Cavegirls Split with Hobbs, Finish Second

By Don Eskins

After dropping two games to the Hobbs Eagles, 4-1 and 6-2 on Tuesday, April 21, the Carlsbad Cavegirls stormed back to sweep the Clovis Wildcats, 15-0 and 14-4 on Friday, April 24, and the Roswell Coyotes 6-4 and 11-9 on Tuesday, April 28, to climb back into the race for the 2026 District 4/5A crown.

The four wins pushed the Cavegirls’ overall record up to 13-11 and 8-2 in District 4/5A.

Following an unexpected surprise from the Roswell Coyotes, a 10-5 upset victory over Hobbs, on Friday, April 24, the Cavegirls trailed the Eagles, 9-1, by just one game, as the two teams got set to square off in Carlsbad on Wednesday, April 29, to determine just who would wear this year’s District 4/5A crown.

“After back-to-back losses to Hobbs, our girls weren’t about to lie down and give up; they’re fighters,” said Cavegirl head coach Brian Santo. “They felt confident that they could beat Hobbs, especially on our turf and in their house.

“But to get a meaningful shot at Hobbs for the district title, they understood that they’d have to sweep Clovis and Roswell,” he said. “That’s exactly what they did. Now, only one game behind Hobbs, with a sweep over the Eagles here in Cavegirl Park, our girls can repeat as District champions.”

Update: Battling Hobbs tough, the Cavegirls downed the Eagles 6-1 in the first game of their scheduled doubleheader on Wednesday, April 29.

However, after pulling even with Hobbs at 9-2 in conference play, they dropped the nightcap 5-2. With the split, they finished second in the race for this year’s conference crown.

Due to deadlines, the results of the twin bill will be posted in the May 8 edition of the Carlsbad Local.

NMAA’s Selection Sunday

On Sunday, May 3, the NMAA will release its brackets for the 2026 Class 5A Softball state tournament. The Cavegirls closed out their season at 14-2 on the year and were the District 4/5A runner-up with a conference record of 9-3.

Cavegirl fans should go to the NMAA website to find out if the Cavegirls will be playing in the first round of the 2026 state tournament, set to get underway on Friday and Saturday, May 8-9.

Chester, Martinez Go Yard in RHS Win

Absent for most of the season, in CHS’s offensive arsenal has been the long ball. However, that wasn’t the case in the Cavegirls’ 11-9 victory in the second of two games against Roswell on Tuesday, April 28.

In the clash, Cavegirl Makayla Chester smacked two round-trippers, and Amaris Martinez added another to propel CHS to the win. Also having big days at the plate, with multiple hits, were Brooklyn Cook, 2-5, Katrina Ortega, 4-5, Daisha Nieto, 2-3, Serenity Medrano, 2-3, and Anya Rentner, 2-5. Picking up the win was Cavegirl hurler Emory Bland.

Swinging Carlsbad’s biggest bats in CHS’s 6-4 win over Roswell, in the series opener, were Marisela Reyes, Makayla Chester, and Amaris Martinez. All three Cavegirls went 2-3. In the circle for the win was Cavegirl Katrina Ortega.

Cavegirls Crunch Clovis 15-0, 14-4

Outscored 29-4 by Carlsbad during a twi-night doubleheader played in the Cavern City on Friday, April 24, the Clovis Lady Wildcats offered little resistance, dropping both games, 15-0 and 14-4.

The Cavegirls lashed out 30 hits—11 for extra bases—en route to the Clovis sweep.

Leading hitters in game 1 (15-0) with multiple hits were: Brooklyn Cook, 3-3; Katrina Ortega, 2-3; Addyson Vallejos, 3-3; Allyson Madrid, 2-2; and Amaris Martinez, 2-2. Grabbing the win was Cavegirl Brooklyn Cook.

Leaders: Hitters in game 2 (14-4) with multi hits were: Katrina Ortega, 3-3; Makayla Chester, 2-3; Addyson Vallejos, 2-4; Daisha Nieto, 3-3; and Anya Rentner, 3-3. Credited for the win was Cavegirl Emory Bland.