Cavegirl Softball Hosts State Tourney 1st Round

By Don Eskins

The Class 5A state softball tournament will officially get underway on Friday, May 9, in Carlsbad.

CHS, as this year’s fourth seed, has been selected to host the first Round of the New Mexico “Big Dance.” But this year, the first Round will look much different.

There will be three games on Friday. Game 1, which will take place at 3 p.m., will see the fifth-seeded Mayfield Trojans taking on the 12th-seeded Sandia Matadors. In Game 2, scheduled for 5 p.m., the fourth-seeded Carlsbad Cavegirls will face off against the 13th-seeded Hobbs Eagles.

The losers of the first two games will be eliminated from further play in the state tournament. The winners move on to Game 3.

Game 3, set to get underway at 7 p.m., will feature the winners of Game 1 and Game 2. The victor in this game will move on to the winners’ side of the state tournament bracket for play on Thursday, May 15, in Albuquerque.

The loser will also advance. They’ll be slotted in the losers’ bracket for a Thursday matchup on May 15, also. The tournament will run through Saturday, May 17.

While the format may be different, the site couldn’t be better for the Cavegirls, who will get to play at home and in front of their fans. All games will take place at Cavegirl Park.

Cavegirls vs Hobbs

Carlsbad’s first game in the New Mexico Big Dance will be against a very familiar opponent, the Hobbs Eagles. As a matter of fact, it will mark the sixth time the two schools have faced off this year.

Overall, the Cavegirls, 20-6 on the season and ranked seventh in Class 5A softball, posted a 4-1 record against the Eagles. Hobbs, 13-12 in 2025, is ranked 15th. Since losing an 11-10 game to the Eagles on March 29 in extra innings, Carlsbad has reeled off 14 straight wins, four of them against Hobbs.

Although Carlsbad has dominated the Eagles this year, Cavegirl head coach Brian Santo said that his Cavegirls won’t be taking Hobbs lightly.

“Obviously, if you play a team enough times in a season, they get harder to beat. Because the teams become so familiar with each other, anything can happen,” said Santo. “But this time, we’ll be meeting them in the state tournament. They have a lot to play for, as do we. But it’s the time of the year our kids have been working for all season, and they’re ready to play.”

With a victory over Hobbs more than likely, they’ll take on the fifth-seeded Mayfield Trojans. The Trojans, 19-6 overall, have been ranked third in Class 5A softball. However, the Sandia Matadors, 15-11 and ranked 14th, might have something to say about that.

Cavegirl Leaders

At the plate, CHS will be led by Kalion Fuentes. Fuentes, a senior, closed out the 2025 season with a .446 batting average. She also had 46 RBIs and 12 home runs.

Also swinging big sticks will be Faith Rivera, .425; Makayla Chester, .382; Parris Weldon, .364; and Allyson Madrid, .355.

Leading the way for the Cavegirls inside the circle will be Aubrey Hernandez, 8-2, with an ERA of 1.43; Kalion Fuentes, 7-4, with an ERA of 2.04; and Katrina Ortega, 5-2, with an ERA of 3.66.

Defensive Lineup: 1. Catcher, Faith Rivera, 2. First Base, Kendra Ortega, 3. Second Base, Parris Weldon, 4. Shortstop, Katrina Ortega, 5. Third Base, Aubrey Hernandez, 6. Left Field, Makayla Chester, 7. Center Field, Vianka Villa, and 8. Right Field, Allyson Madrid.

Leading Hitters: 1. Kalion Fuentes, .446; 2. Faith Rivera, .425; 3. Makayla Chester, 382; 4. Parris Weldon, .364; 5. Allyson Madrid, 355; 6. Aubrey Hernandez, 317; 7. Katrina Ortega, .306; 8. Veronica Villa, .288, and 9. Kendra Ortega, .270. (50-plus at-bats)

Home Runs: Kalion Fuentes, 12; Faith Rivera, six; Aubrey Hernandez and Allyson Madrid, four; Makayla Chester and Parris Weldon, two; RBIs: Kalion Fuentes, 46; Faith Rivera, 37; Allyson Madrid, 27; and Makayla Chester, 22.

Pitching Staff:

1. Aubrey Hernandez, 8-2, ERA 1.43; 2. Kalion Fuentes, 7-4, ERA 2.04; 3. Katrina Ortega, 5-2, ERA 3.66; and B. Cook, 0-0, ERA 6.00.