New Mexico High School Baseball – 2025 Class 5A 1st Round Preview
The 202 New Mexico high school baseball state tournament starts on Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10, with best-of-three first-round series hosted by the top eight seeds in Class 5A. Each matchup opens with Game 1 on Friday, followed by Game 2 on Saturday morning and, if necessary, Game 3 approximately two hours after Game 2. The field is loaded with talent, from perennial powers to dangerous underdogs, as teams chase a coveted spot in the quarterfinals.
No. 1 La Cueva Bears (23-3) vs. No. 16 Las Cruces Bulldawgs (17-9)
Game 1: Friday, May 9 @ 4:00 p.m. | Game 2: Saturday, May 10 @ 11:00 a.m.
Location: La Cueva High School – Albuquerque, NM
Winners of 13 straight and undefeated in District 2-5A play, La Cueva enters the playoffs as the top seed in Class 5A—and with good reason. The Bears are a powerhouse on both sides, outscoring opponents 280-75 this season. Their pitching rotation is as deep as any in the state, led by Luke Feist (2026), Jake Travis (2025), and Dylan Blomker (2026), with all three capable of shutting down even the most potent lineups.
Offensively, the Bears are equally loaded. Senior Braiden Reynolds, the top-ranked player in the state, headlines the lineup along with standout infielder Reid Jacobson (2025). With production throughout the order and one of the strongest defenses in the bracket, La Cueva has all the tools to repeat as state champs—or at least return to the final weekend.
Las Cruces, meanwhile, earned the 16-seed after finishing 8-7 in a competitive District 3-5A. The Bulldawgs have solid pieces, including seniors Xander Parra (.351 AVG, 48.1 IP, 51 Ks) and Bubba Urenda (.298 AVG), along with junior Nick Rojas (.361 AVG). Pitcher Gunnar Guardiola has also been dependable on the mound, giving Las Cruces a chance to stay close in Game 1.
The key for the Bulldawgs will be manufacturing early runs and playing clean defensively. They’ve only allowed 98 runs this season, but La Cueva’s explosive lineup will test that limit immediately.
Prediction: La Cueva wins series 2-0 – The Bears have too much depth, too much power, and too much momentum to be slowed down in the opening round. Las Cruces will compete, but La Cueva should advance comfortably.
No. 2 Rio Rancho Rams (20-6) vs. No. 15 Farmington Scorpions (16-10)
Game 1: Friday, May 9 @ 4:00 p.m. | Game 2: Saturday, May 10 @ 11:00 a.m.
Location: Rio Rancho High School
District 1-5A opponents square off once more after two regular season meetings won by Rio Rancho—10-9 and 6-1. The Rams, winners of the district title, are armed with one of the state’s deepest pitching staffs featuring Adan Bustos (2025), Richard Reiffenberger (2028), and Brandon Segal (2025). Shortstop Wyatt Tinker and rising sophomore Dean Ellison round out a formidable core on both sides of the ball.
Farmington enters with confidence despite being the 15-seed, with solid pitching from Eli Edmiston, Sataurus Griego, and Danny Hagstrom, and strong offensive contributors like Gabe Matamoros, Jorden Pope, and Kobe Benally. Still, the Scorpions will need their best performances of the season to pull off the upset.
Prediction: Rio Rancho wins series 2-0
No. 3 Carlsbad Cavemen (21-5) vs. No. 14 Cibola Cougars (15-11)
Game 1: Friday, May 9 @ 6:00 p.m. | Game 2: Saturday, May 10 @ 10:00 a.m.
Location: Carlsbad High School
Carlsbad, the 4-5A district champion, is loaded with upperclassmen and depth—Aden Quintella, Jonas Molinar, Eloy Lopez, Gus Risher, Jaden Carter, Garrett Fuentes, Connor Robertson, and Rickey Herrera form one of the most complete rosters in the field. The Cavemen are dominant at home and have only allowed 81 runs all season.
Cibola has pop in its lineup, hitting .332 as a team and scoring 199 runs. Jacob Segotta (.400 AVG), Ryan Hutchinson (.395 AVG), and Issac Brito (.338 AVG, 4 HR) are the spark plugs, but they’ll need to break through against Carlsbad’s shutdown arms to stay alive.
Prediction: Carlsbad wins series 2-0
No. 4 Cleveland Storm (18-8) vs. No. 13 Mayfield Trojans (15-10-1)
Game 1: Friday, May 9 @ 4:00 p.m. | Game 2: Saturday, May 10 @ 10:00 a.m.
