noah Cardenas snapped up a bunt and fired it to Wyatt Tinker at short for an unassisted tag out and force at second, followed by a subsequent quick throw to Ryan Barreras at first.

The loss dropped the 'Dogs into the losers' bracket, where they matched up Friday morning against 2025 5A 16th-ranked Las Cruces High (4-3), who fell to Carlsbad in the opening round, 4-0. Once again, the Artesia boys were forced to start from behind, as -- despite a 6-U-3 double play between Fuentes and first-baseman Daelon Pacheco -- the Bulldawgs plated a trio of runs in the bottom of the first on a Hunter Parmeter infield hit and a two-base error. Artesia responded quickly, however, cutting their deficit to one in the top of the second with a two-out rally that included a Hayden Moser double to left, an RBI double to center by Flores, and a Rodriguez RBI base hit to right. But Las Cruces would run the order in the bottom of the third, making it 7-2 on a two-run error, a Danny Amaro RBI double, and an Armando Gonzalez RBI single. Another Bulldog run in the fourth after Fuentes beat out an RBI infield hit was answered in the home half by a successful double-steal from Cruces, and the 'Dawgs made it 10-3 in the sixth on a passed ball and a wild pitch.

Pacheco was hit by a pitch with one away in the top of seven and crossed the plate on an error, but that would be it for Artesia in the 10-4 loss. Despite the Bulldawgs' 10-run finish, Bulldog junior pitchers Elijah Carrasco and Destin Pacheco threw a solid combined game, giving up just eight total hits and only two earned runs. Moser and Flores were both 2-3 at the plate, the former with two doubles and the latter with a double and one RBI.

Saturday's New Mexico Invite seventh-place game found the 'Dogs taking on 2025 5A ninth-ranked state semifinalist Los Lunas, who opened its tournament with a pair of close losses to Centennial (-4) and Cheyenne Mountain, Colo. (6-5). The Hawks would open with a run on a two-out double to left by Jesus Diaz in the top of the first, but the boys in orange countered with two of their own in the home half when Jett Whitmire singled to center to lead off and crossed on a double to left by Fuentes, who then scored on a sac-fly to right by Brant Usherwood. Unfortunately, the 'Dogs' bats would be stymied from there by Tiger starter Jeremiah Mondragon. Artesia got singles in all but one of their next five at-bats -- two each from Moser and Fuentes -- but were unable to advance them past first as they struggled against a double-play and two throw-outs on stolen base attempts.

That left the door open for Los Lunas to expand its lead. The Tigers -- who were highly aggressive on the basepaths, with 10 steals on the day -- got three in the top of the third on RBI hits from Cruz Romero and Stran English and an error; made it 7-2 in the sixth on RBI base knocks from Kaiden Reese and Jasiah Byers, along with another error; and went up 9-2 in the top of seven on a double-steal and a Reese sac-fly. Artesia came through with a trio of singles in the bottom of the seventh by Carrasco, Moser and Rodriguez -- Moser's plating a run -- but left two standing for the 9-3 loss. Fuentes and Moser both went 3-3 at the plate on the game, both with an RBI and the former with a double.

STAT BOX

Round One

Artesia 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2
Rio Rancho 1 0 5 0 0 2 - 8

Artesia
Batting: Jett Whitmire 0-1, 2-BB; Jett Fuentes 1-3 (1-2B); Daelon Pacheco 1-3; Brant Usherwood 0-3; Elijah Carrasco 0-2, 1-BB; Kolton Hamilton 0-2, 1-BB; Logan Rodriguez 2-3 (1-2B); Jarod Flores 1-3, 1-RBI; Destin Pacheco 0-2
Pitching: Da. Pacheco, sr.: 4-IP, 6-H, 6-R, 1-ER, 6-K, 1-BB; Lucas Atkins, jr.: 2-IP, 4-H, 2-R, 2-ER, 1-K, 0-BB
Team: 5-H, 1-E, 0-SB, 1-RBI, 3-LOB

Rio Rancho
Batting: Chase Rivera 2-4 (1-2B), 2-RBI; Wyatt Tinker 0-4; Logan Sunstrom 1-2 (1-HR), 1-BB, 1-RBI; Ryan Barreras 1-3; Anthony Knoll 0-2, 1-HP; Brayden Bustillos 1-3 (1-2B), 3-RBI; Landon Fairhurst 2-3, 1-RBI; Mattheis Santhoeurn 0-2; Alex Gallegos 2-3 (1-2B); Kellen McCray 1-1
Pitching: Matthew Cook, jr.: 6-IP, 4-H, 2-R, 1-ER, 11-K, 3-BB; Noah Cardenas, sr.: 1-IP, 1-H, 0-R, 0-ER, 0-K, 1-BB
Team: 10-H, 1-E, 0-SB, 7-RBI, 3-LOB

