MOST RECENT SPORTS WRAPS
• Miller/Miller first-ever girls' tennis state champions; baseball, softball advance to state QFs; track teams win district; golfers competing in state tournaments
• 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

BULLDOG GOLF

PICTURED: The 2026 Bulldog golf team poses for a photo Tuesday, May 12, at the New Mexico Tech Golf Course in Socorro after winning the Class 4A state championship.
(Photo by Julie Horner)

After one round Monday at the Class 4A State Golf Tournament, the Bulldogs were staring down a five-stroke deficit to Albuquerque Academy and a do-or-die situation in their final 18 holes of the season.

The 'Dogs and Chargers had already shared a battleground this year at the New Mexico Tech Golf Course in Socorro. The 4A State Preview tournament, hosted by Deming, drew the classification's contenders to Socorro March 30, and the Artesia boys topped them all, winning by three strokes over Academy, 316-319. But on May 11, the Chargers had come in six strokes under their previous tally and the Bulldogs two strokes over theirs. That meant the 'Dogs needed even more than they'd given last time. They had to dig deep.

Spelling the difference in Round One were Academy's top two: junior Alex Hanna and freshman Thomas Whitten. Hanna finished the opening 18 with a round of 72 and Whitten a 74 as compared to Artesia's brother act of sophomore Beau and senior Jack Byers' scores of 78 and 79. Academy's next three golfers all scored above Artesia's: senior Joel Ochoa with an 80, senior Steven Williams with an 81, and freshman Locklyn Gray with an 84. The task in front of the Bulldogs Tuesday depended not only upon their play but the Chargers', as well: make up five strokes and at least one to grow on.

As they'd proven time and again over the course of their 2026 campaign -- which saw the team win every tournament in which they participated except the District 4-AAAA tourney -- they were up to any task, any time, on any course.

By the time the dust settled Tuesday, the boys in orange had not only made up the necessary ground, they'd installed a few new sand traps between themselves and the Chargers, winning the 4A state title by 11 strokes, 623-634. The epic comeback marked the Bulldogs' first blue trophy since 2017 -- fifth overall -- and prevented a threepeat by Academy, which had taken four of the last five golf championships.

PICTURED: At top, Beau Byers poses with the 4A championship trophy and his individual silver medal. Above, the Class 4A Boys' State Tournament's top seven individual golfers pose for a photo with their medals. They are, from left, Thomas Whitten of Albuquerque Academy (148), Eli O'Canna of Belen (153), Beau Byers of Artesia (149), Ramon Orosco of Lovington (151), Lincoln Hoffer of Los Alamos (150), and Javan Rael of Los Alamos (150). Not pictured is Academy's Alex Hanna (151).
(Photo at Top by Anna Whitmire; Photo Above by Julie Horner)

Beau Byers turned in Tuesday's top round, slashing seven strokes off his Round One score with a 71 that included birdies on 1, 12 and 17. He'd finish as the 4A state runner-up individually, one stroke behind Academy's Whitten. Shaving five strokes off his opening round was Williams, who birdied 6, 17 and 18 for a 76, placing 10th individually. Coming in 11th was Jack Byers, who stayed consistent with identical rounds of 79, having birdied on 1, 3, 7 and 16 Monday. Also matching his first-round 80 was Ochoa in 14th, who birdied 1 and 10 Tuesday, and Gray (19th) took five strokes off his first effort with a 79 that included birdies on 8, 12, 13 and 14. Golfing individually, Lucas Atkins placed 39th with a 97 on Monday and a 10-stroke improvement on Tuesday for an 87.

Full boys' team results included:
1. ARTESIA - 623
2. Albuquerque Academy - 634
3. Los Alamos - 637
4. Lovington - 651
5. Goddard - 678
6. Belen - 689
7. Deming - 696
8. Aztec - 736

PICTURED: The Lady Bulldog golf team poses for a photo Tuesday in Socorro following their seventh-place finish at the Class 4A State Girls' Golf Tournament.
(Photo by Anna Whitmire)

The Lady Bulldogs, meanwhile, couldn't keep pace with the tournament's top six, five of whom could also not keep pace with Albuquerque Academy. The Lady Chargers won the 4A girls' championship going away with a two-day total of 667, 47 strokes under runner-up Lovington's 714. The victory marked Academy's sixth consecutive girls' title.

