5A Baseball Quarterfinals: Previewing the State Playoffs
The New Mexico high school baseball state playoffs move to the central venue, J. Riordan Fields in Albuquerque, NM, from Thursday, May 16th for the quarterfinals through Saturday, May 18th. #nmpreps
#1 La Cueva Bears (24-3) vs #9 Eldorado Golden Eagles (20-8)
Field 1 - 4:00 p.m: In a highly anticipated matchup, the #1 La Cueva Bears (24-3) are set to face off against the #9 Eldorado Golden Eagles (20-8) at 4pm. These teams have a long-standing rivalry, both hailing from District 2-5A. Their regular-season series ended in a split, with Eldorado taking the first game 7-5 and La Cueva dominating the second game with a 15-1 victory on May 4th. Now, they meet again for a single game showdown with a spot in the state semifinals at stake.
For the Golden Eagles, Cirilio Martinez (2025) has been a standout performer, leading the team with 35 hits. Junior Jace Sanchez-Reynolds has been a power hitter, notching 5 home runs and a team-leading 30 RBIs this season. On the pitching front, seniors Johnny Kerze and Tadum Widner have been solid contributors, with Kerze boasting a 9-0 record and Widner standing at 5-1, with Kerze also tallying a team-high 64 strikeouts.
La Cueva brings a formidable lineup to the plate, with top junior Braiden Reynolds leading the way both on the mound and with his bat. Senior pitcher Tylon Johnson and sophomores Evertt Burdett and Dylan Blomker provide depth on the mound. In terms of hitting, seniors Ramon Martinez and Gehrig Pineda have been key contributors.
Despite Eldorado's momentum from their upset victory over Rio Grande in the first round, La Cueva's depth and talent, both in pitching and hitting, make them the favorites in this matchup. NMPreps Prediction: La Cueva 9, Eldorado 3. La Cueva would await the winner of 4-seed Organ Mountain and 5-seed Sandia.
#2 Rio Rancho Rams (24-4) vs #7 Carlsbad Cavemen (21-7)
Field 1 - 10:00 a.m: Kicking off Thursday morning in the 5A bracket, the #2 Rio Rancho Rams (24-4) are set to face the #7 Carlsbad Cavemen (21-7) at Field 1, 10:00 a.m. Rio Rancho aims to fend off an upset-minded Carlsbad squad, a baseball powerhouse in many cases. The two teams clashed earlier this season, with Rio Rancho securing an 11-5 victory on March 29th.
Carlsbad boasts a formidable pitching duo in seniors Hazen Wright and Fabian Hernandez, who together hold a combined 13-2 record. Hernandez even pitched a complete-game no-hitter earlier this season against an El Paso-based team.
The Rams, however, enter the game loaded with talent and determined to quash any upset hopes. Standouts such as sophomore Dean Ellison and seniors Casen Savage and Dylan Archuleta lead the charge, supported by the offensive prowess of Nick DiGregorio and Ryan Lewis. With depth in both pitching and hitting, Rio Rancho is primed to make a deep playoff run.
NMPreps Prediction: While Carlsbad's pitching may keep things interesting early on, Rio Rancho's potent lineup is expected to awaken later in the game. A predicted 10-4 win for the 2-seed positions them for a Friday semifinal showdown against the winner of the 3-seed Cleveland and 11-seed Los Lunas matchup.
No. 3 Cleveland Storm (22-6) vs No. 11 Los Lunas Tigers (19-10)
Field 1 - 7:00 p.m: Under the lights at Field 1, 7:00 p.m., the No. 3 Cleveland Storm (22-6) are set to clash with the No. 11 Los Lunas Tigers (19-10) in a highly anticipated quarterfinal matchup. The Tigers, buoyed by their upset victory over 6-seed Volcano Vista in a tumultuous weekend, bring a wave of momentum into this showdown. The teams previously faced off on March 7th, with Cleveland emerging victorious with a commanding 12-1 win. However, with over two months elapsed since their last encounter, this game promises to be a much tighter affair.
Los Lunas boasts a lineup with hitting talent, spearheaded by juniors Matthew Castillo, Allen Galaviz, and freshman JJ Utash, alongside senior Fabian Trujillo. Utash, in particular, has dazzled with an impressive stat line of 4 home runs, 29 hits, and 33 RBIs this season.