Losers' Bracket Semifinal

Artesia 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 4
Las Cruces High 3 0 4 1 0 2 - 10

Artesia
Batting: Jett Whitmire 1-4; Jett Fuentes 1-4, 1-RBI; Daelon Pacheco 1-3, 1-HP; Brant Usherwood 0-3, 1-BB; Elijah Carrasco 0-4; Kolton Hamilton 0-3, 1-BB; Hayden Moser 2-3 (2-2B); Jarod Flores 2-3 (1-2B), 1-RBI; Logan Rodriguez 1-3, 1-RBI
Pitching: Carrasco, jr.: 3 2/3-IP, 6-H, 8-R, 2-ER, 2-K, 6-BB; Destin Pacheco, jr.: 2 1/3-IP, 2-H, 2-R, 0-ER, 2-K, 2-BB
Team: 8-H, 4-E, 0-SB, 3-RBI, 8-LOB

Las Cruces High
Batting: Isaiah Borunda 0-3, 2-BB; Aiden Dominguez 1-3, 1-BB; Adrian Whitman 0-2, 2-BB; Hunter Parmeter 1-2, 1-BB, 1-HP, 1-RBI; Nick Rojas 2-4; Devin Alba 2-3, 1-BB; Aaron Alvarado 0-3, 1-BB; Danny Amaro 1-4 (1-2B), 1-RBI; Isaac Gomez 0-1; Armando Gonzalez 1-3, 1-RBI
Pitching: Gracin Poe, sr.: 4-IP, 7-H, 3-R, 2-ER, 4-K, 2-BB; Braeden Tellez, jr.: 2 1/3-IP, 1-H, 1-R, 0-ER, 2-K, 0-BB; Julian Lozoya, sr.: 2/3-IP, 0-H, 0-R, 0-ER, 2-K, 0-BB
Team: 8-H, 3-E, 4-SB, 3-RBI, 9-LOB

Seventh-Place Game

Los Lunas 1 0 3 0 0 3 2 9
Artesia 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 3

Artesia
Batting: Jett Whitmire 1-3; Jett Fuentes 3-3 (1-2B), 1-RBI; Daelon Pacheco 0-3; Brant Usherwood 0-2, 1-SAC, 1-RBI; Elijah Carrasco 1-3; Kolton Hamilton 0-2; Hayden Moser 3-3, 1-RBI; Logan Rodriguez 1-3; Jarod Flores 0-3; Destin Pacheco 0-1
Pitching: Usherwood, sr.: 4-IP, 4-H, 4-R, 3-ER, 5-K, 3-BB; Fuentes, sr.: 2-IP, 4-H, 3-R, 3-ER, 1-K, 1-BB; Flores, so.: 1-IP, 4-H, 2-R, 2-ER, 1-K, 0-BB
Team: 9-H, 3-E, 3-SB, 3-RBI, 3-LOB

Los Lunas
Batting: Mark Scime 2-3, 2-BB; Jasiah Byers 1-5, 1-RBI; Cruz Romero 2-3, 1-BB, 1-RBI; Jesus Diaz 1-4 (1-2B), 1-RBI; Stran English 2-4, 1-RBI; Isaiah Barela 1-3, 1-BB; Quintin Lucero 0-4; Kaiden Reese 1-3, 1-SAC, 2-RBI; Noah Luna 2-3 (1-2B), 1-HP
Pitching: Jeremiah Mondragon, sr.: 6-IP, 6-H, 2-R, 2-ER, 5-K, 0-BB; Joshua Mora, sr.: 1-IP, 3-H, 1-R, 1-ER, 2-K, 0-BB
Team: 12-H, 0-E, 10-SB, 6-RBI, 8-LOB

Artesia Invitational

PICTURED: Jack Byers delivers an RBI single to score Jett Fuentes for the first run of the game Friday against Roswell High at Brainard Park.
(Photos by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

On a long Spring Break weekend that felt decidedly more July than March -- particularly considering spring didn't officially begin until Friday -- the Bulldog baseball team hosted the 51st Annual Artesia Invitational. Scores of orange-clad fans filled the bleachers at venerable Brainard Park over the course of the three-day event. They came to support their athletes, to have a hot dog at the old ballpark, to enjoy not only the defending Class 4A state title-holders but a host of other top teams in the state as well, and to celebrate five decades of tradition in the City of Champions. The Diamond 'Dogs recognized the weight of the occasion, honoring the 1976 team prior to the start of the tourney's final game for both beginning the home-tourney tradition and winning Artesia's first of seven state baseball titles.

