Upsets are shaking up the Class 5A State Softball Tournament, and the excitement is only building as we head into the quarterfinals. Las Cruces High’s Zaysha Hawkins delivered in the clutch, driving in two runs in the top of the fifth inning on Saturday to lead No. 10 Las Cruces to a 3-1 road win over No. 2 Alamogordo. This victory capped off a wild first weekend where the lower seeds made their presence felt, proving that anything can happen when the stakes are high.
Only No. 1 Mayfield remains among the top-four seeds heading into Thursday’s winner’s bracket quarterfinals, which kick off at 9:30 a.m. at Cleveland High School. The Trojans will face a familiar challenge, as their opponent—No. 5 seed—happens to call Cleveland home, adding an extra layer of intensity to the matchup. Most of the first weekend’s games wrapped up on Friday, setting the stage for a dramatic double-elimination showdown.
In another winner’s bracket clash, the Bulldawgs (16-12) will take on No. 6 Piedra Vista. Las Cruces had been swept by Alamogordo in three games during the regular season, but they flipped the script when it mattered most, showing the resilience that makes tournament time so thrilling. Meanwhile, elimination games on Thursday at Cleveland, starting at noon, feature No. 4 Los Lunas against No. 9 Centennial and No. 2 Alamogordo vs. No. 3 Organ Mountain—two powerhouse teams that find themselves on the brink of an early exit. Alamogordo edged Organ Mountain in two of three regular-season meetings, but this time, the stakes are far higher.
Over in Artesia, the top-seeded Bulldogs rolled through their pod with an 8-2 win over No. 9 Goddard. After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the second, Artesia answered with a four-run explosion in the bottom half and sealed the deal with a three-run sixth inning. The Bulldogs (24-4) now face fellow District 4-4A rival Lovington at Cleveland High School on Thursday at 9:30 a.m., promising a rematch full of competitive fire.
No. 5 Lovington also made waves, knocking off No. 4 St. Pius 9-6 on the road Saturday. The Wildcats earned a date with Artesia in the winner’s bracket, but St. Pius’s junior Aubri Hooee stood out with a 2-for-4 effort, including a double and two RBIs. The Sartans now head to the loser’s bracket to face Goddard at noon Thursday at Cleveland.
In Class 4A action, No. 3 Silver dominated No. 11 Belen in a 20-0 mercy-rule win that lasted just three innings. The Colts scored three runs in each of the first two frames before erupting for 14 in the third. Silver junior catcher Vanesa Lucero was unstoppable, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, and four RBIs, while pitcher Azariah Madrid allowed just one hit and faced only 10 batters. The Colts (21-7) now await either No. 2 Aztec at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Cleveland.
No. 2 Aztec edged No. 7 Kirtland Central in a nail-biter, winning 1-0 in eight innings. Ayasha Yellow drove in the game’s only run in the bottom of the eighth, sending the Tigers (20-5) past their District 1-4A rivals. Thursday’s winner’s bracket matchup between No. 2 Aztec and No. 3 Silver promises to be a classic, with both teams hungry to keep their championship dreams alive.