4A State Preview, Picks, & Predictions
J Grine | NMPreps Publisher
NMPreps bracket breakdown of the 2023 New Mexico high school baseball state playoffs.
#1 Grants Pirates (21-5 overall) vs #16 Deming Wildcats (10-16 overall)
Preview: The Grants Pirates baseball program has reached new highs and for the first time are the 1-seed in the New Mexico high school baseball state playoffs. Under second year head coach Mike Furbee the Pirates have been an entirely new team and looking to defend their top seed. Solid pitching coming from Izeyah Manzanares (2024), Nick Bustos (2023), and Estevan Barela (2026). The Deming Wildcats found a way into the playoffs after going 7-2 in district play after a difficult regular season schedule that featured a handful of 5A opponents. Vyncent Chavez (2023), Kaleb Mendoza (2024) and Daniel Mosier (2026) bring the hitting for the Wildcats. Pick: Grants. Prediction: Grants 2-1 (Deming fights to win one of three).
#2 St. Pius X Sartans (17-5 overall) vs #15 Pojoaque Valley Elks (15-11 overall)
Preview: The 2-seed St. Pius X Sartans enter the post season after earning an at-large bid as a district runner up from district 5-4A. Seniors Gene Trujillo, Malachi Pena, Lucas Mulville, and Cohen Mulville lead the way with their bats. Jake Sena is the go-to pitcher for the Sartans. Pojoaque Valley also earned an at-large bid as district 2-4A's runner up. Caleb Roybal (2023) and Andres Trevizo (2026) are the lead from the bats. Mateo Soveranzez (2023), the Elks ace from the mound, will look to carry an upset. Pick: SPX. Prediction: St. Pius X 2-0 (SPX should roll in two games)
#3 Valley Vikings (18-8 overall) vs #14 Lovington Wildcats (11-14 overall)
Preview: The Valley Vikings are a heavy favorite entering the 2023 post season. They enter as an automatic bid for winning district 6-4A. Alex Gilliam (2023), Chris Lance (2023) and Anthony Chavez (2025) provide the pitching and the reason many like the Vikings to go all the way this Spring. The Lovington Wildcats earned an at-large bid this post season after finishing district 4-4A in third place. Mika Pando (2025) and Nick Parra (2023) provide the hitting for the Wildcats. Pando has 4 home runs on the season along with 27 RBI's. Pick: Valley. Prediction: Valley 2-1 (Lovington hits well and could make it interesting).
#4 Belen Eagles (18-7 overall) vs #13 Aztec Tigers (14-10 overall)
Preview: District 5-4A cleaned house, they earned three of the top four seeds with Belen getting an at-large bid as the third place finisher. Christian Wilson (2024) and Kenny Trujillo (2023) continue to guide from the mound and will play a huge role carrying them into the post season. The Aztec Tigers earned their at-large bid after going 6-4 during district play and finishing in third place. Kaleb Thornburg (2024), Sylas Hengst (2024), and Jacob Prada-Johnson (2023) will look to lead the way with their bats. Prada-Johnson has 23 RBI's and 4 home runs on the season for the Tigers. Pick: Belen. Prediction: Belen 2-1 (Belen looking to avoid a post season drop)
#5 Artesia Bulldogs (15-11 overall) vs #12 Bloomfield Bobcats (17-7 overall)
Preview: The Artesia Bulldogs are the district 4-4A automatic bid after capturing the championship on the final day of the season. Nye Estrada (2024), Julian Rodriguez (2023) and Davian Molina (2023) hit well for the Dogs this season -- Molina has 23 RBI's and 3 home runs. Molina and Estrada along with Jake Byers (2026) provide a three-headed monster from the mound. They'll be crucial as they head into the quarterfinals. The Bobcats are making the 410 mile, 6 hour, bus trip to the southeastern corner. Drew Perez (2024) and Francisco Rivera (2023) lead the pitching for the Bobcats. Bloomfield is an automatic bid as the District 1-4A champions. Pick: Artesia. Prediction: Artesia 2-0 (the Bobcats have been up and down most of the season)
#6 Goddard Rockets (16-10 overall) vs #11 Miyamura Patriots (12-11 overall)
Preview: Goddard enters as an at-large bid for finishing as runner up in district 4-4A. Coming off losses to end the regular season look for the junior trip of Ryan Alsup, Michael Mathison, and Cinco Holloway to carry them forward. Holloway with 32 RBI's and 4 home runs on the season, Mathison (2) and Alsup (1) have also gone yard for the Rockets this season. The Miyamura Patriots have put together a nice resume this season and earned themselves an at-large bid as runner up from district 1-4A. Jaimeer Beyale (2023) will be the name to know in this opening round, the senior has 2 home runs and 19 RBI's on the season. Pick: Goddard. Prediction: Goddard 2-0 (Goddard moved along during their regular season meeting and should do it again).