On the pitching front, the Storm rely on the arms of Xavier Vasquez, Jarren Villa, and seniors Jaden Davis and Joseph Sevenson. Meanwhile, their batting lineup features senior Brandon Hennessy, sophomore Caleb Sandoval, Jarren Villa, and Anthony Del Angel.
NMPreps Prediction: While the Tigers may present a compelling storyline with their recent upset, the Storm's superior talent and depth make them the favorites in this matchup. Expect a closer contest than their earlier encounter, but ultimately, the Storm are predicted to emerge victorious with an 8-5 win, securing their spot in the semifinals.
#4 Organ Mountain Knights (23-5) vs #5 Sandia Matadors (21-7)
Field 1 - 1:00 p.m: #4 Organ Mountain Knights (23-5) and the #5 Sandia Matadors (21-7) prepare for their first encounter of the season, unlike the other quarterfinal matchups that feature previous regular-season clashes. This inaugural showdown leaves pundits pondering the outcome.
Sandia, once the frontrunners in the class with a stellar 10-1 record in March, showcased their potential with a notable victory over Rio Rancho in the Rams' home tournament. Despite a slight downturn, their overall resume remains impressive, prompting many to view them as potential upsets in this matchup. Meanwhile, Organ Mountain, crowned District 3-5A champions, may carry the underdog label despite their higher seed. Their triumphs include a significant early-season win against Carlsbad, and navigating through the tough District 3-5A to claim the district title should earn them due credit.
The Knights boast a formidable lineup, led by seniors Matthew Hall and Nate Leyba, along with sophomore Rye Ponce. On the mound, seniors Randy Bailey and Tate Johnson, along with Hall, offer depth, boasting a combined 22-2 record, with Bailey undefeated at 8-0.
Sandia relies on the pitching prowess of juniors Levi Brooks, Adriel Figuerora-Brito, and senior Talen Barraza to anchor their defense along with some offensive weapons.
NMPreps Prediction: Despite being counted out by many, Organ Mountain is poised to put up a strong fight. However, they might find themselves outmatched by the talented Sandia squad. We're aligning with the majority here, predicting an upset victory for the Sandia Matadors, 12-6, as they advance to face a projected top-seeded La Cueva Bears in the semifinals.
The New Mexico high school baseball state playoffs move to the central venue, J. Riordan Fields in Albuquerque, NM, from Thursday, May 16th for the quarterfinals through Saturday, May 18th. #nmpreps
#1 La Cueva Bears (24-3) vs #9 Eldorado Golden Eagles (20-8)
Field 1 - 4:00 p.m: In a highly anticipated matchup, the #1 La Cueva Bears (24-3) are set to face off against the #9 Eldorado Golden Eagles (20-8) at 4pm. These teams have a long-standing rivalry, both hailing from District 2-5A. Their regular-season series ended in a split, with Eldorado taking the first game 7-5 and La Cueva dominating the second game with a 15-1 victory on May 4th. Now, they meet again for a single game showdown with a spot in the state semifinals at stake.
For the Golden Eagles, Cirilio Martinez (2025) has been a standout performer, leading the team with 35 hits. Junior Jace Sanchez-Reynolds has been a power hitter, notching 5 home runs and a team-leading 30 RBIs this season. On the pitching front, seniors Johnny Kerze and Tadum Widner have been solid contributors, with Kerze boasting a 9-0 record and Widner standing at 5-1, with Kerze also tallying a team-high 64 strikeouts.
La Cueva brings a formidable lineup to the plate, with top junior Braiden Reynolds leading the way both on the mound and with his bat. Senior pitcher Tylon Johnson and sophomores Evertt Burdett and Dylan Blomker provide depth on the mound. In terms of hitting, seniors Ramon Martinez and Gehrig Pineda have been key contributors.
Despite Eldorado's momentum from their upset victory over Rio Grande in the first round, La Cueva's depth and talent, both in pitching and hitting, make them the favorites in this matchup. NMPreps Prediction: La Cueva 9, Eldorado 3. La Cueva would await the winner of 4-seed Organ Mountain and 5-seed Sandia.
#2 Rio Rancho Rams (24-4) vs #7 Carlsbad Cavemen (21-7)
Field 1 - 10:00 a.m: Kicking off Thursday morning in the 5A bracket, the #2 Rio Rancho Rams (24-4) are set to face the #7 Carlsbad Cavemen (21-7) at Field 1, 10:00 a.m. Rio Rancho aims to fend off an upset-minded Carlsbad squad, a baseball powerhouse in many cases. The two teams clashed earlier this season, with Rio Rancho securing an 11-5 victory on March 29th.