The Artesia girls were consistent on the tourney, finishing with a 405 Monday and a 408 Tuesday for a two-day 813. Coming in 23rd overall with identical rounds of 96 was junior Danyela Munoz, while classmate Karli Horner shaved off a stroke Tuesday with a 103 and 102 to finish 29th. Seniors Hayli Greenwood (102-104), Ashton Craft (104-109) and Sophie Elsing (110-106) came in 32nd, 36th and 40th, respectively.

Full girls' team results included:
1. Albuquerque Academy - 667
2. Lovington - 714
3. St. Pius - 736
4. Kirtland Central - 747
5. Goddard - 751
6. Los Alamos - 765
7. ARTESIA - 813
8. Deming - 830

(Photos by Anna Whitmire)

BULLDOG BASEBALL

PICTURED: Charlie Campbell, left, and Jack Byers leap skyward to celebrate Campbell's walk-off ground ball Thursday, May 14, as Jett Whitmire (16) and Daelon Pacheco (9) move in to join the victory party.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

Tied 2-2 going into the bottom of the seventh, the Bulldog baseball team had two options: winning or extra innings.

They'd already gone one at-bat scoreless with St. Pius reliever Nathaniel Miera as they prepared to send the bottom third of their order to the plate. But with a lineup as strong as Artesia's, there's no such thing as a safe section for opposing pitchers. There were also no safe assumptions as far as the strike zone was concerned in Thursday's Class 4A State Quarterfinal between the top-ranked 'Dogs and the No. 9 Sartans. But junior third-baseman Elijah Carrasco showed discipline at the plate to lead off the final half-inning of regulation, earning a base on balls that put the winning run on the paths.

As Miera notched a strikeout to give Pius one away, Carrasco's pinch runner, Logan Rodriguez, proceeded to steal second before taking third on a wild pitch. And with the game-winner 90 feet away, senior Charlie Campbell knew he had to make contact. With a 2-1 count, Campbell sent a long chopper toward Sartan shortstop Diego Trujillo. The ball bounced just prior to reaching the St. Pius junior, and Trujillo went to his knee to field it before firing home. But with Rodriguez's speed, there was no chance. The freshman slid across the plate well ahead of the ball, and the Diamond 'Dogs exploded onto the field, gathering Rodriguez and Campbell into a celebration that flowed from first base back to the dugout.

Bullet dodged. One step closer to the title game for the defending 4A state champs.

PICTURED: Logan Rodriguez slides safely across home plate in the bottom of the seventh for the game-winning run.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

Senior ace Jack Byers didn't give up much on the mound in the quarterfinal at the Jennifer Riordan Spark Kindness Sports Complex (JRSKSC) in Albuquerque, but Pius made the most of five hits in two early at-bats. After going down in order in the top of the first, the Sartans got a leadoff double into the gap in right-center from clean-up batter Nicholas Casco in the top of two. Following a K, he'd come home from second on a ground-ball single to left by Zain Unis. Unis would end up as the second out in a strikeout sandwich for Byers when he was gunned down by catcher Brant Usherwood while attempting to steal third. But the seal had been broken, and St. Pius would add a second run in the third when Kaiden Swanson -- aboard with a leadoff triple to deep right -- scored on a Joaquin Aragon RBI base hit.

That 2-0 lead would hold through four-and-a-half for the Sartans. The Bulldogs had runners in scoring position in the second, third and fourth innings but would leave all stranded -- including the bases loaded in the third and fourth -- as they struggled to find their rhythm against St. Pius sophomore starter Hunter Jiron. But the bottom of the fifth would finally bring the two-out rally Artesia had been seeking. First-baseman Daelon Pacheco led off that at-bat with a base hit to right-center, and an out later, his pinch runner -- Kai Greathouse -- would move to second on a single up the middle by Usherwood. A second strikeout threatened to derail the 'Dogs' threat, but Diego Morales came through in the clutch, belting a base knock to right to bring Greathouse home from second and send Usherwood's courtesy runner -- Rodriguez -- to third. Rodriguez subsequently crossed on a Pius throwing error to knot the game.