In short, it was a great weekend to be a Bulldog. And although the 'Dogs would be edged in their opening game Thursday evening, 4-1 by Deming, they'd bounce back with a pair of big wins over 5A opponents -- 4-1 over Roswell High and 10-0 in five innings versus Alamogordo -- to finish fifth overall and get back on the plus side at 4-3 on the season.

The boys in orange gave themselves no gimmes to start the 2026 Invite, starting out against a Deming squad with nine games already under their belts and a record of 7-2. In a largely defensive battle, it became clear the winner would be decided by the fewest number of mistakes. And with the Wildcats recording three unearned runs on the evening, that designation ultimately went to Deming.

Scoreless through three-and-a-half, junior pitchers Elijah Carrasco for Artesia and Estevan Mariscal for Deming had been duking it out with the help of their defenses. Both teams recorded 6-4-3 double plays in the first inning, and the 'Dogs had seated the Wildcats in order in their second and third trips to the plate before erasing a walk and an error with another double play, this time L-6-4 between shortstop Fuentes and second-baseman Derrick Warren. In the bottom of the fourth, however, Artesia was finally able to break through, sneaking a run in prior to yet another double play on a pair of errors and a Carrasco RBI single.

PICTURED: Elijah Carrasco throws out a Coyote batter from third Friday against Roswell.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

Unfortunately, the lead wouldn't last long. The 'Cats were able to tie it up in the top of five on a Micah Guevara RBI single, and they'd take a 3-1 lead out of the sixth on a two-base error and a passed ball. The Bulldogs were able to put two on in the bottom of six on a Pacheco single and an Usherwood walk but would leave them standing, and one last double play in a game that featured five would end Artesia's final at-bat. The Wildcats rounded out the 4-1 final in their half of the seventh on an error and an RBI fielder's choice. Mariscal went a full seven for Deming, allowing five hits and no earned runs. The 'Dogs' combined pitching slate of Carrasco, Charlie Campbell and Diego Morales had four hits and no earned runs.

The losers' bracket semifinals found Artesia squaring off against their old district rivals, Roswell High, for another pitchers' duel between University of Arizona-bound Jack Byers and Coyote senior southpaw Jayce Griffin. Roswell was the first to put a runner in scoring position in the second on a leadoff single by Alex Lomeli, a ground out to Carrasco at third, and a passed ball, but consecutive Ks would end the threat. Byers then helped his own cause in the third, singling in Fuentes -- also aboard with a base hit -- with two away. The boys in orange expanded their lead to 4-0 in their fourth and fifth at-bats on a pair of errors, another RBI single from Byers, and a run scored amidst a double play. The Coyotes got on the board in the top of the sixth on a Diego Villa two-out double and back-to-back base hits by Elias Lujan and Lomeli, but a strikeout ended the at-bat, and a K, a fly out to Morales in left, and a ground out back to Byers would close out the game in the seventh.

Byers finished with 13 strikeouts in the contest, allowing just four hits, one earned run, and walking one. He was 2-2 at the plate with a walk and two RBI, with Fuentes and Flores accounting for Artesia's other two hits in another light offensive outing.

PICTURED: Jack Byers closes out his seven-inning four-hitter on the mound Friday against Roswell.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

The Bulldogs would finally let their bats fly in the Artesia Invitational's fifth-place game Saturday afternoon, batting around in the bottom of the first and taking a commanding early lead in what would become a run-rule victory over 5A Alamogordo. The Tigers led off the bout with a double to right, but, after advancing to third on a passed ball, Aiden McGinnis would remain standing on third following a pair of fly outs to Whitmire in center and a liner to Warren at second. The Artesia boys then kicked off their offensive barrage in the home half with a ground-rule double from Fuentes and an RBI single to right by pitcher Pacheco. Pacheco crossed on an error during a pick-off attempt of Moser -- aboard with a base hit to right -- and Moser made it 3-0 on a liner down the left-field line by Usherwood. Consecutive walks by Warren and Morales and a trio of stolen bases loaded the bags for Flores, who popped a two-RBI single into right-center, and Morales and Flores would cap the seven-run at-bat, scoring on a Whitmire RBI ground out and a Fuentes single to left.

From there, the Tigers would manage just two more hits -- an Aiden Tupper double in the second and a Kade Kiss single up the middle in the fourth -- off Pacheco, who struck out six amidst a pair of fly-outs and four ground balls. Meanwhile, a two-out solo homer in the second by Usherwood and an RBI base hit to center by Moser that scored Byers -- on with a leadoff double -- in the fourth made it 9-0 Artesia. And in the bottom of the fifth, a single to left by Morales became the 10th and final run on a walk-off base-hit-turned-error by Whitmire. Fuentes finished 2-2 with a double and one RBI, while Moser, Usherwood and Flores were all 2-3 with a combined five runs batted in.

