MOST RECENT SPORTS WRAPS
• D4 champion tennis teams make history with top-four state rankings; baseball, softball crowned district champs; golf teams finish second, third in district; track earns 21 qualifications in Los Alamos
• Baseball sweeps district-opening series; softball gets off to 3-0 D4 start; tennis teams take top seeds after going 4-0 in D4 duals; Bulldog golf brings win streak to six; Bulldog track adds four new qualifications
• Baseball, softball beat Carlsbad every chance they got; tennis teams 3-0 with one district dual remaining; Bulldog golfers pick up two more tourney wins; track teams third at George Love Relays

AHS TENNIS

State Individual Tournament

PICTURED: Kirklyn, left, and Breckyn Miller pose for a photo with their medals and brackets after winning the Class 4A State Girls' Doubles Championship Thursday, May 7, at the Jerry Cline Tennis Complex in Albuquerque.
(Photo by Raye Miller)

Artesia hasn't had an easy time of it in the sport of tennis. As is the case with all "small sports" programs at the high-school level, participation numbers fluctuate, experience and skill levels wax and wane, and opportunities for participation and growth outside the brief span of the spring season are often lacking in areas such as Southeast New Mexico. Four courts between the boys' and girls' gymnasiums on the campus of Artesia High School were the Bulldog and Lady Bulldog tennis teams' longtime home. As they fell into various stages of disrepair, the squads would spend much of their time on the small cluster of courts in the barren northwest corner of Jaycee Park, splitting tournaments between the two locations more than two miles apart.

The State Team Tournament wasn't added to the NMAA's roster until 1993. The State Individual Tournament, meanwhile, has been running since 1920 for the boys, 1973 for the girls. For a few years in the 1950s and '60s, the Bulldogs had a bit of success. The doubles teams of Williams/Williams and Williams/Gibson took state in 1950 and 1951, respectively, and the 'Dogs have four state singles champions in their history book: Doug Whitefield in 1952, Jerry Cranford in 1955, John Torres in 1960, and Jerry Williams in 1961. But beyond that, the Artesia netters had never been able to break through in the state events. In the modern era, it had become something of a matter of privilege. With athletes in the north competing year-round, often supplemented by private instruction, the sport had come to feel decidedly gatekept.

The Lady Bulldogs had seen their first -- and last -- foray into a championship match in 2007, when exchange student Constanze Noefer reached the title tilt before running into eventual four-time state champion Lauren Pick of Albuquerque Academy. That meant that, as of this season, the Artesia girls had gone 53 years without a gold medal around their necks. But that all came to an end Thursday at the Jerry Cline Tennis Complex in Albuquerque when the doubles duo of senior Kirklyn Miller and sophomore sister Breckyn Miller made Artesia High history as the school's first female tennis state champions.

After winning the 2026 District 4-A-AAAA girls' doubles title, and as the fourth-place finishers in last year's State Individual Tournament, the Millers were seeded first in this year's A-4A individual event. And as they powered their way through the opening rounds of the tourney Wednesday and Thursday, it was clear the pair had no intention of leaving without hardware in hand.

They kicked off their historic run Wednesday, May 6, at Albuquerque Academy against Silver's Joelle Valles and Karly Littleton, advancing to that afternoon's quarterfinals with a decisive 6-0, 6-1 finish. There, they'd make even quicker work of Highland's Dalilah Salazar and Raven Thomas, 6-0, 6-0, to punch their ticket to Thursday's semifinals at the Jerry Cline Tennis Complex. First on the chopping block was Academy's fifth-ranked team of Angela Norrod and Bella Padilla, whom the Miller sisters topped 6-1, 6-1 to reach the final stage. And on it, they'd prove Artesia tennis an underdog no longer, culminating a straight-sets domination of all four of their state matches with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over second-ranked Gabriela and Sofia Fulgenzi of Espanola Valley.

With hopes for many more to come, the Miller sisters will always be the team that brought a brand-new title back to the City of Champions -- not a bad legacy to leave. And while, with Kirklyn's graduation impending, the band has no choice but to break up, earning the gold together will be a uniquely special lifelong memory... not to mention powerful motivation for Breckyn as she continues her tennis career.

PICTURED: Kirklyn and Breckyn Miller compete in their state semifinal match.
(Photos by Raye Miller)

Elsewhere at the individual tournament, the Lady Bulldogs saw more success from senior Adrienne Harvey. As Artesia's lone singles qualifier, Harvey took her first-round match over Chaparral's Dana Rosales, 6-2, 6-2, to advance to the state quarterfinals, where she came up short of eventual state runner-up Nishta Koli of Academy, 2-6, 2-6. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, qualified all three of their doubles teams for state, but with each paired against a 4A top-five opponent, they unfortunately fell in the opening round. Seniors Cutter Summers and Damian Lopez put up a significant fight against Academy's fifth-ranked team of Jacob Wooten and Kavi Rogers, losing the first set in a tiebreak, 5-7, before dropping the second 2-6. The team of Adan Alva and Ediel Miranda unknowingly found themselves with the shortest end of the stick draw wise, matched up with Los Alamos' third-ranked Aditya Viswanathan and Michael Witkowski -- the eventual state champions. They'd fall by a final of 0-6, 0-6, and also coming up short in straight sets, 1-6, 0-6, was the duo of Paul Miller and Joshua Vazquez against St. Pius' second-ranked Noah Friedland and Holden Hirsch.

State Team Tournament

PICTURED: The 2026 Bulldog and Lady Bulldog tennis teams pose for a photo with head coach Melissa Warren and assistant coaches Tim Trentham and Phillip Jowers at the State Team Tournament in Albuquerque.
(Photo by Cari Jowers)

Collectively, the AHS tennis program made additional history this season when both the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs were ranked going into the Class 4A State Team Tournament. The Artesia girls went into the state event at No. 3 overall and the boys at No. 4, giving both byes through the opening round of play and a Friday-afternoon start in the state quarterfinal round.

