Cavegirl Softball Falls to Alamo Tigers 4-1

kmarksteiner0
20 minutes ago
2 min read

By Don Eskins

A 4-1 loss to the second-seeded 21-5 Alamogordo Tigers on Friday, May 8, during opening round play of the NMAA Class 5A State Softball Tournament, brought an abrupt end to the 2026 season for the Carlsbad Cavegirls.

With the loss, CHS closed out the year with a record of 14-13. In conference play, as the District 4/5A runner-up, they were 9-3.

The Cavegirls, seeded 15th, jumped out in front of the Tigers 1-0 at the top of the first inning.

But Alamo answered with three runs in the bottom half of the frame and another in the second to go up 4-1, a lead they wouldn’t give up.

To the Cavegirls’ credit, they refused to throw in the towel against the heavily favored Cats. With junior Katrina Ortega inside the circle, CHS shut out the Alamogordo girls over the final five innings of play before falling 4-1.

Earlier this year, on March 28, the Tigers downed CHS 6-0.

Despite the loss, Cavegirl head coach Brian Santo was more than pleased with the effort he got from his young charges.

“Although heavy underdogs, our girls didn’t back off at all; they kept fighting,” said Santo. “Throughout 2026, our girls experienced a lot of ups and downs, but we finished strong, and that’s something we can build on. Our coaching staff was very proud of the effort our kids put out in Alamogordo.”

Ortega, inside the circle for six innings, gave up four runs—two earned—on five hits. She had no walks and struck out 10.

At the plate, CHS accumulated just four hits. Junior Anya Rentner, who enjoyed a 2-for-3 afternoon, led all Carlsbad hitters.

“We look for Anya to do some big things for us next year,” said Santo. “She’s improved a great deal this season, especially with her bat.”

Also reaching base safely were sophomore Marisella Reyes, 1-for-2, and freshman Brooklyn Cook, 1-for-4. Scoring Carlsbad’s lone run was Amaris Martinez.

During CHS’s upcoming 2027 campaign, they’ll be without the services of Makayla Chester, the only senior on this year’s Cavegirl roster.

State Playoffs- May 8, 2026

CHS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

AHS 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 4

Leaders: Brooklyn Cook, 1-4; Marisela Reyes, 1-2, BB, RBI; Amaris Martinez, 0-2, BB, R; Anya Rentner, 2-3; Maykayla Chester, 0-0, BB, HBP; Emory Bland, 0-1, BB; LP: Katrina Ortega, 6in-5H-4R-2ER-0BB-10Ks. (MaxPreps Stats)