Artesia again left two on the pond, including one at third, in the bottom of six before earning their walk-off win in the seventh. Byers and his defense, meanwhile, held the Sartans scoreless through their final four trips to the plate, with the senior pitcher striking out the side in the fifth, sixth and seventh. He'd finish with a whopping 16 total strikeouts on the evening, allowing just six hits and walking three.

The Bulldogs (21-8) now advance to the 4A state semifinals, where they'll take on No. 4 Deming at 7 p.m. today (Friday, May 15) on Field 1 at the JRSKSC. The Wildcats, who swept No. 13 Moriarty in their first-round series, topped No. 5 Albuquerque Academy 13-8 in the quarters to move on. Artesia and Deming met two months ago in the opening round of the Artesia Invitational March 19 at Brainard Park, with the 'Cats taking that outing by a final of 4-1. With plenty of baseball having been played between then and now, however, fans can bank on seeing two different teams take the field tonight. Competing in 4A's other semifinal at 1 p.m. will be No. 6 Hope Christian -- who upset No. 3 Santa Teresa 8-6 Thursday -- and No. 2 Goddard, who came from behind for a walk-off win over No. 10 Bloomfield, 4-3.

The winners of today's games will meet at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16, in the Class 4A State Championship at the University of New Mexico baseball field. Tickets to tonight's contest can be purchased by clicking here. 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 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: Jack Byers launches from the mound Thursday against St. Pius.
(Photo by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

STAT BOX

St. Pius 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2
Artesia 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 3

Artesia (21-8)
Batting: Jett Fuentes 0-2, 1-BB, 1-HP; Derrick Warren 0-3, 1-BB; Jack Byers 1-3, 1-HP; Daelon Pacheco 1-4; Jett Whitmire 0-2, 1-BB, 1-HP; Brant Usherwood 1-4; Elijah Carrasco 0-2, 2-BB; Diego Morales 1-3, 1-BB, 1-RBI; Charlie Campbell 0-4, 1-RBI
Pitching: Byers, sr.: 7-IP, 6-H, 2-R, 2-ER, 16-K, 3-BB
Team: 4-H, 0-E, 3-SB, 0-EBH, 2-RBI, 13-LOB

St. Pius (15-13)
Batting: Kaiden Swanson 2-3 (1-2B, 1-3B), 1-BB; Diego Trujillo 0-4; Joaquin Aragon 1-3, 1-RBI; Nicholas Casco 1-3 (1-2B); Hunter Jiron 0-3; Zain Unis 1-3, 1-RBI; Sean Taylor 1-3; Nolan Peyton 0-1, 2-BB; Christopher Aguilar 0-3
Pitching: Jiron, so.: 5-IP, 3-H, 2-R, 1-ER, 8-K, 5-BB; Nathaniel Miera, sr.: 1 1/3-IP, 1-H, 1-R, 1-ER, 2-K, 1-BB
Team: 6-H, 3-E, 0-SB, 3-EBH, 2-RBI, 6-LOB

LADY BULLDOG SOFTBALL

PICTURED: At top, Kayden Apodaca rounds the bases after giving Artesia a 2-0 lead with a bomb over the center-field fence in the third inning. Above, Apodaca is greeted at the plate by her teammates.
(Photos by Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

It's never easy taking on the same team a second time... never mind a third and a fourth. And with Lovington having played state spoiler to the Lady Bulldogs more times than they'd care to count over the past few years, it was a given that the top-ranked girls in orange would have their work cut out for them Thursday morning in a Class 4A State Quarterfinal against the No. 5 Lady Wildcats.

