5A Playoffs: Preview, Picks, and Predictions
J Grine | NMPreps Publisher
Today, we look at the 2023 New Mexico high school baseball state tournament. 64-teams have reached the playoffs, we look at the 16 teams making up the 5A bracket. #nmpreps
(1) Rio Rancho Rams vs (16) Hobbs Eagles
Records: Rio Rancho (22-2-2 overall); Hobbs (10-16 overall)
How They Got Here: Rio Rancho won the District 1-5A Championship. Hobbs is the runner up from District 4-5A.
Preview: The Rio Rancho Rams enter the postseason with a class best 22-wins but surprisingly they are coming off a loss in their final game. The Rams are loaded with talent, Dylan Archuleta (2024), Nick Di Gregorio (2024), and Sean Vigil (2024) lead a talented junior class. The Rams will also look to University of New Mexico commit Vascon Smith (2023) heading into the post season. The Hobbs Eagles will look to the hitting from Mekhi Brewer (2024) who leads the Eagles in RBIs (50), Hits (40), and Home Runs (9).
Pick: Rio Rancho
Prediction: Rio Rancho takes the series 2-0.
(2) La Cueva Bears vs (15) Mayfield Trojans
Records: La Cueva (21-4 overall); Mayfield (13-13 overall)
How They Got Here: La Cueva went a perfect 10-0 in district play winning the District 2-5A Championship. Mayfield found success at home going 10-5 and finished 4th in District 3-5A.
Preview: The La Cueva Bears went a perfect 11-0 during the April slate of games. The Bears are led by a slew of next level seniors -- Christian Melo, Jackson Meng, and Jackson Kay. Junior Jackson Hix has been a staple on our top player performances of the week. Mayfield looks to seniors Andrew Molenda, Ethan Maki, and Anthony Reyes this post season. Molenda has 17 RBIs, 2 Home Runs, and 25 Hits for the Trojans this season. Dylan Duran (2024) and Julian Gallegos will also provide some hitting for the Trojans. Gallegos leads the team in hit with 27. The Trojans won seven of their final nine games.
Pick: La Cueva
Prediction: La Cueva takes the series 2-0.
(3) Carlsbad Cavemen vs (14) Cibola Cougars
Records: Carlsbad (21-5 overall); Cibola (11-13 overall)
How They Got Here: The Cavemen went 8-1 in district play winning the District 4-5A Championship. The Cibola Cougars played a daunting district schedule and finished 4th in District 1-5A.
Preview: Mack Mabrey and Tristan Thomas provide the senior leadership for the Cavemen this post season. Both have equally hit well all season with both achieving 51 RBI's and 57 Hits combined on the season. Thomas is also a phenomenal pitcher and enters the post season a perfect 9-0 on the season with 66 K's. Sophomore Jacob Segotta will guide the Cibola Cougars this post season. Segotta has 19 Hits, 15 RBI's, and 2 Home Runs for the Cougars this season.
Pick: Carlsbad
Prediction: Carlsbad wins the series 2-1.
(4) Volcano Vista Hawks vs (13) Organ Mountain Knights
Records: Volcano Vista (19-6 overall); Organ Mountain (15-11 overall)
How They Got Here: The Volcano Vista Hawks finished the season as District 1-5A Runner Up's. Organ Mountain finished third place in District 3-5A.
Preview: The Hawks enter the playoffs with some major swag after beating the top-seed Rio Rancho Rams on Saturday evenings final district game. The Hawks are loaded with talent in Nathan Wallin (2023), Aidan Zacarias (2023), and Hunter Martinez (2024). The Organ Mountain Knights who have been up and down most of the season will look to cool a red hot Hawks squad.
Pick: Volcano Vista
Prediction: Volcano Vista takes the series 2-0.
(5) Cleveland Storm vs (12) Piedra Vista Panthers
Records: Cleveland (18-7 overall); Piedra Vista (15-11 overall)
How They Got Here: The Cleveland Storm finished third place in District 1-5A. The Piedra Vista Panthers finished in fourth place in District 2-5A.
Preview: The Panthers are look to shake off some dust after dropping six of the final eight games of the season. Cleveland finished the season winning three of the final four, the lone loss was a 12-5 loss in extra innings to 1-seed Rio Rancho. They also earned a 3-2 win over 4-seed Volcano Vista. Jarren Villa (2025), Silas Hilton (2024), and Austin Barela (2023) are the hitters to watch in this opening series for the Storm. The trio have over 90 RBI's and and 90 hits between the three. Hilton leads the team with 4 Home Runs.
Pick: Cleveland
Prediction: Cleveland takes the series 2-0.
(6) Centennial Hawks vs (11) Farmington Scorpions
Records: Centennial (22-4 overall); Farmington (13-12 overall)
How They Got Here: Centennial is the District 3-5A Champion after going 13-2 in district play. Farmington won a deceive series over Piedra Vista to finish as runner up in District 2-5A. They finished 5-5 in district play.
