The Carlsbad Cavemen and Loving Falcons baseball teams lost in the second round of the state baseball tournament, leaving the Artesia Bulldogs as the lone Eddy County team still in the mix for a state title.
Carlsbad edged by Rio Rancho
Thursday in Albuquerque, the No. 2 seeded Rams defeated the Cavemen 6-5 to advance to the next round of the 5A state tournament.
Rookie head coach Mike McGaha finished the season with a 21-8 record as the Cavemen won the district title.
In an earlier interview, McGaha said the season had its difficulties.
More: Mike McGaha era for Carlsbad Cavemen baseball starts Thursday in El Paso
“But the players on this roster have been an absolute pleasure to be around. They have met my expectations and they are exceptional young men who will be positive members of society,” he said.
McGaha is losing some key seniors in Hunter Dowdy, Hazen Wright, Delmonico Granger and Fabian Hernandez.
Sophomore pitcher Eloy Lopez, junior infielder Aden Quintella and junior outfielder/pitcher Garrett Fuentes look to be team leaders for 2025.
Loving Falcons upset by lower seed
In Albuquerque, the No. 7 seeded Rehoboth Lynx broke a tie in the seventh inning defeating the Falcons 4-3.
Loving was the No. 2 seed in the tournament and had a first-round bye.
The Lynx face Loving’s District 2-4A rival, the Eunice Cardinals, in the semifinals.
The No. 6 Cardinals upset No. 3 Tularosa 12-4.
Artesia faces district nemesis in 4A semis
Jack Byers pitched a shutout and gave up two hits as the No. 5 Bulldogs upset No. 4 Albuquerque St. Pius X 4-0.
Jett Fuentes had an RBI single in the sixth inning as the Bulldogs broke a scoreless tie between Artesia and the Sartans.
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Diego Martinez had a two-run single and advanced to third on a St. Pius X error. Jesse Armendariz sealed the victory with an RBI.
At 1 p.m. Friday in Albuquerque, the Bulldogs face No. 1 Roswell Goddard in the 4A semifinals.
The Rockets blasted Bloomfield 9-4 as Goddard edged Artesia for the District 4-4A regular season title.
Cavegirls run as defending state champs ends
Carlsbad High School was eliminated from the state 5A softball tournament Thursday by two Las Cruces schools.
The No. 6 seed Cavegirls got into a hole early in the first game against No. 3 Las Cruces Centennial.
Carlsbad tried to dig out of it, Centennial held the Cavegirls in check winning 20-7.
The loss placed the Cavegirls on the consolation side of the bracket during the double elimination tournament.
The Mayfield Trojans, No. 7 seed, ended Carlsbad's season with a 10-5 victory.
Heading into the season, the Cavegirls were looking for a three peat as 5A state champions. Carlsbad won state titles in 2022 and 2023.
Loving softball defeats familiar foe advances to title game
Delayed by rain in Rio Rancho on Thursday morning, some games had to be moved some 12 miles north to Bernalillo.
No. 2 Loving was set to face No. 3 Estancia at 9 a.m. at Rio Rancho High School. The game was moved to the late afternoon as the second seed won 8-4.
Loving edged No. 1 Tularosa 3-2 in the second game of the A-AA playoffs Thursday.
Tularosa edged No. 5 Mesilla Valley Christian 11-8 advancing to the next round in the double elimination tournament.
Loving and the Wildcats squared off in the championship round in 2021. The Falcons won the state title last year and in 2022.
At 3 p.m. Friday in Rio Rancho, Loving could face Tularosa again as the Wildcats went to the consolation round.
Gallup derails Artesia softball to consolation bracket
The Bulldogs opened the 4A bracket Thursday with a 7-0 win over St. Pius X.
Madison Martinez pitched a four-hitter against the No. 4 Sartans.
In the Thursday afternoon game, the No. 1 seeded Bengals edged Artesia 6-2 as Kayden Apodaca gave up six hits, walked five and struck out four.
At 9 a.m. Friday in Rio Rancho, Artesia faces district foe Lovington in the second round of the consolation side.
The Wildcats defeated Bernalillo 7-2.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com .
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: State playoff update: Carlsbad and Loving baseball teams eliminated, Artesia advances
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