The Bulldogs opened at 2 p.m. Friday, May 8, at the Ventana Ranch Park tennis courts in Albuquerque against a familiar opponent: No. 5 NMMI. The 'Dogs and Colts had spent District 4-A-AAAA play battling down to the wire against one another, with the boys in orange coming out on top in both district duals (5-4) and the D4 Team Tournament championship (5-3). It was more of the same in the quarterfinals, as the Bulldogs advanced by way of a 5-4 victory. The Lady Bulldogs began competition at 4:30 p.m. Friday versus Hope Christian, who upset No. 6 Silver in Round One. The Artesia girls proceeded to punch their semifinal ticket with a 5-0 shutout.

Moving to the Jerry Cline Tennis Complex for championship Saturday, the Lady Bulldogs and Bulldogs were in the showdown pairings everyone was expecting: Artesia vs. No. 2 Espanola Valley on the girls' side and vs. No. 1 Albuquerque Academy on the boys'. Both battled but ultimately came up short, with the Lady 'Dogs falling 5-2 to the Lady Sun Devils and the 'Dogs 6-0 to the Chargers. Academy would go on to take both the 4A boys' and girls' team titles.

BULLDOG BASEBALL

State First-Round Series

PICTURED: Second-baseman Derrick Warren tosses to Daelon Pacheco at first for the final out of the top of the third during Game One Friday at Brainard Park.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

Peaking at the right time is an important part of any sports season, but something that matters just as much is staying consistent. When it gets down to the "any given day" games, it's the teams that maintain their stride that tend to go the furthest. And with the cool, efficient, even-keel approach that sparked an 11-game win streak and saw them through an 8-1 District 4-AAAA championship showing, the top-ranked Diamond 'Dogs stayed the course Friday and Saturday at Brainard Park, taking their Class 4A State Tournament first-round, best-of-three series over No. 16 Lovington, 10-0 and 15-1.

The Bulldogs never went more than five innings with the Wildcats this year, sweeping their district series 22-8, 12-0 and 22-0. Over the course of this weekend's bouts, the Artesia boys racked up 24 total hits while allowing just three, committed zero errors, and logged 20 RBIs with help from 11 extra-base hits.

With Jack Byers on the mound in Game One Friday, the game essentially consisted of just two statlines: the Bulldogs' hits and RBIs, and Byers' Ks.

The senior pitched an abbreviated no-hitter, recording five perfect innings with no walks, no errors, and 13 strikeouts: six swinging and seven looking. Lovington put the bat on the ball just twice on the contest. In the top of the first, Jude Madrid bounced a ground ball off Byers' thigh, but the pitcher was able to track down the ball and fire to first for the out. The Wildcats' final non-strikeout came in the third in the form of a Triston Barriga ground ball to Derrick Warren at second.

Offensively, the 'Dogs pieced their runs together gradually, batting the lineup in both their second and fourth trips to the plate. With two away in the bottom of the first, Byers sent a triple to the fence in right-center before coming home on a balk, and Artesia would notch four more in the second on an error, a Jett Fuentes RBI fielder's choice, and a two-RBI double to left-center by Byers to make it 5-0. Three more Bulldog runs came around in the fourth. Back-to-back one-out doubles by Warren and Byers put Artesia on top 6-0, and with two away, Byers would come home from second on a single to left by Jett Whitmire, and Whitmire also took the two-base route home on a base hit up the middle from Elijah Carrasco. The boys in orange then walked off the 10-0 run-rule in the fifth, with Warren singling in Fuentes -- aboard with a leadoff walk -- before taking second and third on a passed ball and wild pitch, then scoring on an RBI ground out to third from Byers.

Byers added to his performance on the hill with a 3-4 showing at the plate, finishing with a pair of doubles, a triple, and four RBI. Daelon Pacheco and Carrasco were both 2-3, the former with a double and the latter with an RBI, and Warren went 2-4 with a double and one run batted in.

PICTURED: Diego Morales drives a two-out single into left in the bottom of the third in Game One.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

The Bulldogs were quicker on the draw offensively in Game Two Saturday morning, going up 8-1 in the first two innings before putting the run rule on the table in their third at-bat. After senior starter Pacheco seated the 'Cats in order in the top of the first on back-to-back strikeouts and a ground out to Elijah Carrasco at second, the 'Dogs staged a two-out rally in the home half to take the lead. A Byers walk became the game's first run when the speedy senior scored from first on a base hit by Pacheco. Artesia then added two more on errors, one to end an unusual double-pickle between first and second and third and home that ultimately saw Lovington drop the ball near home plate to allow a run.

The Wildcats were able to get on the board in the top of the second when Auden Paredes -- on with a leadoff single -- came home on an RBI fielder's choice, but that would be it offensively for the boys in blue. Artesia bumped their lead to 8-1 in the second on a wild pitch, a Warren sacrifice fly, and one- and two-RBI doubles, respectively, by Byers and Whitmire. They'd make it 11-1 in the third. Morales sent a leadoff triple down the left-field line and scored on a Jett Fuentes RBI ground out to kick off that half-inning, and Byers tripled Warren -- on with a base hit to left -- in with a shot to deep right field. Byers then scored on a double to deep left from Pacheco. The 'Dogs tacked on four insurance runs in the fourth on a Charlie Campbell sac-fly, an RBI double by Warren, and a two-RBI base hit to center by Byers.

After going down in order in the top of three, Lovington got a one-out single from Paredes in the fourth that was erased by a 6-4-3 double play between Fuentes, Carrasco and Morales. With a walk between, the Bulldogs closed out their 15-1 series-ending victory with a pair of ground balls to Byers at third and a pop out to Fuentes at short. Pacheco finished with just three hits and one earned run allowed through five innings on the mound, striking out four and walking one. At the plate, Artesia was led by Byers, 3-3 and a homer short of the cycle with four runs batted in; Pacheco, 3-4 with a double and two RBI; and Warren, 2-3 with a double and two RBI.