Elsewhere in the Artesia Invite, Roswell defeated Lovington 18-3 in the seventh-place game, Clovis blanked Los Alamos 10-0 for third, and Goddard bested Deming 10-1 in the championship. There'll be no rest for the weary this week, as the Bulldogs host NMMI for a 6 p.m. single game Tuesday, March 24, at Brainard Park before heading to Rio Rancho March 26-28 for the Sal Puentes Memorial Baseball Tournament. Artesia will open at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26, against 5A top-ranked and undefeated Cleveland (13-0). Other first-round games will include Goddard-La Cueva, St. Pius-Carlsbad, and Albuquerque Academy-Rio Rancho. Click here to purchase tickets to Tuesday's game against NMMI. Tickets to the Sal Puentes, when they become available, will be sold via the Rio Rancho Public Schools ticketing portal.

PICTURED: Above, Brant Usherwood connects with a solo home run to center and comes home to be greeted by his teammates. Below, Jett Fuentes sends an RBI single into left during the bottom of the first against Alamogordo.
(Photos by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

STAT BOX

Round One

Deming 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 4
Artesia 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1

Artesia
Batting: Jack Byers 1-3; Jett Fuentes 0-3; Daelon Pacheco 1-3; Brent Usherwood 0-2, 1-BB; Elijah Carrasco 1-2, 1-RBI; Jarod Flores 1-3; Derrick Warren 1-3; Charlie Campbell 0-3; Jett Whitmire 0-2; Diego Morales 0-1
Pitching: Carrasco, jr.: 4-IP, 2-H, 1-R, 1-ER, 3-K, 1-BB; Campbell, sr.: 2-IP, 2-H, 2-R, 0-ER, 2-K, 1-BB; Morales, sr.: 1-IP, 0-H, 1-R, 0-ER, 1-K, 0-BB
Team: 5-H, 4-E, 3-SB, 1-RBI, 4-LOB

Deming
Batting: Max Allison 1-4; Estevan Mariscal 0-3, 1-BB; Daniel Mosier 1-4, 1-RBI; Daniel Porras 0-4; Chris Olvera 0-3; Ezra Sainz 0-2, 1-HP; Royce Sutton 0-1, 1-HP; Micah Guevara 1-3, 1-RBI; Pablo Covarrubias 1-3; Ezekiel Sanchez 0-0, 1-BB
Pitching: Mariscal, jr.: 7-IP, 5-H, 1-R, 0-ER, 5-K, 1-BB
Team: 4-H, 3-E, 1-SB, 2-RBI, 6-LOB

Losers' Bracket Semifinal

Roswell High 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
Artesia 0 0 1 1 2 0 - 4

Artesia
Batting: Jett Fuentes 1-3, 1-HP; Daelon Pacheco 0-2, 1-BB; Jack Byers 2-2, 1-BB, 2-RBI; Brant Usherwood 0-3, 1-RBI; Hayden Moser 0-2, 1-BB; Derrick Warren 0-3; Jarod Flores 1-3; Elijah Carrasco 0-1, 1-BB, 1-SAC; Diego Morales 0-2, 1-BB
Pitching: Byers, sr.: 7-IP, 4-H, 1-R, 1-ER, 13-K, 1-BB
Team: 4-H, 0-E, 3-SB, 3-RBI, 5-LOB

Roswell High
Batting: Joaquin Bolanos 0-3; Diego Villa 1-3 (1-2B); Elias Lujan 1-3; Alex Lomeli 2-2, 1-BB, 1-RBI; Jayce Griffin 0-3; Luke Lynn 0-3; Davian Dominguez 0-3; Alejandro Serrano 0-3; Arath Nevarez 0-2
Pitching: Griffin, sr.: 5-IP, 3-H, 4-R, 2-ER, 3-K, 5-BB; Bolanos, sr.: 1-IP, 1-H, 0-R, 0-ER, 2-K, 0-BB
Team: 4-H, 3-E, 0-SB, 1-RBI, 4-LOB

Fifth-Place Game

Alamogordo 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0
Artesia 7 1 0 1 1 - - 0