Carlsbad boasts a formidable pitching duo in seniors Hazen Wright and Fabian Hernandez, who together hold a combined 13-2 record. Hernandez even pitched a complete-game no-hitter earlier this season against an El Paso-based team.
The Rams, however, enter the game loaded with talent and determined to quash any upset hopes. Standouts such as sophomore Dean Ellison and seniors Casen Savage and Dylan Archuleta lead the charge, supported by the offensive prowess of Nick DiGregorio and Ryan Lewis. With depth in both pitching and hitting, Rio Rancho is primed to make a deep playoff run.
NMPreps Prediction: While Carlsbad's pitching may keep things interesting early on, Rio Rancho's potent lineup is expected to awaken later in the game. A predicted 10-4 win for the 2-seed positions them for a Friday semifinal showdown against the winner of the 3-seed Cleveland and 11-seed Los Lunas matchup.
No. 3 Cleveland Storm (22-6) vs No. 11 Los Lunas Tigers (19-10)
Field 1 - 7:00 p.m: Under the lights at Field 1, 7:00 p.m., the No. 3 Cleveland Storm (22-6) are set to clash with the No. 11 Los Lunas Tigers (19-10) in a highly anticipated quarterfinal matchup. The Tigers, buoyed by their upset victory over 6-seed Volcano Vista in a tumultuous weekend, bring a wave of momentum into this showdown. The teams previously faced off on March 7th, with Cleveland emerging victorious with a commanding 12-1 win. However, with over two months elapsed since their last encounter, this game promises to be a much tighter affair.
Los Lunas boasts a lineup with hitting talent, spearheaded by juniors Matthew Castillo, Allen Galaviz, and freshman JJ Utash, alongside senior Fabian Trujillo. Utash, in particular, has dazzled with an impressive stat line of 4 home runs, 29 hits, and 33 RBIs this season.
On the pitching front, the Storm rely on the arms of Xavier Vasquez, Jarren Villa, and seniors Jaden Davis and Joseph Sevenson. Meanwhile, their batting lineup features senior Brandon Hennessy, sophomore Caleb Sandoval, Jarren Villa, and Anthony Del Angel.
NMPreps Prediction: While the Tigers may present a compelling storyline with their recent upset, the Storm's superior talent and depth make them the favorites in this matchup. Expect a closer contest than their earlier encounter, but ultimately, the Storm are predicted to emerge victorious with an 8-5 win, securing their spot in the semifinals.
#4 Organ Mountain Knights (23-5) vs #5 Sandia Matadors (21-7)
Field 1 - 1:00 p.m: #4 Organ Mountain Knights (23-5) and the #5 Sandia Matadors (21-7) prepare for their first encounter of the season, unlike the other quarterfinal matchups that feature previous regular-season clashes. This inaugural showdown leaves pundits pondering the outcome.
Sandia, once the frontrunners in the class with a stellar 10-1 record in March, showcased their potential with a notable victory over Rio Rancho in the Rams' home tournament. Despite a slight downturn, their overall resume remains impressive, prompting many to view them as potential upsets in this matchup. Meanwhile, Organ Mountain, crowned District 3-5A champions, may carry the underdog label despite their higher seed. Their triumphs include a significant early-season win against Carlsbad, and navigating through the tough District 3-5A to claim the district title should earn them due credit.
The Knights boast a formidable lineup, led by seniors Matthew Hall and Nate Leyba, along with sophomore Rye Ponce. On the mound, seniors Randy Bailey and Tate Johnson, along with Hall, offer depth, boasting a combined 22-2 record, with Bailey undefeated at 8-0.
Sandia relies on the pitching prowess of juniors Levi Brooks, Adriel Figuerora-Brito, and senior Talen Barraza to anchor their defense along with some offensive weapons.
NMPreps Prediction: Despite being counted out by many, Organ Mountain is poised to put up a strong fight. However, they might find themselves outmatched by the talented Sandia squad. We're aligning with the majority here, predicting an upset victory for the Sandia Matadors, 12-6, as they advance to face a projected top-seeded La Cueva Bears in the semifinals.