But although it took the Lady 'Dogs a bit to get going offensively in their opener at the Cleveland High School softball complex in Rio Rancho, once they did, they never let up. Behind a three-hit performance from Kayden Apodaca in the circle -- and spurred by a two-run homer from the senior in the top of the third -- the Artesia girls logged a 6-0 shutout win over the 'Cats to advance to the state semifinals.

Apodaca and her defense held Lovington at bay Thursday despite the Wildcats putting runners in scoring position in all but two of their trips to the plate. Leslie Corral led off the bottom of the first with a single and took second and third on a wild pitch and passed ball, but a pair of ground outs and a K left her standing. Apodaca forced out Lovington's lead runner in the second on an attempted sacrifice bunt. Lady 'Cats also reached second in the fourth and sixth innings on a two-base error and a walk and a passed ball, but they too would be stranded. And a leadoff double by Braelyn Hernandez during the 'Cats' final chance in the bottom of seven was erased by a ground out back to Apodaca, a liner to Janae Molina in center, and a strikeout looking.

Artesia, meanwhile, left runners on the bases in their first two at-bats as well. But with one away and Danyela Munoz -- who reached on a leadoff walk -- standing at third, Apodaca would finally end the scoring drought on one swing, launching one over the center-field fence to make it 2-0 Lady Bulldogs. Two more would score in the fourth when Brooklyn Fuentes and A'dyn Levario -- on as a hit batsman and with a line-drive single up the middle -- crossed on an error and an RBI base hit from Isabel Cruz. The Lady 'Dogs made it 5-0 in the sixth when Katrin Marquez singled in Munoz following the latter's two-out triple, and the Artesia girls rounded out the final in the top of seven when Fuentes beat out a bunt single and came home on another RBI base knock from Cruz.

Apodaca finished with just three hits and two walks allowed in her complete-game shutout, striking out six. Artesia was led at the plate by the senior pitcher, who went 2-3 with the two-run homer. Also going 2-3 with a triple was Munoz, and Jade Hammond and Cruz were both 2-4, the latter with two runs batted in.

The Lady 'Dogs (25-4) will now prepare for a semifinal showdown against second-ranked Aztec at noon today (Friday, May 15) on Field 4 at the Cleveland High complex. The Lady Tigers (21-5) defeated No. 3 Silver 11-4 in their Thursday quarterfinal to advance. The winner will move directly into the state championship, set for 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16, at the University of New Mexico softball field, with a 2 p.m. "if needed" game to follow. The loser will drop into a 2:30 p.m. bout against the victor of a 12 p.m. game between the winners of Silver-Goddard and Lovington-Kirtland Central for the right to move back into the championship.

Tickets for today's games can be purchased by clicking here. 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

Artesia 0 0 2 2 0 1 1 6
Lovington 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Artesia (25-4)
Batting: Danyela Munoz 2-3 (1-3B), 1-BB, 1-HP; Katrin Marquez 1-5, 1-RBI; Kayden Apodaca 2-3 (1-HR), 1-BB, 2-RBI; Jade Hammond 2-4; Jenna Whitmire 0-4; Brooklyn Fuentes 1-3, 1-HP; A'dyn Levario 1-3, 1-HP; Janae Molina 0-4; Isabel Cruz 2-4, 2-RBI
Pitching: Apodaca, sr.: 7-IP, 3-H, 0-R, 0-ER, 6-K, 2-BB
Team: 11-H, 1-E, 0-SB, 2-EBH, 5-RBI, 11-LOB

Lovington (16-13)
Batting: Leslie Corral 1-3; Delilah Ruiz 0-3; Zemarie Ellis 0-3; Johanna Ochoa 0-2, 1-BB; Zoe Blackwill 1-3; Braelyn Hernandez 1-3 (1-2B); Zoey Ellis 0-1, 1-BB; Baylee Garcia 0-3; Jezarae Quiroga 0-2; Andrea Hernandez 0-1; Ivory Lopez 0-1
Pitching: Quiroga, 8th: 7-IP, 11-H, 6-R, 5-ER, 4-K, 2-BB
Team: 3-H, 4-E, 0-SB, 1-EBH, 0-RBI, 6-LOB

AHS TRACK AND FIELD

PICTURED: The Artesia High School track and field teams pose for a photo Thursday before department for the Class 4A State Meet in Albuquerque.
(Photo by Dani Kuykendall)

The 2026 District 4-AAAA Champion Bulldog and Lady Bulldog track and field teams began competition this morning at the Class 4A State Meet in Albuquerque. Following is a list of state qualifiers with their top marks.