The Bulldogs will now prepare to head north for the 4A State Quarterfinals, where they'll open at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14, on Field 4 of the Jennifer Riordan Spark Kindness Sports Complex (JRSKSC) against No. 9 St. Pius. The Sartans (15-12) took their first-round series in straight sets over No. 8 Grants Friday and Saturday in Grants, topping the Pirates 8-7 in 10 innings in Game One and 7-3 in Game Two. Grants had defeated Pius in both of the teams' District 5-AAAA meetings, 7-6 and 4-2. The Bulldogs swept the Pirates in their season-opening double header March 7 at Brainard Park, 10-5 and 18-0 (5i). The Sartans and 'Dogs have had four other opponents in common this season: Class 5A Los Lunas, to whom Artesia fell 9-3 March 14 at the New Mexico Invitational in Las Cruces and Pius fell 11-0 March 24; 5A Carlsbad, whom Artesia swept 1-0 and 6-5 April 11 and to whom the Sartans lost 20-5 March 26; Goddard, who defeated Artesia 3-1 March 28 at the Sal Puentes Memorial in Rio Rancho but fell 2-1 to the 'Dogs in district play (1-4, 8-6 and 1-3) and who blanked Pius 11-0 March 27; and Albuquerque Academy, whom Artesia bested 3-1 March 27 at the Sal Puentes and to whom the Sartans lost 9-8 March 28.

Should the Bulldogs advance, they would face the winner of No. 5 Academy vs. No. 4 Deming at 7 p.m. Friday, May 15, in the state semifinals.

Click here to purchase tickets for Artesia's quarterfinal against St. Pius. Ticket prices are $17 for day passes (re-entry allowed); $12 for adult tickets (no re-entry); and $8 for student (K-12), senior (65+) and military tickets (no re-entry). Other pertinent information includes:
• Championship games and select quarterfinals and semifinals will be livestreamed by NFHS Network. A subscription is required.
• Parking is limited at the JRSKSC; additional parking areas are available just east of the facility at Nusenda Community Stadium. Parking on the mesa west of the complex is prohibited; this is private property, and violators could be towed or issued tickets.
• Concession stand sales will be credit card only. With the exception of one sealed bottle of water per person, outside food and beverages are prohibited.

PICTURED: At top, Jett Whitmire looks a fly ball into his glove in center for the second out of the top of the second in Game Two Saturday at Brainard Park. Above, Daelon Pacheco fires from the mound.
(Photos by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

STAT BOX

Game One

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

Artesia (19-8)
Batting: Jett Fuentes 1-3, 1-BB, 1-RBI; Derrick Warren 2-4 (1-2B), 1-RBI; Jack Byers 3-4 (2-2B, 1-3B), 4-RBI; Daelon Pacheco 2-3 (1-2B); Jett Whitmire 1-3, 1-RBI; Brant Usherwood 0-1, 2-BB; Elijah Carrasco 2-3, 1-RBI; Diego Morales 1-2, 1-BB; Charlie Campbell 0-2, 1-BB
Pitching: Byers, sr.: 5-IP, 0-H, 0-R, 0-ER, 13-K, 0-BB
Team: 12-H, 0-E, 2-SB, 5-EBH, 8-RBI, 7-LOB

Lovington (10-17)
Batting: Peyton Thurman 0-2; Paul Sanchez 0-2; Jude Madrid 0-2; Auden Paredes 0-2; Juan Sepulveda 0-2; Fidencio Lujan 0-2; Dallas Barrera 0-1; Angel Salas 0-1; Triston Barriga 0-1
Pitching: Paredes, jr.: 4-IP, 12-H, 10-R, 7-ER, 5-K, 5-BB; Madrid, fr.: 1/3-IP, 0-H, 0-R, 0-ER, 0-K, 0-BB
Team: 0-H, 1-E, 0-SB, 0-EBH, 0-RBI, 0-LOB

Game Two

Lovington 0 1 0 0 0 - - 1
Artesia 3 5 3 4 - - - 15

Artesia (20-8)
Batting: Jett Fuentes 0-2, 2-BB, 1-RBI; Derrick Warren 2-3 (1-2B), 1-SAC, 2-RBI; Jack Byers 3-3 (1-2B, 1-3B), 1-BB, 4-RBI; Daelon Pacheco 3-4 (1-2B), 2-RBI; Jett Whitmire 1-2 (1-2B), 1-BB, 2-RBI; Brant Usherwood 0-2, 1-BB; Elijah Carrasco 0-2, 1-BB; Diego Morales 2-2 (1-3B), 1-BB; Charlie Campbell 1-2, 1-SAC, 1-RBI
Pitching: Pacheco, sr.: 5-IP, 3-H, 1-R, 1-ER, 4-K, 1-BB
Team: 12-H, 0-E, 6-SB, 6-EBH, 12-RBI, 4-LOB

Lovington (10-18)
Batting: Peyton Thurman 0-2; Paul Sanchez 0-2; Jude Madrid 0-2; Auden Paredes 2-2; Fidencio Lujan 1-2; Dallas Barrera 0-2; Angel Salas 0-1, 1-RBI; Jeremiah Romero 0-2; Triston Barriga 0-2; Lukas Quintana 0-0, 1-BB
Pitching: Salas, so.: 1 1/3-IP, 5-H, 8-R, 6-ER, 0-K, 3-BB; Madrid, fr.: 2 1/3-IP, 7-H, 7-R, 7-ER, 2-K, 4-BB; Romero, jr.: 1/3-IP, 0-H, 0-R, 0-ER, 0-K, 0-BB
Team: 3-H, 2-E, 0-SB, 0-EBH, 1-RBI, 2-LOB

LADY BULLDOG SOFTBALL

State Play-In Game

PICTURED: At top, Kayden Apodaca sends a leadoff home run over the fence in dead center during the bottom of the third. Above, the Lady Bulldogs "suffer" the fallout of the senior's bomb as she reaches the plate.
(Photos by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

Friday evening's Class 4A State Play-In Game between top-ranked Artesia and No. 16 Bloomfield wasn't the runaway most were likely expecting. The Lady Bulldogs' bats were set to toasty warm rather than their usual en fuego as they adjusted to sitting back on the ball. But what the girls in orange delivered in the single-elimination round was just good, solid softball, capped by a complete-game one-hitter from sophomore pitcher Katrin Marquez and senior Kayden Apodaca's 14th home run of the season.