Preview: Senior pitchers Santiago Garcia and Kory Gresham along with junior Hudson Harrison guide from the mound for the Hawks. Garcia is a perfect 7-0 on the season with Gresham and Harrison both entering the playoffs at 6-1 each. Steven Milam (2023) leads the bats with 7 Home Runs, 46 RBI's and 47 Hits on the season. Anthony Richardson (2023), Carson Padilla (2023), and Eli Edmiston (2025) are a few names to know for the Scorpions this season.
Pick: Centennial
Prediction: Centennial wins the series 2-1.
(7) Sandia Matadors vs (10) Los Lunas Tigers
Records: Sandia (17-9 overall); Los Lunas (16-9 overall)
How They Got Here: The Sandia Matadors went 8-2 in district play finishing a the District 2-5A Runner Up. Los Lunas is the District 5-5A Runner Up going 8-2 in district play.
Preview: The Sandia Matadors have a core group of seniors to lead the way this post season -- Nico Barela, Elijah Bustillos, Danny Santiago, and Jameer Meadows. Barela and Meadows each with 3 Home Runs on the season have played extremely well this season. On the mound it's a pair of top pitchers in Zachary Kmatz and Justin Peterson. Kaden Chavez (2023), Ryan Castillo (2023), Caden Herrell (2023), and Fabian Trujillo (2024) are serious hitters for the Tigers. The four have accounted for 14 Home Runs and over 100 RBI's for the Tigers this season.
Pick: Sandia
Prediction: Sandia will win the series 2-1.
(8) Las Cruces Bulldawgs vs (9) Rio Grande Ravens
Records: Las Cruces (18-7 overall); Rio Grande (18-8 overall)
How They Got Here: Las Cruces the District 3-5A Runner Up after going 11-4 in district play. The Rio Grande Ravens went 9-1 and won the District 5-5A Championship.
Preview: All eyes will be on pitcher Steven Solorzano this post season. The Bulldawgs senior pitcher is 5-0 on the season with 114 K's. Junior Lucas Hernandez has also had success on the mound with 51 K's. Zayke Hawkins and Ryan Padilla, both juniors, led the bats for the Bulldawgs. Combined the duo has over 60 RBI's and 60 Hits. For the Ravens, the only District Champion, on the road this post season will look to Sebastian Chavez (2025), Isaiah Gutierrez (2023) and Leon Cereceres (2023) from the mound. Adan Marquez (2024) and Jackson Brettelle (2025) provide the hitting for the Ravens.
Pick: Las Cruces
Prediction: Las Cruces wins the series 2-1.
J Grine | NMPreps Publisher
Today, we look at the 2023 New Mexico high school baseball state tournament. 64-teams have reached the playoffs, we look at the 16 teams making up the 5A bracket. #nmpreps
(1) Rio Rancho Rams vs (16) Hobbs Eagles
Records: Rio Rancho (22-2-2 overall); Hobbs (10-16 overall)
How They Got Here: Rio Rancho won the District 1-5A Championship. Hobbs is the runner up from District 4-5A.
Preview: The Rio Rancho Rams enter the postseason with a class best 22-wins but surprisingly they are coming off a loss in their final game. The Rams are loaded with talent, Dylan Archuleta (2024), Nick Di Gregorio (2024), and Sean Vigil (2024) lead a talented junior class. The Rams will also look to University of New Mexico commit Vascon Smith (2023) heading into the post season. The Hobbs Eagles will look to the hitting from Mekhi Brewer (2024) who leads the Eagles in RBIs (50), Hits (40), and Home Runs (9).
Pick: Rio Rancho
Prediction: Rio Rancho takes the series 2-0.
(2) La Cueva Bears vs (15) Mayfield Trojans
Records: La Cueva (21-4 overall); Mayfield (13-13 overall)
How They Got Here: La Cueva went a perfect 10-0 in district play winning the District 2-5A Championship. Mayfield found success at home going 10-5 and finished 4th in District 3-5A.
Preview: The La Cueva Bears went a perfect 11-0 during the April slate of games. The Bears are led by a slew of next level seniors -- Christian Melo, Jackson Meng, and Jackson Kay. Junior Jackson Hix has been a staple on our top player performances of the week. Mayfield looks to seniors Andrew Molenda, Ethan Maki, and Anthony Reyes this post season. Molenda has 17 RBIs, 2 Home Runs, and 25 Hits for the Trojans this season. Dylan Duran (2024) and Julian Gallegos will also provide some hitting for the Trojans. Gallegos leads the team in hit with 27. The Trojans won seven of their final nine games.
Pick: La Cueva
Prediction: La Cueva takes the series 2-0.
(3) Carlsbad Cavemen vs (14) Cibola Cougars
Records: Carlsbad (21-5 overall); Cibola (11-13 overall)
How They Got Here: The Cavemen went 8-1 in district play winning the District 4-5A Championship. The Cibola Cougars played a daunting district schedule and finished 4th in District 1-5A.