• Boys' 100-Meter Dash
- Noah Beardsley, 11.10
• Boys' 200M Dash
- Marcos Ornelas, 22.43
- Noah Beardsley, 22.85
- Fabian Moya, 23.40
• Boys' 400M Dash
- Ulises Montanez, 51.04
• Boys' 800M Run
- Aden Garcia, 2:07.79
• Boys' 3,200M Run
- Hector Maldonado, 11:34.76
• Boys' 110M Hurdles
- Tootie McNeil, 14.75
- Marcos Ornelas, 14.82
• Boys' 300M Hurdles
- Tootie McNeil, 38.75
• Boys' 400M Relay
- Artesia "A", 42.93
• Boys' 800M Relay
- Artesia "A", 1:30.73
• Boys' 1,600 Medley Relay
- Artesia "A", 3:41.71
• Boys' 1,600M Relay
- Artesia "A", 3:23.41
• Boys' 3,200M Relay
- Artesia "A", 8:32.89
• Boys' Shot Put
- Marco Soto, 53'3.5"
- Derek Lopez, 51'1"
• Boys' Discus
- Marco Soto, 135'3"
- Derek Lopez, 133'8"
• Boys' Javelin
- Jayden Leyva, 192'6"
- Jett Whitmire, 180'4"
- Cael Houghtaling, 176'10"
- Brant Usherwood, 172'2"
• Boys' High Jump
- Cael Houghtaling, 6'2"
- Ulises Montanez, 6'2"
• Boys' Long Jump
- Dylan Quiroz, 21'5"
- Cael Houghtaling, 21'4.75"
- Moises Corza, 21'
• Boys' Triple Jump
- Cael Houghtaling, 44'5"
- Dylan Quiroz, 44'5"
• Boys' Pole Vault
- Colt Moziejko, 13'
• Girls' 200M Dash
- Gabriela Aguilar, 27.18
• Girls' 400M Dash
- Kaylee Berdoza, 1:04.11
• Girls' 100M Hurdles
- Ellie McGaughy, 16.22
- Kaidence Hnulik, 18.47
• GIrls' 300M Hurdles
- Kaidence Hnulik, 51.23
• Girls' 400M Relay
- Artesia "A", 51.43
• Girls' 800M Relay
- Artesia "A", 1:50.83
• Girls' 1,600M Relay
- Artesia "A", 4:13.54
• Girls' 3,200M Relay
- Artesia "A", 12:06.34
• Girls' Shot Put
- Harper Murray, 38'3.5"
- Brooklynne Ivans, 37'10"
• Girls' Pole Vault
- Ellie McGaughy, 11'
• Girls' Discus
- Peyton Barela, 109'7.5"
- Harper Murray, 91'2"
• Girls' High Jump
- Elena Melendez, 4'10"
• Girls' Long Jump
- Alani Escareno, 15'1"
• Girls' Triple Jump
- Quinley Murray, 31'7"
• Girls' Javelin
- Jenna Whitmire, 140'4"
- Gracen Kuykendall, 116'1"

To purchase tickets for Friday's action at the Class 4A State Meet, click here. To purchase tickets for Saturday, click here. 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). 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.

SPORTS TICKETING

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

Bulldog Baseball
Class 4A State Semifinals
vs. #4 Deming
7 p.m. Friday, May 15
Jennifer Riordan Spark Kindness Sports Complex - Field 1
Albuquerque
Click here to purchase

Lady Bulldog Softball
Class 4A State Semifinals
vs. #2 Aztec
12 p.m. Friday, May 15
Cleveland High School Softball Complex - Field 4
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