Marquez was dominant in the circle, striking out 14 of the Lady Bobcat batters she faced, eight swinging and six looking. Bloomfield did manage to put six runners on base in the bout -- non-hit methods including two walks, two errors, and a call of catcher interference -- but would manage just one hit: a single lofted into right field by second-baseman Adriannah Romero to lead off the top of the fifth.

At the plate, Artesia didn't deliver the timely hits to which they're accustomed, taking the piecemeal route instead. Marquez posted the Lady 'Dogs' first base hit with one away and took second and third on a stolen-base-turned-error. She, along with Apodaca -- who reached on a walk -- was left standing in scoring position, but the Lady Bulldogs would notch the game's first run in the second when Brooklyn Fuentes -- also aboard with a walk -- advanced to second on a Janae Molina bunt single before scoring on a two-out base hit down the right-field line by leadoff batter Danyela Munoz.

Apodaca quickly made it 2-0 in the third, leading off the at-bat with a bomb over the fence in dead center, and the Lady 'Dogs would record the final two runs of the night amidst a two-out rally in the fourth after Isabel Cruz -- on with a double down the left-field line -- scored on a base knock up the middle from Munoz, who scored from second on a laser line drive to the fence in left-center by Marquez. Artesia had a shot at more in the fifth when Apodaca took first on a dropped third strike, second on a Jade Hammond sacrifice bunt, and third on a wild pitch. But the Bobcats pulled a Bad News Bears, holding onto the ball at third and swatting Apodaca when her foot inadvertently left the bag, and Fuentes was left on the paths after notching the last hit of the contest with a single to right-center in the sixth.

Munoz and Marquez were both 2-3 at the plate on the ballgame, the former with two RBI and the latter with one.

PICTURED: Isabel Cruz slides safely into home on an RBI base hit up the middle by Danyela Munoz.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

STAT BOX

Play-In Game

Bloomfield 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Artesia 0 1 1 2 0 0 - 0

Artesia (23-4)
Batting: Danyela Munoz 2-3, 2-RBI; Katrin Marquez 2-3, 1-RBI; Kayden Apodaca 1-2 (1-HR), 1-BB, 1-RBI; Jade Hammond 0-2, 1-SAC; Jenna Whitmire 0-3; A'dyn Levario 0-3; Brooklyn Fuentes 1-2, 1-BB; Janae Molina 1-3; Isabel Cruz 1-3 (1-2B)
Pitching: Marquez, so.: 7-IP, 1-H, 0-R, 0-ER, 14-K, 2-BB
Team: 8-H, 3-E, 2-SB, 2-EBH, 4-RBI, 5-LOB

Bloomfield (8-19)
Batting: Alina Pinon 0-3; Harley Rightmire 0-2, 1-BB; Cassidy Babcock 0-2, 1-BB; Mariah Romero 0-3; Elia Oliver 0-3; Craygen Lucero 0-3; Devyn Dahozy 0-3; Adriannah Romero 1-3; Catalina Munoz 0-3
Pitching: Meyah Valencia, sr.: 6-IP, 8-H, 4-R, 4-ER, 2-K, 2-BB
Team: 1-H, 1-E, 0-SB, 0-EBH, 0-RBI, 6-LOB

State First-Round Game

PICTURED: Katrin Marquez belts a leadoff double down the line in left during the bottom of the fifth Saturday at The Mack.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

The Lady Rockets of Goddard had handed out no freebies over the course of District 4-AAAA play.

In their first meeting with Artesia April 14 at The Mack, the girls in blue took a 3-0 lead over their hosts out of the top of the first inning and continued to lead 3-2 after three complete before the Lady Bulldogs tied it up in the fourth and broke open a 14-4 run rule with an 11-run fifth. The Rockets also struck first in Game One of the teams' double header April 24 in Roswell, going up 2-0 early and knotting the game at 7-all in the fourth before eventually falling 10-7. And although the Lady Bulldogs would lead throughout in Game Two, Goddard was able to pull within three late before falling 9-4.

The girls in orange had no misconceptions, therefore, about the ferocity with which the Lady Rockets would be fighting for a first-round W during the teams' foray into the double-elimination portion of the Class 4A State Tournament Saturday at the Mack Chase Athletic Complex. The No. 9 Rockets had scored a light upset in the play-in round Friday evening, 11-6 over No. 8 Bernalillo, and yet again, they drew first blood against Artesia in the top of the second. But the Lady Bulldogs settled in from there, building a steady lead en route to an 8-2 victory that sends them to Rio Rancho next week with a spot in the winners' bracket.

Both squads went down in order in the first inning, with Lady 'Dog senior pitcher Kayden Apodaca striking out the first two Goddard batters and flying the third out to Brooklyn Fuentes in left, while Rocket freshman starter Amiah Herrera got a trio of fly outs from her defense. In the top of the second, however, The Lady Rockets got a leadoff single to shallow left from Jorelianis Guzman, and although she'd be forced out at second on a Roxanna Serrano fielder's choice, Serrano would take second on a passed ball and scamper home on a base hit to right-center from catcher Marisa Crawford.

PICTURED: At top, Janae Molina looks out into the field as she crosses the plate on an RBI single by Katrin Marquez in the bottom of the sixth. Above, Leslie Molina prepares to make a catch at first ahead of a Lady Rocket runner for an out.
(Photos by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

The Lady Bulldogs had an immediate response in the bottom of the inning, as Leslie and Janae Molina came through with an RBI single and two-RBI double, respectively, and Molina came home from second on a Rocket throwing error. Goddard proceeded to cut Artesia's lead in half, 4-2, in the top of the third when Jayla Morales -- on with a one-out walk -- scored on the Lady 'Dogs' second error of the at-bat. But although the Lady Bulldogs would leave runners on first in both their third and fourth trips to the plate, they were able to add an insurance run in the fifth on back-to-back doubles down the left-field line by Katrin Marquez and Apodaca.

