Cavegirl Softball Entertains Centennial Hawks

By Don Eskins

Cavegirl softball opens up 2026 play at home for the first time on Friday afternoon, March 20, against the always tough Centennial Hawks. Game times are set for 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at Cavegirl Park.

The Cavegirls will enter the twi-night doubleheader with a 2-2 record. The Hawks are currently 7-1 on the year. Their most notable win came via a 7-6 victory over Las Cruces. Their only loss, an 11-7 decision to the Mayfield Trojans.

The Cavegirls will try to rebound off back-to-back losses to Mayfield, 15-8, and Las Cruces, 14-4, during last weekend's, March 20-21, Las Cruces Invitational. CHS opened the tourney with victories over the Albuquerque High School Bulldogs, 4-3, and the Sandia Matadors, 4-0.

Relatively young this season, CHS's roster contains just one senior, outfielder, third baseman Makayla Chester. Along with Chester, six juniors, four sophomores, and four freshmen will take the field for the Cavegirls in 2026.

Through four games, CHS's pitching staff has been anchored by freshmen Brooklyn Clark and Emory Bland and junior Katrina Ortega.                 

Cavegirls Go 2-2 at LC

Cavegirls 4, Albuquerque High 3: Tied up at 3-3 in the top of the sixth inning, Carlsbad High pushed a run across the plate in the bottom half of the frame, then held on to down Albuquerque High 4-3. CHS got extra base hits—doubles—from Makayla Chester, Allyson Madrid, and Kendra Ortega on their way to picking up the win in their season inaugural. On the mound for the victory was freshman Brooklyn Cook.

Cavegirls 4, Sandia 0: Carlsbad High's Emory Bland and Katrina Ortega teamed up to toss a two-hit shutout against the Sandia Matadors en route to a 4-0 victory. The win lifted the Cavegirls' record to a perfect 2-0. Swinging the biggest bat for CHS was Makayla Chester. The CHS senior went 2-3 with two RBIs. Picking up the win was Cook.

Carlsbad 8, Mayfield 15: CHS jumped out in front of the Mayfield Trojans 2-1 in the bottom of the third inning. Unfortunately, in doing so, they awakened a sleeping giant. The Lady Trojans rallied to score 14 runs during the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to upend CHS 15-8.

Although dropping their first outing of 2026, CHS out-hit the Trojans 11-10. Picking up multiple hits, two each, for the Cavegirls were Daisha Nieto, 2-3, Emory Bland, 2-3, Makayla Chester, 2-4, and Brooklyn Cook, who went yard for CHS's first home run of the year, 2-5. Saddled with the loss was Katrina Ortega.

Cavegirls 4, Las Cruces 14: CHS gave up six first inning runs to the Las Cruces Bulldawgs on their way to a 14-4 loss. However, CHS did trade punches—or hits—with the Dawgs as each team collected 10. Eight Cavegirl errors played a key role in the loss. Overall, only six of Las Cruces' runs were earned.

Tops at the plate for the Cavegirls were Katrina Ortega, who went 3-3, along with Anya Rentner, who went 2-3 with a home run. Marisela Reyes also went 2-3. Absorbing the loss was Emory Bland. 

LC Invite Box Scores:Game 1: March 13AHS      1          0          0          0          1          1          0          3CHS      3          0          0          0          0          1          0          4Leaders: Brooklyn Cook, 1-4, R, 2B; Katrina Ortega, 1-3, R; Marisela Reyes, 1-2; Addilyn Smith, 1-1; Makayla Chester, 1-3, 2RBI, 2B; Allyson Madrid, 1-4, R, RBI, 2B; Kendra Ortega, 1-3, R, 2B; WP Brooklyn Cook, 4.1 in-4H-2R-0ER-4BB-6Ks; Katrina Ortega, 2.2 in-1H-1R-0ER-2BB-8Ks. (MaxPreps Stats)

Game 2: March 13SHS      0          0          0          0          0          0          0          0CHS      0          0          0          1          0          2          1          4Leaders: Brooklyn Cook, 1-4, RBI; Katrina Ortega, 1-3, RBI; Addilyn Smith, 1-1, R; Makayla Chester, 2-3, 2RBI; Kendra Ortega, 1-3, R; Emory Bland, 1-3, 2R: WP Emory Bland, 4.1 in-2H-0R-0ER-1BB-6K; Katrina Ortega, 2.2 in-0H-R-0ER-0BB-3K. (MaxPreps Stats)

Game 3: March 14MHS    0          0          1          2          5          7          0          15CHS      0          0          2          0          3          3          0          8Leaders: Brooklyn Cook, 2-5, 2R, RBI, HR; Katrina Ortega, 1-1, 2R; Marisela Reyes, 1-2, RBI; Makayla Chester, 2-4, 2R, RBI; Daisha Nieta, 2-3, R, 2RBI; Amaris Martinez, 1-2, RBI; Emory Bland, 2-3, R: LP Katrina Ortega, 5.1 in-8H-11R-9ER-4BB-9K; Brooklyn Cook, .2in-4H-4R-4ER-4BB-1K. (MaxPreps Stats)

Game 4: March 14CHS      0          2          0          0          2          4LCHS    6          2          2          2          2          14Leaders: Brooklyn Cook, 1-3, RBI; Katrina Ortega, 3-3, 2B; Marisela Reyes, 2-3, R; Makayla Chester, 1-3, R; Allyson Madrid, 1-2; Gracee Mecham, 0-1, RBI; Serenity Medrano, 0-3, R; Anya Rentner, 2-3, R, 2RBI, HR: LP Emory Bland, 1.1 in-2H-8R-6ER-2BB-2K; Katrina Ortega, 3.2in-2H-6R-0ER-3BB-3K. (MaxPreps Stats)