#7 Santa Teresa Desert Warriors (18-7 overall) vs #10 Hope Christian Huskies (12-10 overall)
Preview: The Santa Teresa Desert Warriors have only dropped two games in their last seventeen games earning an automatic bid as the district 3-4A champion. A huge shift after starting the season 2-5 and looking to be headed to missing the post season. Ovier Alvidrez (2023) has a posted record of 10-0 this season and will be the pitcher to guide the Desert Warriors this post season. Perhaps the most intriguing team this post season is the Huskies of Hope Christian. They finished tied for third place during district 6-4A and earned an at-large bid. Brandon Chavez (2024) and Alex Bradbury (2024) will give ST a difficult time at the plate. Jacob Gergen (2025) and Jospeh Marek (2024) are two promising pitchers for the Huskies. They have 69 and 68 K's on the year. Pick: Hope Christian. Prediction: Hope 2-0 (the upset pick of the first round but that's if we see the late March/early April Hope team).
#8 Albuquerque Academy Chargers (14-10 overall) vs #9 Los Alamos Hilltoppers (20-5 overall)
Preview: The Albuquerque Academy Chargers earned the at-large bid as district 6-4A runner up this season after years of being the districts automatic. Satish Raichur (2024), Matthew Delaney (2025), and Michangelo Duva (2023) are the leaders for the Chargers bats this season. Delaney has 3 home runs and 18 RBI's this season. The Los Alamos Hilltoppers are riding a 15-game win streak into the post season and the automatic bid from district 2-5A. Two of their five losses come at the hands of Albuquerque Academy though and will lean the favorite to the Chargers. Seniors David Rodriguez and Diego Rodriguez are two players to keep an eye on during the opening round for the Hilltoppers. Pick: Academy. Prediction: Academy 2-0 (Los Alamos will give more of a fight in this game but all Academy into the quarterfinals).
J Grine | NMPreps Publisher
NMPreps bracket breakdown of the 2023 New Mexico high school baseball state playoffs.
#1 Grants Pirates (21-5 overall) vs #16 Deming Wildcats (10-16 overall)
Preview: The Grants Pirates baseball program has reached new highs and for the first time are the 1-seed in the New Mexico high school baseball state playoffs. Under second year head coach Mike Furbee the Pirates have been an entirely new team and looking to defend their top seed. Solid pitching coming from Izeyah Manzanares (2024), Nick Bustos (2023), and Estevan Barela (2026). The Deming Wildcats found a way into the playoffs after going 7-2 in district play after a difficult regular season schedule that featured a handful of 5A opponents. Vyncent Chavez (2023), Kaleb Mendoza (2024) and Daniel Mosier (2026) bring the hitting for the Wildcats. Pick: Grants. Prediction: Grants 2-1 (Deming fights to win one of three).
#2 St. Pius X Sartans (17-5 overall) vs #15 Pojoaque Valley Elks (15-11 overall)
Preview: The 2-seed St. Pius X Sartans enter the post season after earning an at-large bid as a district runner up from district 5-4A. Seniors Gene Trujillo, Malachi Pena, Lucas Mulville, and Cohen Mulville lead the way with their bats. Jake Sena is the go-to pitcher for the Sartans. Pojoaque Valley also earned an at-large bid as district 2-4A's runner up. Caleb Roybal (2023) and Andres Trevizo (2026) are the lead from the bats. Mateo Soveranzez (2023), the Elks ace from the mound, will look to carry an upset. Pick: SPX. Prediction: St. Pius X 2-0 (SPX should roll in two games)
#3 Valley Vikings (18-8 overall) vs #14 Lovington Wildcats (11-14 overall)
Preview: The Valley Vikings are a heavy favorite entering the 2023 post season. They enter as an automatic bid for winning district 6-4A. Alex Gilliam (2023), Chris Lance (2023) and Anthony Chavez (2025) provide the pitching and the reason many like the Vikings to go all the way this Spring. The Lovington Wildcats earned an at-large bid this post season after finishing district 4-4A in third place. Mika Pando (2025) and Nick Parra (2023) provide the hitting for the Wildcats. Pando has 4 home runs on the season along with 27 RBI's. Pick: Valley. Prediction: Valley 2-1 (Lovington hits well and could make it interesting).