The Lady Rockets had gone down in order in their half of that inning and would do so again in the sixth, thanks to four outs by Apodaca -- three via strikeout and a pop-fly catch -- and two by shortstop Danyela Munoz: a ground ball and an over-the-shoulder catch in shallow left-center. And in the bottom half, the Lady 'Dogs finally put some distance between themselves and Goddard, scoring a trio of runs on a Marquez RBI single-turned-error and an RBI ground out by Apodaca to ultimately round out the 8-2 final. The Rockets put two on with one away in the top of seven on a base hit to left by Lindsay Campa and a Morales walk. But Morales would be forced out at second by Munoz, and the game would end with a runner on third as catcher Jenna Whitmire gunned down Goddard's Marisol Hernandez at second on an attempted steal.

Apodaca finished with a complete-game three-hitter, allowing just one earned run and four walks while striking out eight. She also joined Marquez in going 2-4 at the plate, the former with a double and two RBI and the latter with a double and one run batted in. Janae Molina was 1-2 with a double and two RBI, Whitmire 1-2 with a walk, and Leslie Molina 1-3 with one RBI.

PICTURED: At top, Danyela Munoz slides safely into home plate on a Kayden Apodaca RBI ground out. Above, Brooklyn Fuentes fields a ball in left field as Munoz looks on.
(Photos by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

The Artesia girls (24-4) will now prepare for their annual trip to Rio Rancho, where they'll compete in the winners' bracket quarterfinals at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 14, on Field 1 of the Cleveland High School softball complex against a very familiar foe: fifth-ranked Lovington. The Lady Wildcats, who bested No. 4 St. Pius 9-6 Saturday in those teams' first-round game, came up short of the Lady 'Dogs in each of their District 4 meetings this season: 15-5 (6i) and 12-11 April 17 at The Mack and 4-0 April 28 in Lovington. They came back from an early 3-0 deficit to tie the game in the top of the fifth against Pius before falling behind 4-3 in the home half and retaking the lead, 6-4, in the top of six. The Lady Sartans were again able to knot the game in the bottom of that inning, but Lovington would rally for three runs in the top of the seventh before holding St. Pius scoreless for the win.

Should the Lady Bulldogs defeat the Lady 'Cats, they would move into Friday's winners' bracket semifinals for a noon game against the winner of No. 2 Aztec vs. No. 3 Silver. A loss would drop them into the losers' bracket, where they'd take on the winner of No. 11 Belen vs. No. 7 Kirtland Central at 9:30 a.m. Friday.

Click here to purchase tickets for Thursday morning's quarterfinal. Ticket prices are $17 for day passes (re-entry allowed); $12 for adult tickets (no re-entry); and $8 for student (K-12), senior (65+) and military tickets (no re-entry). Other pertinent information includes:
• Championship games will be livestreamed by NFHS Network. A subscription is required.
• There is no charge for parking at the CHS softball complex.
• Sunflower seeds or shelled nuts of any kind are prohibited.
• Outside/portable music is prohibited.

STAT BOX

First-Round Game

Goddard 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2
Artesia 0 4 0 0 1 3 - 8

Artesia (24-4)
Batting: Danyela Munoz 0-4; Katrin Marquez 2-4 (1-2B), 1-RBI; Kayden Apodaca 2-4 (1-2B), 2-RBI; Jade Hammond 0-3, 1-BB; Jenna Whitmire 1-2, 1-BB; Brooklyn Fuentes 0-3; Leslie Molina 1-3, 1-RBI; Janae Molina 1-2 (1-2B), 1-BB, 2-RBI; Isabel Cruz 0-2, 1-BB
Pitching: Apodaca, sr.: 7-IP, 3-H, 2-R, 1-ER, 8-K, 4-BB
Team: 7-H, 2-E, 0-SB, 3-EBH, 6-RBI, 5-LOB

Goddard (14-14)
Batting: Lindsay Campa 1-4; Jayla Morales 0-2, 2-BB; Marisol Hernandez 0-4; Jorelianis Guzman 1-2, 1-BB; Roxanna Serrano 0-3; Marisa Crawford 1-3, 1-RBI; Alina Linares 0-3; Gemma Payne 0-0, 1-HP; Amiah Herrera 0-2, 1-BB; Juliet Gallegos 0-2
Pitching: Herrera, fr.: 2-IP, 2-H, 4-R, 3-ER, 1-K, 2-BB; Gallegos, jr.: 4-IP, 5-H, 4-R, 2-ER, 2-K, 2-BB
Team: 3-H, 4-E, 0-SB, 0-EBH, 1-RBI, 7-LOB

AHS TRACK & FIELD

District 4-AAAA Meet

PICTURED: The Bulldog and Lady Bulldog track and field teams pose for a photo Friday, May 8, at Bulldog Bowl following their District 4 championship sweep.
(Photo Courtesy Adrian Olivas)

The Artesia High School track and field teams closed out their 2026 regular seasons right where they wanted to be: on top.

Both the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs won the District 4-AAAA Meet going away Friday, May 8, at Bulldog Bowl and Morris Field and the state qualification lists were of the laundry variety. The Bulldogs ended the evening with 10 individual district championships and 24 state qualifications, one of those a new qualification by mark and four new qualifications by place. The Lady Bulldogs had eight district championships to celebrate, along with 19 qualifications, two new by mark and 10 new by place.