Preview: Mack Mabrey and Tristan Thomas provide the senior leadership for the Cavemen this post season. Both have equally hit well all season with both achieving 51 RBI's and 57 Hits combined on the season. Thomas is also a phenomenal pitcher and enters the post season a perfect 9-0 on the season with 66 K's. Sophomore Jacob Segotta will guide the Cibola Cougars this post season. Segotta has 19 Hits, 15 RBI's, and 2 Home Runs for the Cougars this season.
Pick: Carlsbad
Prediction: Carlsbad wins the series 2-1.
(4) Volcano Vista Hawks vs (13) Organ Mountain Knights
Records: Volcano Vista (19-6 overall); Organ Mountain (15-11 overall)
How They Got Here: The Volcano Vista Hawks finished the season as District 1-5A Runner Up's. Organ Mountain finished third place in District 3-5A.
Preview: The Hawks enter the playoffs with some major swag after beating the top-seed Rio Rancho Rams on Saturday evenings final district game. The Hawks are loaded with talent in Nathan Wallin (2023), Aidan Zacarias (2023), and Hunter Martinez (2024). The Organ Mountain Knights who have been up and down most of the season will look to cool a red hot Hawks squad.
Pick: Volcano Vista
Prediction: Volcano Vista takes the series 2-0.
(5) Cleveland Storm vs (12) Piedra Vista Panthers
Records: Cleveland (18-7 overall); Piedra Vista (15-11 overall)
How They Got Here: The Cleveland Storm finished third place in District 1-5A. The Piedra Vista Panthers finished in fourth place in District 2-5A.
Preview: The Panthers are look to shake off some dust after dropping six of the final eight games of the season. Cleveland finished the season winning three of the final four, the lone loss was a 12-5 loss in extra innings to 1-seed Rio Rancho. They also earned a 3-2 win over 4-seed Volcano Vista. Jarren Villa (2025), Silas Hilton (2024), and Austin Barela (2023) are the hitters to watch in this opening series for the Storm. The trio have over 90 RBI's and and 90 hits between the three. Hilton leads the team with 4 Home Runs.
Pick: Cleveland
Prediction: Cleveland takes the series 2-0.
(6) Centennial Hawks vs (11) Farmington Scorpions
Records: Centennial (22-4 overall); Farmington (13-12 overall)
How They Got Here: Centennial is the District 3-5A Champion after going 13-2 in district play. Farmington won a deceive series over Piedra Vista to finish as runner up in District 2-5A. They finished 5-5 in district play.
Preview: Senior pitchers Santiago Garcia and Kory Gresham along with junior Hudson Harrison guide from the mound for the Hawks. Garcia is a perfect 7-0 on the season with Gresham and Harrison both entering the playoffs at 6-1 each. Steven Milam (2023) leads the bats with 7 Home Runs, 46 RBI's and 47 Hits on the season. Anthony Richardson (2023), Carson Padilla (2023), and Eli Edmiston (2025) are a few names to know for the Scorpions this season.
Pick: Centennial
Prediction: Centennial wins the series 2-1.
(7) Sandia Matadors vs (10) Los Lunas Tigers
Records: Sandia (17-9 overall); Los Lunas (16-9 overall)
How They Got Here: The Sandia Matadors went 8-2 in district play finishing a the District 2-5A Runner Up. Los Lunas is the District 5-5A Runner Up going 8-2 in district play.
Preview: The Sandia Matadors have a core group of seniors to lead the way this post season -- Nico Barela, Elijah Bustillos, Danny Santiago, and Jameer Meadows. Barela and Meadows each with 3 Home Runs on the season have played extremely well this season. On the mound it's a pair of top pitchers in Zachary Kmatz and Justin Peterson. Kaden Chavez (2023), Ryan Castillo (2023), Caden Herrell (2023), and Fabian Trujillo (2024) are serious hitters for the Tigers. The four have accounted for 14 Home Runs and over 100 RBI's for the Tigers this season.
Pick: Sandia
Prediction: Sandia will win the series 2-1.
(8) Las Cruces Bulldawgs vs (9) Rio Grande Ravens
Records: Las Cruces (18-7 overall); Rio Grande (18-8 overall)
How They Got Here: Las Cruces the District 3-5A Runner Up after going 11-4 in district play. The Rio Grande Ravens went 9-1 and won the District 5-5A Championship.
Preview: All eyes will be on pitcher Steven Solorzano this post season. The Bulldawgs senior pitcher is 5-0 on the season with 114 K's. Junior Lucas Hernandez has also had success on the mound with 51 K's. Zayke Hawkins and Ryan Padilla, both juniors, led the bats for the Bulldawgs. Combined the duo has over 60 RBI's and 60 Hits. For the Ravens, the only District Champion, on the road this post season will look to Sebastian Chavez (2025), Isaiah Gutierrez (2023) and Leon Cereceres (2023) from the mound. Adan Marquez (2024) and Jackson Brettelle (2025) provide the hitting for the Ravens.
Pick: Las Cruces
Prediction: Las Cruces wins the series 2-1.