#4 Belen Eagles (18-7 overall) vs #13 Aztec Tigers (14-10 overall)
Preview: District 5-4A cleaned house, they earned three of the top four seeds with Belen getting an at-large bid as the third place finisher. Christian Wilson (2024) and Kenny Trujillo (2023) continue to guide from the mound and will play a huge role carrying them into the post season. The Aztec Tigers earned their at-large bid after going 6-4 during district play and finishing in third place. Kaleb Thornburg (2024), Sylas Hengst (2024), and Jacob Prada-Johnson (2023) will look to lead the way with their bats. Prada-Johnson has 23 RBI's and 4 home runs on the season for the Tigers. Pick: Belen. Prediction: Belen 2-1 (Belen looking to avoid a post season drop)
#5 Artesia Bulldogs (15-11 overall) vs #12 Bloomfield Bobcats (17-7 overall)
Preview: The Artesia Bulldogs are the district 4-4A automatic bid after capturing the championship on the final day of the season. Nye Estrada (2024), Julian Rodriguez (2023) and Davian Molina (2023) hit well for the Dogs this season -- Molina has 23 RBI's and 3 home runs. Molina and Estrada along with Jake Byers (2026) provide a three-headed monster from the mound. They'll be crucial as they head into the quarterfinals. The Bobcats are making the 410 mile, 6 hour, bus trip to the southeastern corner. Drew Perez (2024) and Francisco Rivera (2023) lead the pitching for the Bobcats. Bloomfield is an automatic bid as the District 1-4A champions. Pick: Artesia. Prediction: Artesia 2-0 (the Bobcats have been up and down most of the season)
#6 Goddard Rockets (16-10 overall) vs #11 Miyamura Patriots (12-11 overall)
Preview: Goddard enters as an at-large bid for finishing as runner up in district 4-4A. Coming off losses to end the regular season look for the junior trip of Ryan Alsup, Michael Mathison, and Cinco Holloway to carry them forward. Holloway with 32 RBI's and 4 home runs on the season, Mathison (2) and Alsup (1) have also gone yard for the Rockets this season. The Miyamura Patriots have put together a nice resume this season and earned themselves an at-large bid as runner up from district 1-4A. Jaimeer Beyale (2023) will be the name to know in this opening round, the senior has 2 home runs and 19 RBI's on the season. Pick: Goddard. Prediction: Goddard 2-0 (Goddard moved along during their regular season meeting and should do it again).
#7 Santa Teresa Desert Warriors (18-7 overall) vs #10 Hope Christian Huskies (12-10 overall)
Preview: The Santa Teresa Desert Warriors have only dropped two games in their last seventeen games earning an automatic bid as the district 3-4A champion. A huge shift after starting the season 2-5 and looking to be headed to missing the post season. Ovier Alvidrez (2023) has a posted record of 10-0 this season and will be the pitcher to guide the Desert Warriors this post season. Perhaps the most intriguing team this post season is the Huskies of Hope Christian. They finished tied for third place during district 6-4A and earned an at-large bid. Brandon Chavez (2024) and Alex Bradbury (2024) will give ST a difficult time at the plate. Jacob Gergen (2025) and Jospeh Marek (2024) are two promising pitchers for the Huskies. They have 69 and 68 K's on the year. Pick: Hope Christian. Prediction: Hope 2-0 (the upset pick of the first round but that's if we see the late March/early April Hope team).
#8 Albuquerque Academy Chargers (14-10 overall) vs #9 Los Alamos Hilltoppers (20-5 overall)
Preview: The Albuquerque Academy Chargers earned the at-large bid as district 6-4A runner up this season after years of being the districts automatic. Satish Raichur (2024), Matthew Delaney (2025), and Michangelo Duva (2023) are the leaders for the Chargers bats this season. Delaney has 3 home runs and 18 RBI's this season. The Los Alamos Hilltoppers are riding a 15-game win streak into the post season and the automatic bid from district 2-5A. Two of their five losses come at the hands of Albuquerque Academy though and will lean the favorite to the Chargers. Seniors David Rodriguez and Diego Rodriguez are two players to keep an eye on during the opening round for the Hilltoppers. Pick: Academy. Prediction: Academy 2-0 (Los Alamos will give more of a fight in this game but all Academy into the quarterfinals).
