Cavegirls, Alamo Clash in State Playoff Opener

By Don Eskins

As seeds went out for this year’s Class 5A State Softball Tournament on Sunday, May 3, a lot of Cavegirl fans might have been holding their breath as they awaited the answer to a very good question.

That question was, “Would the Cavegirls, having posted a 14-12 record, get a berth in this year’s Big Dance?”

Well, the answer to that question was yes!

The Cavegirls received a 15th seed for the tourney and will travel to Alamogordo on Friday, May 8, to take on the second-seeded Lady Tigers. Game time has been set for 4 p.m.

But, as big as the news was, Cavegirl head coach Brian Santo, who never doubted his charges’ chances of getting into this year’s state playoffs, wasn’t surprised at all that his girls got an invitation to participate in the New Mexico Big Dance.

“Our kids have battled really hard and overcome a lot of adversity this year,” said the Cavegirl skipper. “I’d say, considering the number of players we graduated last year and the overall youth of this year’s team, they had a pretty good season.

“I feel like our girls deserved this opportunity to compete in the state tournament. I also think, with solid play, they’re capable of going deep into the playoffs,” he said. “Getting our younger players to the state tournament is also big for us. All but one of them, senior Makayla Chester, will be back next year.”

In drawing the Alamogordo Tigers, CHS will have a stiff test on Friday. The Cats, runner-up behind the Mayfield Trojans in District 3/5A, closed out the year at 21-5.

Both teams have already met once this year. On March 28, the Tigers upended the Cavegirls 6-0. However, three of the runs given up by CHS, who out-hit Alamo 7-6, were unearned.

With a victory over the Tigers, the Cavegirls would take on the winner of the seventh-seeded Albuquerque High Bulldogs vs. the 10th-seeded Las Cruces Bulldawgs on Saturday, May 9, at 11 a.m., in Alamogordo.

Should the Cavegirls pick up two wins in Alamo, they’ll move on to Round II of the state tournament, set to take place in Rio Rancho, on Thursday, May 14.

The Match Up

Here’s how the Cavegirls and Tigers will take the field for opening round play of the state tournament:

CHS Leading Hitters: (50-plus plate appearances) Makayla Chester, .457; Katrina Ortega, .447; Brooklyn Cook, .434; Marisela Reyes, .418; Anya Rentner, .383; Allyson Madrid, .327; and Daisha Nieto, .318. Team average, .372. (35 PA, Addyson Vallejos, .515; 30 PA, Amaris Martinez, .435).

CHS Pitching: Katrina Ortega, 7-7, ERA 2.43; Emory Bland, 5-5, ERA 3.07, and Brooklyn Cook, 2-0, ERA 3.50.

AHS Leading Hitters: Amani Cosom, .569; Daviana Gonzales, .440; Aislynn Ortiz, .382; Elis Roman, .364; Hailey Evans, .340; and Khloe Lunar, .333. Team Batting Average, .337.

AHS Pitching: Khloe Lunar, 9-5. ERA 2.98; Jaelyn Vela, 2-0, ERA 2.00; and Raegan Rose, 0-0, ERA 6.22. (MaxPreps Stats)