Location: Cleveland High School
Cleveland’s second-place finish in District 1-5A came in a brutal league, and they enter with a dangerous mix of pitching and defense. Catcher Owen Bishop (2025) anchors a talented core that includes Larry Garcia, Anthony Del Angel, and Caleb Sandoval. Their pitching depth features multiple capable arms including Treven Polanco, Xavier Vasquez, and Jarren Villa.
Mayfield brings momentum after a strong 10-5 finish in District 3-5A. Nolan Matejcek, Fabian Delgado, and Isaac Seidner lead the charge for the Trojans, who will need timely hitting and a clean defensive effort to threaten the Storm.
Prediction: Cleveland wins series 2-1
No. 5 Eldorado Eagles (19-7) vs. No. 12 Organ Mountain Knights (16-9-1)
Game 1: Friday, May 9 @ 4:00 p.m. | Game 2: Saturday, May 10 @ 10:00 a.m.
Location: Eldorado High School
Eldorado has surged into the playoffs with a 7-game winning streak and features one of the most dangerous lineups in Class 5A, batting .371 as a team and scoring 238 runs. Timothy Kamphuis (.500 AVG, 4 HR), Kavan Salas (.405 AVG), and Sullivan Wilson (.380 AVG) headline a deep, veteran squad. Pitching duo Jace Sanchez-Reynolds and Cooper Burak gives them a steady foundation on the mound.
Organ Mountain is not to be underestimated. The Knights hit .337 as a team and have posted 254 hits this year, led by Eric Gomez (.438 AVG), Ryo Rivera, and Devyn Garces. On the mound, Gera Delgado and Brennan McNiece have given Organ Mountain chances to win against strong lineups.
Prediction: Eldorado wins series 2-0 – Organ Mountain will compete, but Eldorado is peaking at the right time and should ride their momentum into the quarterfinals.
No. 6 Sandia Matadors (18-7) vs. No. 11 Piedra Vista Panthers (16-10)
Game 1: Friday, May 9 @ 4:00 p.m. | Game 2: Saturday, May 10 @ 10:00 a.m.
Location: Sandia High School
Sandia enters the tournament on a strong note after a solid third-place finish in District 2-5A. The Matadors are a dangerous offensive team with 260 runs scored this season and are anchored by standout players Adriel Figueroa-Brito, Levi Brooks, and Charles Armijo—all capable of game-changing moments at the plate and on the mound.
Piedra Vista finished fourth in the highly competitive District 1-5A but brings playoff-tested arms in Trapper Paige and JW Bayless, along with a steady bat in Flynn Hoopes. They’ve been up and down but have the tools to pull the upset if they can keep Sandia’s bats in check.
Prediction: Sandia wins series 2-1
No. 7 Centennial Hawks (20-6) vs. No. 10 Rio Grande Ravens (17-9)
Game 1: Friday, May 9 @ 6:00 p.m. | Game 2: Saturday, May 10 @ 10:00 a.m.
Location: Centennial High School
District 3-5A champion Centennial has quietly put together an impressive season, winning 13 of 15 district games and outscoring opponents 189-81. The Hawks are paced by a deep lineup featuring Israel Molina (.427 AVG), Cole Alons (.427 AVG, 7 HR), and Gabriel Torres (.393 AVG). Their rotation, led by Torres, Molina, and senior Aidan Renteria, has compiled 208 strikeouts and just 46 earned runs.
Rio Grande, co-champions of District 5-5A, boasts a potent offense with five regulars batting over .340, led by Jackson Brettelle (.468 AVG), Sebastian Chavez (.441 AVG), and Lluis Salinas (.407 AVG). Their depth at the plate makes them a threat, but their pitching will need to hold up against Centennial’s dangerous order.
Prediction: Centennial wins series 2-0
No. 8 Volcano Vista Hawks (15-11) vs. No. 9 Los Lunas Tigers (16-10)
Game 1: Friday, May 9 @ 4:00 p.m. | Game 2: Saturday, May 10 @ 10:00 a.m.
Location: Volcano Vista High School
In a rematch of a March 22 game won by Volcano Vista 10-5, this 8-9 showdown is one of the most anticipated matchups of the opening round. Volcano Vista, the third-place finisher in District 1-5A, is led by senior Alijah Romero (.432 AVG), sophomore Josiah Gutierrez (.381 AVG), and senior Noah Massey (.387 AVG), who also contributes on the mound. Their offense has been steady, but pitching depth could be tested in a three-game series.
Los Lunas, tied atop District 5-5A, is playing its best baseball down the stretch. Sophomore JJ Utash (.508 AVG, 3 HR), junior Jasiah Byers (.449 AVG), and senior Matthew Castillo (.365 AVG) anchor an explosive lineup that’s posted 177 runs this year. Castillo also leads the staff with a 1.95 ERA and 78 Ks.
Prediction: Volcano Vista wins series 2-1