Artesia
Batting: Jett Fuentes 2-2 (1-2B), 1-BB, 1-RBI; Daelon Pacheco 1-3, 1-RBI; Jack Byers 1-3 (1-2B); Hayden Moser 2-3, 1-RBI; Brant Usherwood 2-3 (1-HR), 2-RBI; Derrick Warren 0-2, 1-BB; Diego Morales 1-2, 1-BB; Jarod Flores 2-3, 2-RBI; Jett Whitmire 1-3, 1-RBI
Pitching: Pacheco, sr.: 5-IP, 3-H, 0-R, 0-ER, 6-K, 0-BB
Team: 12-H, 0-E, 4-SB, 8-RBI, 3-LOB

Alamogordo
Batting: Aiden McGinnis 1-2 (1-2B); AJ Paz 0-2; Preston Eldred 0-2; Kade Kiss 1-2; Jaden Ruiz 0-2; Brandon Williams 0-2; Aiden Tupper 1-2 (1-2B); Billy Copeland 0-2; Clifford Phillips 0-2
Pitching: Jaxson Cole, sr.: 1-IP, 6-H, 7-R, 7-ER, 1-K, 2-BB; Nico Carrillo, jr.: 3-IP, 4-H, 2-R, 2-ER, 1-K, 1-BB; Levi Ramirez, jr.: 1/3-IP, 2-H, 1-R, 0-ER, 0-K, 0-BB
Team: 3-H, 3-E, 1-SB, 0-RBI, 3-LOB

AHS CHEER

The Artesia High School varsity cheer squad closed out its 2026 season Saturday, March 21, at the State Spirit Competition at The Pit in Albuquerque. And while the Bulldogs unfortunately finished just out of hardware range, placing fourth out of 17 teams, the cheerleaders did the City of Champions proud. The squad delivered a near-flawless Game Day Cheer, earning 91.3 points, just behind eventual 4A State Champ Taos' routine (91.8). In the end, however, runner-up Deming and third-place St. Pius would leapfrog the 'Dogs, the latter by just two-and-a-half points. Congratulations to AHS cheer on an excellent competition season, and check out videos from the State Spirit Competition below.

AHS TENNIS

The Bulldog and Lady Bulldog tennis teams hit the road March 9-10 for their first duals of the 2026 season, travelling to Santa Fe to take on St. Michael's and Santa Fe Prep. Both squads headed home with sweeps in hand, as the Lady 'Dogs blanked both the Lady Horsemen and Lady Griffins, 9-0, and the 'Dogs shut out St. Mike's 9-0 before edging Santa Fe Prep 5-4. Individual scores were unavailable for the Artesia boys. The Artesia girls' results included:

Lady Bulldogs vs. St. Michael's
Singles
• Kirklyn Miller def. Chloe Stevens (6-1, 6-0)
• Breckyn Miller def. Elena Castillo (6-0, 6-0)
• Adrienne Harvey def. Olivia Crockett (7-5, 6-1)
• Abigail Jowers def. Sophia Leal (6-0, 6-0)
• Renee Irvin def. Aubrey Jaramillo (6-0, 6-0)
• Sadie Morris def. Sienna Ney (6-1, 6-2)
Doubles
• Miller/Miller def. Stevens/Castillo (6-1, 6-3)
• Harvey/Jowers def. Crockett/Leal (7-6, 6-1)
• Irvin/Morris def. Jaramillo/Gianna Gallegos (6-1, 6-1)

Lady Bulldogs vs. Santa Fe Prep
Singles
• Kirklyn Miller def. Rhys Harvey (6-1, 6-1)
• Breckyn Miller def. Simone Romero (6-1, 6-0)
• Adrienne Harvey def. Sasha Smucker (6-1, 6-1)
• Abigail Jowers def. Chloe Biletnikoff (6-2, 6-1)
• Renee Irvin def. Iris Lacey (6-2, 6-3)
• Sadie Morris def. Aya Miranda (6-1, 6-3)
Doubles
• Miller/Miller def. Harvey/Romero (6-3, 5-7 (10-8))
• Harvey/Jowers def. Smucker/Biletnikoff (6-1, 6-2)
• Irvin/Morris def. Miranda/Lacey (8-5)

SPORTS TICKETING

Available online ticketing options for this week's scheduled sporting events:

Bulldog Baseball
vs. NMMI
6 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, at Brainard Park
Click here to purchase

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Sal Puentes Memorial Baseball Tournament
Rio Rancho (March 26-28)
Round One: vs. Cleveland
12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26
Tickets will be available here

AHS Track & Field
Artesia Invitational
10 a.m. Saturday, March 28, at Bulldog Bowl/Morris Field
Click here to purchase

JV "A" Baseball
vs. Alamogordo
4 / 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, at Artesia
Click here to purchase

JV "A" Softball
vs. Eunice
5 / 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, at The Mack
Click here to purchase