In a thrilling quarterfinal showdown at Cleveland High School, top-seeded Mayfield proved why they're the team to beat in Class 5A, rallying past No. 5 Cleveland with a dramatic four-run bottom of the sixth inning. The Trojans (27-2) showed championship grit, overcoming the Storm on their home turf in a back-and-forth battle that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The power display was electric, with Jayleen Ponce, Ausaundra Roberto, and Ariana Lujan all launching home runs to fuel the comeback. It's the kind of explosive offense that makes Mayfield a nightmare for any opponent—and a team that fans love to watch and rep with Trojans gear.
Next up for Mayfield is a semifinal clash with No. 10 Las Cruces at noon Friday, back at Cleveland High School. Don't let the Bulldawgs' seed fool you: Las Cruces (17-12) has been the tournament's Cinderella story, knocking off the No. 2, 6, and 7 seeds already. They'll be hungry after being swept by Mayfield in the regular season—expect a fierce battle.
Cleveland, meanwhile, faces a tough road through the elimination bracket, starting with No. 2 Alamogordo at 9:30 a.m. Friday. The Storm need three straight wins to reach Saturday's championship. Elsewhere in 5A, Centennial ended Los Lunas' season 11-1, and Alamogordo topped Organ Mountain 14-8.
In another must-watch semifinal, it's No. 1 Artesia (25-4) vs. No. 2 Aztec (21-5) at noon Friday. Artesia's Kayden Apodaca dominated with a home run and a pitching shutout in a 6-0 win over Lovington, while Aztec's Kayci Phillips went deep in an 11-4 victory over Silver.
Over in 3A, top seed West Las Vegas is rolling behind superstar sophomore Malie Satete, who went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs in a 5-0 win over Dexter. Last season's New Mexico Gatorade Player of the Year—as a freshman—also struck out 14 in the shutout. Now they face defending state champion Cobre in a championship rematch at noon Friday at UNM Softball Field.
And in 1A/2A, No. 1 Loving is chasing its 22nd blue trophy and fourth straight title, taking on No. 3 Hozho Academy—a team that won three elimination games in a row to reach the championship series. First pitch is noon Friday at UNM, with an if-necessary game at 2 p.m.
From power hitters to pitching aces, this state tournament has it all. Whether you're cheering for the top seeds or the underdogs, make sure you're geared up in your favorite team's colors for every thrilling pitch.