New qualifiers by mark at the district meet included D4 champion Ulises Montanez in the 400-meter dash with a time of 51.04, Peyton Barela in the girls' shot put with a fourth-place throw of 33'1", and the D4 champion girls' 1,600-meter relay team with a time of 4:13.54. The Lady Bulldogs qualified in four of the five relay events -- all but the 3,200-meter relay -- for the first time Friday, while the Bulldogs re-qualified in all five. District champions and runners-up automatically qualify for the Class 4A State Meet. A full list of Artesia's first- and second-place finishers, with * denoting those who also qualified or re-qualified by mark and † denoting a season-best mark, includes:

District Champions
BOYS
• Noah Beardsley, 100-meter dash, 11.45
• Noah Beardsley, 200-meter dash, 22.85
• Ulises Montanez, 400-meter dash, 51.04 *
• Tootie McNeil, 110-meter hurdles, 14.81 *
• Tootie McNeil, 300-meter hurdles, 38.75 *†
• 400-meter relay, 43.54 *
• 800-meter relay, 1:31.73 *
• 3,200-meter relay, 9:29.67
• Cael Houghtaling, high jump, 6' *
GIRLS
• Ellie McGaughy, 100-meter hurdles, 16.82 *
• 1,600-meter relay, 4:13.54 *
• 3,200-meter relay, 12:06.34
• Quinley Murray, triple jump, 31'7"
• Ellie McGaughy, pole vault, 11' *†
• Peyton Barela, discus, 105'11" *
• Jenna Whitmire, javelin, 137'9" *
• Harper Murray, shot put, 38'0.5" *

District Runners-Up
BOYS
• Fabian Moya, 200-meter dash, 23.40
• Aden Garcia, 800-meter run, 2:07.79
• Hector Maldonado, 3,200-meter run, 11:34.76
• Marcos Ornelas, 110-meter hurdles, 14.88
• 1,600 medley relay, 3:51.22
• 1,600-meter relay, 3:28.41 *
• Ulises Montanez, high jump, 6' *
• Cael Houghtaling, long jump, 20'5.5"
• Cael Houghtaling, triple jump, 42'11.5" *
• Derek Lopez, discus, 133'8" *†
• Derek Lopez, shot put, 51'1" *†
GIRLS
• Gabriela Aguilar, 200-meter dash, 27.18
• Kaylee Berdoza, 400-meter dash, 1:04.11
• Kaidence Hnulik, 100-meter hurdles, 18.47
• Kaidence Hnulik, 300-meter hurdles, 51.23
• 400-meter relay, 51.43
• 800-meter relay, 1:50.83
• Alani Escareno, long jump, 15'1"
• Harper Murray, discus, 91'2"
• Gracen Kuykendall, javelin, 116'1" *†
• Brooklynne Ivans, shot put, 37'10" *†

Other qualifiers by mark included the rest of the Bulldogs' javelin cadre: Houghtaling in third with a 176'10", a season best; Brant Usherwood in fourth with a 170'8"; and Jett Whitmire in fifth with a 156'4".

Also at Friday's district meet, the AHS track program honored the 1976 Bulldog track and field team. Coached by Ronny Maskew, TW Harvey and Vernon Asbill, the Bicentennial Bulldogs won Artesia's first-ever state track and field championship. Those athletes, and representatives of those who have passed on or were unable to attend, were presented with commemorative coins recognizing the 50th anniversary of their historic achievement. Team members included Toby Rhodes, Mark Simons, Billy Trainor, Roy Lawson, Mitch Johnson, David Taylor, Johnny Delgado, David Thompson, James Stimpson, Kenneth Harcrow and Corey Tolle.

The AHS track and field teams will now take their state contingents to Albuquerque Friday and Saturday, May 15-16, for the Class 4A State Meet at the Gret Friends of UNM Track and Field Complex. Tickets prices -- with additional transaction fees that will be assessed upon purchase by UNM included -- are $20 for day passes, which allow re-entry; $15 for regular adult tickets (no re-entry); and $10 for student (K-12), senior (65+) and military tickets (no re-entry). Click here to purchase tickets for Friday. Click here to purchase tickets for Saturday.

Other pertinent information includes:
• A full schedule of events can be found here.
• The event will be livestreamed by NFHS Network. A subscription is required.
• Live results will be posted here.
• UNM will charge $7 per vehicle for parking.
• Concession stand sales will be credit card only. With the exception of one sealed bottle of water per person, outside food and beverages are prohibited.
• UNM has a clear-bag policy, which can be viewed here.
• Small, collapsible umbrellas are permitted; no large golf umbrellas are allowed, and no canopies or tents are permitted in the stands.

District 4 Meet Boys' Team Placements
1. ARTESIA - 154.5
2. Portales - 68
3. Lovington - 53
4. Goddard - 35.5

