Eight Cavegirls Named to All-District 4/5A Team

By Don Eskins

Eight Carlsbad High School Cavegirls have been named to the 2026 All-District 4/5A Softball Team.

Leading the Cavern City’s barrage of talented players named to this year’s team was junior Katrina Ortega.

Ortega, named to the All-District First Team as a pitcher, was also selected as the District 4/5A Player of the Year.

As CHS’s number one hurler, Ortega was 5-2 during conference play. While inside the circle, she registered a minuscule ERA of just 1.02, allowing 23 runs (only six earned) on 19 hits and 23 walks with 53 strikeouts.

At the plate, in 38 at-bats, she collected 19 hits to post a whopping batting average of .500.

“Katrina had a lot on her plate this season. Thrust into a position of both a player and leader on a young and inexperienced team, she flourished at both,” said Cavegirl head coach Brian Santo. “Much of the success we experienced this year was due to her efforts on the field.

“No doubt about it, she earned and was very deserving of this year’s District 4/5A Player of the Year honor,” said the Cavegirl head coach.

Also selected along with Ortega to the All-District First Team were: (with district batting averages) Infielders: Mari Reyes, .400, and Anya Rentner, .450; Outfielders: Amaris Martinez, .600, and Brooklyn Cook, .528, and Designated Hitter: Addyson Vallejos, .556. Selected to the Second Team were Infielder: Alexis Nieto, .389, and Outfielder: Makayla Chester, .553.

“This past season was a tough one for us,” said Santo. “But these kids, as young and inexperienced as they were, never backed away from any of the challenges they faced.”

After a 5-9 start on the season, the Cavegirls rallied to win nine of their last 13 to close out the year at 14-13. Their final two losses came via the District 4/5A champion Hobbs Eagles, 5-2, and the second-ranked and second-seeded Alamogordo Tigers, 4-1, during the opening round of the state playoffs.

As the District 4/5A runner-up, they closed out 2026 with a 9-3 record, including a 6-1, 2-5 split with the conference champion Eagles in their final two regular-season games.

“Our girls really came a long way this year. Even though we dropped the final two games of the season to Hobbs and Alamogordo, both were quality teams and highly rated,” said the Cavegirl coach. “Despite being underdogs against both teams, our girls pushed them to the end.

“Just how far these girls came this year has been reflected in the number of them that received postseason All-District honors,” said Santo. “Myself, and our staff, couldn’t be more proud of them all.”

Also drawing praise from Santo for their efforts in the classroom were Makayla

Chester, Anya Renter, Katrina Ortega, Gracee Mecham, Alexis Nieto, and Allyson Madrid. All six Cavegirls were named to the All District 4/5A All Academic Team.

Did You Know Carlsbad? On the year, Katrina Ortega posted a record of 7-8. Her ERA of 2.42 ranked as the lowest Class 5A ERA in New Mexico during 2026. She also registered 136 strikeouts, the second most in the Land of Enchantment for hurlers in Class 5A softball.