The quality of pitchers, and how they are handled, will affect state baseball tourney
Class 6A state tourney is wide open despite La Cueva’s success
The time has come for high school baseball teams to arm themselves.
Classes 4A-6A open the first weekend of the state tournament today, and as always, coaches are racking their brains as they try to map out their pitching options for these often dicey bestof-three first-round series.
And there will be aces aplenty on display, particularly in 6A, with Division I signees Mitchell Parker of Manzano (Tennessee), Chase Silseth of Piedra Vista (Tennessee) and Jack Murano of Cleveland (UNM) among those who’ll pitch Game 1 today or Game 2 on Saturday morning.
Parity was the theme in February on the eve of the season, and that continues to be the primary theme into May — even as it pertains to the No. 1 seed. Nationally ranked La Cueva (22-2) has had enough close skirmishes to perhaps be slightly more vulnerable than a year ago en route to its state championship.
“My take is that there are some teams that have some good arms at the top of their rotation that give them a chance,” said Rusty Evans, head coach of 6A’s No. 2-seeded Centennial Hawks (22-4), who are to host Albuquerque High (11-12) this weekend. “There is not that one or two runaway team(s).”
One such pitcher, Steven Barboa of Atrisco Heritage, has the Jags at least marginally hopeful that they might be able to create a stir. The problem? They face La Cueva in the first round and the Bears are on a 22-game winning streak.
“Our guys are feeling confident,” Atrisco Heritage coach Chris Trujillo said. “We’re excited to get out there and show people what we’re capable
of being.”
The Jaguars (13-11) faced La Cueva twice in the regular season. La Cueva led the first game 7-0 but gave all of that lead up before eventually winning 10-7 in the metro quarterfinals. The Bears also blasted Atrisco Heritage 20-0 a couple of weeks later.
There are two other all-metro first-round series in 6A, with No. 10 Eldorado (14-10) at No. 7 Rio Rancho (16-10) and No. 9 Rio Grande (16-8) at eighth-seeded Cleveland (13-10).
Eldorado and the Rams split two games in the regular season.
“Pitching will be a big deal,” Eagles coach Reid Figiel said. “If and when we get to a Game 3, whatever you’ve got left in the tank will be huge.”
That governing principle could apply to almost any of the eight first-round series, including Storm-Ravens.
“It’s very balanced,” Cleveland coach Shane Shallenberger said. The Storm, which finished fourth in rugged District 1-6A, lost in the state final last year to La Cueva but did have a 2-1 road win at Centennial last week. “We’ve got some experience, and also have some young players that haven’t been there. Hopefully our experience overcomes (that).”
Sandia (13-11) and Manzano (12-12) from 2-6A both are traveling, with the 14th-seeded Matadors, a dangerous double-digit seed whose offensive prowess could test the pitching depth of third-seeded Piedra Vista in Farmington, and the 13th-seeded Monarchs, who were shut out twice at No. 4 Clovis during district play last month, facing the Wildcats (21-5) yet again.
Piedra Vista (19-7) went undefeated in 1-6A. Four of the Panthers’ seven losses came to teams outside of New Mexico.
No. 6 Volcano Vista (15-9) is the highest-seeded team from the metro area after La Cueva. Seven of its nine losses were to No. 1 La Cueva, No. 2 Centennial and No. 3 Piedra Vista. The Hawks are home to No. 11 Hobbs (13-12).
CLASS 5A: St. Pius, Belen and Albuquerque Academy have first-round home series. The No. 7 Chargers (17-9) were state runners-up a year ago to Goddard, which has the No. 1 seed with first-year coach Gilbert Alvarado.
“It’s really anybody’s shot,” Chargers coach Andy Williams said.
The Sartans are playing as well as anyone in 5A and thumped Belen and Academy by a combined score of 23-2 last week. Also, St. Pius (169) endured the most difficult nondistrict schedule of any 5A tourney team.
“If not the second favorite, they are the favorite,” Belen first-year coach Tom Wisneski said of St. Pius.
The Eagles were one of two teams in 5A (Goddard being the other) that won 20 games. Belen played 12 of the teams in the 16-team field.
“We know it’s a long road,” said Wisneski. “My guys haven’t been in this position in quite some time.”
St. Pius hosts to Kirtland Central in the first round. Academy is home to Santa Teresa, and Belen welcomes Aztec.
CLASS 4A: Hope Christian, which fell in the state final last May to Portales, has the No. 1 seed. The Huskies (20-6) — winners of seven straight since losing two at home to Portales on April 13 — host Navajo Prep at Sandia. Four of Hope’s losses came to 5A or 6A teams. The other two came to district rival Portales, which lost two out of three last weekend to New Mexico Military to give Hope the 4-4A crown and the overall No. 1 seed.
The Rams are seeded fourth and are in the same half of the draw as Hope.
Bernalillo, the No. 6 seed, is home to No. 11 East Mountain. They are in the bottom half with No. 2 Silver and No. 3 Robertson.