District 4 Meet Boys' Results
• 100-Meter Dash
- Noah Beardsley, 1st, 11.45 †
- Ayden Kenyon, 3rd, 11.56
- Fabian Moya, 5th, 11.71
- Josiah Carrillo, 13th, 11.95
- Alexander Hendricks, 16th, 12.08
- Daven Osburn, 19th, 12.20
- Jonathan Corza, 21st, 12.29
- Deron Hernandez, 22nd, 12.29
- Demitrius Aguilar, 32nd, 12.79
- Brody Parra, 36th, 13.18
• 200M Dash
- Noah Beardsley, 1st, 22.85 †
- Fabian Moya, 2nd, 23.40 †
- Josiah Carrillo, 5th, 23.79
- Alexander Hendricks, 8th, 24.35
- Jonathan Corza, 13th, 25.18
- Daven Osburn, 15th, 25.22
- Demitrius Aguilar, 24th, 26.49
- Brody Parra, 25th, 26.83
• 400M Dash
- Ulises Montanez, 1st, 51.04 *†
- Aden Garcia, 6th, 52.86
- Josiah Carrillo, 9th, 54.56
- Wyatt Knudsen, 11th, 54.93
- Jonathan Corza, 12th, 55.83
- Alexander Hendricks, 14th, 56.39
- Santos Calderon, 15th, 56.58
- Moises Corza, 17th, 57.64
- Deron Hernandez, 22nd, 1:02.01
• 800M Run
- Aden Garcia, 2nd, 2:07.79 †
- Nathan Perez, 3rd, 2:09.86
- Aaron Allison, 4th, 2:10.09
- Xadrian Puentes, 5th, 2:10.70
• 1,600M Run
- Hector Maldonado, 3rd, 5:08.64
- Cameron Devenport, 4th, 5:11.09
- Edwin Villarreal, 6th, 5:15.21
- Aedyn Moralez, 9th, 5:38.84
• 3,200M Run
- Hector Maldonado, 2nd, 11:34.76 †
- Cameron Devenport, 3rd, 11:37.15
- Edwin Villarreal, 6th, 11:58.62
- Aedyn Moralez, 8th, 12:42.58
• 110M Hurdles
- Tootie McNeil, 1st, 14.81 *†
- Marcos Ornelas, 2nd, 14.88 *†
- Jared Rone, 4th, 16.80
- Xavian Hernandez, 5th, 17.16
- Ever Najera, 7th, 19.70
• 300M Hurdles
- Tootie McNeil, 1st, 38.75 *†
- Xavian Hernandez, 3rd, 41.83
- Jared Rone, 5th, 44.56
- Ever Najera, 6th, 45.00
• 400M Relay
- Artesia "A", 1st, 43.54 *†
• 800M Relay
- Artesia "A", 1st, 1:31.73 *†
• 1,600M Medley Relay
- Artesia "A", 2nd, 3:51.22 †
• 1,600M Relay
- Artesia "A", 2nd, 3:28.41 *†
• 3,200M Relay
- Artesia "A", 1st, 9:29.67 †
• High Jump
- Cael Houghtaling, 1st, 6' *†
- Ulises Montanez, 2nd, 6' *†
- Jared Rone, 4th, 5'6"
• Long Jump
- Cael Houghtaling, 2nd, 20'5.5" †
- Layton Whitmire, 3rd, 19'10"
- Moises Corza, 4th, 19'6.25"
- Fabian Moya, 6th, 18'4"
• Triple Jump
- Cael Houghtaling, 2nd, 42'11.5" *†
- Layton Whitmire, 5th, 38'
• Discus
- Derek Lopez, 2nd, 133'8" *†
- Silas Bush, 6th, 110'6"
- Jonah Deason, 7th, 109'11"
- Jayden Leyva, 11th, 97'11.5"
• Javelin
- Jayden Leyva, 1st, 192'6" *†
- Cael Houghtaling, 3rd, 176'10" *
- Brant Usherwood, 4th, 170'8" *
- Jett Whitmire, 5th, 156'4" *
- Jordan Gonzalez, 6th, 136'8"
• Shot Put
- Derek Lopez, 2nd, 51'1" *†
- Silas Bush, 4th, 43'4"
- Brandon Baeza, 5th, 42'11"
- Sergio Ortega, 15th, 34'4"

District 4 Meet Girls' Team Placements
1. ARTESIA - 137
2. Portales - 68
3. Goddard - 51
4. Lovington - 50

District 4 Meet Girls' Results
• 100-Meter Dash
- Caiya Olivas, 3rd, 13.22
- Alani Escareno, 5th, 13.49
- Molly Mathews, 6th, 13.56
- Braelynn Gurrola, 8th, 13.86
• 200M Dash
- Gabriela Aguilar, 2nd, 27.18 †
- Kaitlyn Rose, 4th, 28.46
- Molly Mathews, 5th, 28.49
- Caiya Olivas, 6th, 28.76
- Alani Escareno, 7th, 29.55
- Braelynn Gurrola, 9th, 30.09
- Chloe Caley, 10th, 30.20
- Layla Shipman, 16th, 31.23
• 400M Dash
- Kaylee Berdoza, 2nd, 1:04.11 †
- Marlyn Corza, 3rd, 1:04.86
- Chloe Caley, 4th, 1:05.94
- Layla Shipman, 7th, 1:10.34
• 800M Run
- Aubrey Allison, 3rd, 2:43.59
- Mckenna Drake, 4th, 2:48.26
• 1,600M Run
- Maralie Garcia, 4th, 7:08.28
• 100M Hurdles
- Ellie McGaughy, 1st, 16.82 *†
- Kaidence Hnulik, 2nd, 18.47 †
- Adianez Renteria, 4th, 18.99
- Alison Rodriguez, 7th, 24.70
• 300M Hurdles
- Kaidence Hnulik, 2nd, 51.23 †
- Allie Elkins, 3rd, 52.88
- Adianez Renteria, 4th, 54.69
- Alison Rodriguez, 7th, 58.62
• 400M Relay
- Artesia "A", 2nd, 51.43 †
• 800M Relay
- Artesia "A", 2nd, 1:50.83 †
• 1,600M Medley Relay
- Artesia "A", 3rd, 5:01.12
• 1,600M Relay
- Artesia "A", 1st, 4:13.54 *†
• 3,200M Relay
- Artesia "A", 1st, 12:06.34 †
• High Jump
- Kaitlyn Rose, 4th, 4'8"
- Quinley Murray, 5th, 4'4"
• Long Jump
- Alani Escareno, 2nd, 15'1" †
• Triple Jump
- Quinley Murray, 1st, 31'7" †
- J'Lee England, 4th, 27'8"
• Pole Vault
- Ellie McGaughy, 1st, 11' *†
• Discus
- Peyton Barela, 1st, 105'11" *†
- Harper Murray, 2nd, 91'2" †
- Natalie Medrano, 3rd, 87'3.5"
- Katie Dowell, 4th, 86'2"
• Javelin
- Jenna Whitmire, 1st, 137'9" *†
- Gracen Kuykendall, 2nd, 116'1" *†
- Ashton Craft, 4th, 92'7"
• Shot Put
- Harper Murray, 1st, 38'0.5" *†
- Brooklynne Ivans, 2nd, 37'10" *†
- Peyton Barela, 4th, 33'1" *
- Lily Klingshirn, 7th, 30'4.5"
- Leila Irvin, 9th, 28'3.5"

* denotes state qualification by mark
† denotes state qualification by place

AHS GOLF

PICTURED: The Bulldog and Lady Bulldog golf teams pose for photos following the District 4-AAAA Tournament May 4 in Lovington.
(Boys' Photo by Anna Whitmire; Girls' Photo by Julie Horner)

The AHS golf teams will be competing in the Class 4A State Tournaments Monday and Tuesday, May 11 and 12, at the New Mexico Tech Golf Course in Socorro. Round One will begin at 9 a.m. Monday with a shotgun starts. Artesia players and the holes on which they will be teeing off include:
• Beau Byers, 10
• Jack Byers, 11
• Steven Williams, 12A
• Joel Ochoa, 12B
• Locklyn Gray, 13
• Lucas Atkins, 17B
• Karli Horner, 8
• Ashton Craft, 5A
• Danyela Munoz, 5B
• Sophie Elsing, 6
• Hayli Greenwood, 7

The NMAA does not charge admission for the state golf tournaments. A spectator policy can be viewed here.

JV ROUND-UP

"A" Baseball

The Bulldog JV "A" baseball team ended its 2026 campaign with a winning record Tuesday, April 21, in Artesia in satisfying fashion: a 7-0 and 4-1 sweep of Goddard. The 'Dogs got excellent showings on the mound in the double header from Jarod Flores, Kai Greathouse and Kolton Hamilton. Flores gave up three hits through six innings in the 7-0 shutout, and in the 4-1 win, Greathouse surrendered just two through four and Hamilton none in three innings of relief.

The Artesia boys went up 2-0 in the first inning of Game One when Hayden Moser, aboard with a base hit to center, scored on a Hamilton RBI triple to right. Hamilton crossed four pitches later on a passed ball. The 'Dogs tacked on three more in the fourth on an RBI double from Lucas Atkins that plated Moser and Greathouse -- both aboard with singles -- and an RBI single to shallow left by Kaden Chavarria that scored Atkins. Artesia then went up 6-0 in the fifth on a Moser sac-fly before rounding out the 7-0 final in the sixth on an RBI base knock from Destin Pacheco.

Following three-and-a-half scoreless innings in the nightcap, the boys in orange finally broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth when Flores, on with a leadoff single, scored on a Pacheco suicide squeeze. The 'Dogs would repeat the feat on a sacrifice bunt by Juan Galindo before making it 4-0 on an error and a Logan Rodriguez sac-fly. The Rockets were able to prevent a second shutout in the top of the sixth, scoring on an RBI fielder's choice, but Hamilton would close out the 4-1 win with a fly out to Galindo in right, a line out to Pacheco in center, and a ground ball to Greathouse at short.

The JV "A" capped their year with a record of 11-10-1, which included a 2-1 showing at the season-opening Hobbs JV Tournament, a three-game sweep of Roswell High, a 2-1-1 finish against Alamogordo, a 1-3 run versus Hobbs, an 0-5 overall mark against Carlsbad, and a 4-1 overall showing against Goddard.

"B" Baseball

The Bulldog JV "B" team closed out an overall excellent 2026 season Monday, April 20, with a pair of losses to the only team able to go undefeated against them this year: the Goddard Rockets. The Rockets swept the 'Dogs by identical scores of 8-1 in the teams' first meeting April 6 and would edge Artesia in an 8-7 showdown in Game One Monday before running away with Game Two, 12-1, at the Launch Pad in Roswell.

The 'Dogs could get little going offensively in the nightcap against Rocket starter Hudson Grant. Artesia got on the board in the top of the third when Elisha Rowell tripled to left to lead off and was driven in by a Donovan Wisen RBI single to center, but those would mark two of just four total hits on the contest as Goddard picked up two runs in the bottom of the first, six in the second, and three more in the third en route to the four-inning run rule.

The boys in orange battled tooth and nail in the opener, however, overcoming a 6-3 deficit in the top of the fifth to take a one-run lead before giving up two to the Rockets in the bottom of the inning to fall just short, 8-7.

Goddard went ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the second in that outing on an RBI double by Bryant O'Mera, but the 'Dogs battled back with three of their own in the top of three. Following a leadoff walk by pitcher Brody Smithson, a Drake Thurman single advanced Smithson's courtesy runner, Zayden Archuleta to second, and he'd take third on a ground out before scoring on a sac-fly to center by Wisen to tie the game. Thurman then crossed on an RBI base hit from Jace Miles, and Ryan Fierro -- on with a single -- came home on a Chris Martinez base knock to make it 3-1.

The Rockets were able to retake the lead in the bottom half on a bases-loaded hit batsman, a pair of bases-loaded walks, and two errant pitches, but the Bulldogs would rally again in the top of the fifth. The two-out comeback began with consecutive walks by Grayden Washichek, Smithson and Thurman. An RBI base hit from Colt Griffith plated one run and back-to-back bases-loaded walks knotted the game at 6-all before Griffth darted home on a wild pitch to give Artesia the 7-6 advantage. Goddard was able to reinstate the deadlock on an RBI triple by O'Mera in the home half, however, and would secure the win on an RBI base hit from Lucas Brown.

The JV "B" finished its campaign with four-game sweeps of Roswell High and Dexter, a four-game split with Lovington, a sweep of Eunice, and four losses to Goddard for a final record of 12-6.

"A" Softball

The Lady Bulldog JV "A" played the late game in the Tuesday, April 21, varsity-JV outing in Portales but ensured the bus got home early regardless, run-ruling the Ramettes 15-0. The junior varsity also joined the varsity in notching an abbreviated no-hitter, courtesy of Daisy Jimenez, who struck out 11 on the night. The Lady 'Dogs also swept Goddard 8-1 and 21-1 in their final double header of the year Thursday, April 23, before closing out their 2026 season against Lovington April 28 on the road. No score was available for that game.

SPORTS TICKETING

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

Bulldog Baseball
Class 4A State Quarterfinals
vs. #9 St. Pius
6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14
Jennifer Riordan Spark Kindness Sports Complex - Field 4
Albuquerque
Click here to purchase

Lady Bulldog Softball
Class 4A State Quarterfinals
vs. #5 Lovington
9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 14
Cleveland High School Softball Complex - Field 1
Rio Rancho
Click here to purchase

AHS Track and Field
Class 4A State Meet
8 a.m. Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16
Great Friends of UNM Track and Field Complex
Albuquerque
Click here to purchase - Friday
Click here to purchase - Saturday