Prep Teams Eye Postseason as District Races Wrap Up
As the high school baseball and softball regular seasons wind down in San Juan County, several teams are making final pushes toward the postseason. From Class 5A powers in Farmington to small-school contenders, local squads are closing out district play and positioning for state tournament bids with only a few games left on the schedule.
Class 5A: Farmington and Piedra Vista Battle Tough Districts
In Class 5A baseball, the Farmington Scorpions (15-8 overall) have endured an up-and-down district campaign. Farmington sits at 2-5 in District 2-5A play after a gauntlet of games against Albuquerque-area powers. They snapped a mid-season skid with a rivalry win over Piedra Vista and recently split a series with Cleveland. The Scorpions have one district game remaining, hosting Cibola in a finale that could boost their state seeding. Despite currently being in sixth place, Farmington’s strong overall record and No. 11 state ranking keep them in the mix for an at-large state tournament berth.
Across town, the Piedra Vista Panthers (15-9) are likewise navigating a brutal 5A district slate. The defending state runners-up are 3-5 in district (fourth place), but have impressive wins over Volcano Vista and Cibola in recent weeks. Piedra Vista fell 6-3 to district leader Cleveland on April 25, dropping their record to 15-9. The Panthers will close out the regular season with a home game against Rio Rancho. With a top-10 state ranking and a pedigree of postseason success, Piedra Vista is looking to lock up a favorable seed and enter the state tournament battle-tested.
On the softball side, Piedra Vista’s softball squad has been a bright spot. The Lady Panthers (16-7-1) are 6-2 in district play, currently second behind powerhouse Cidola. They recently routed Cleveland 15-3 to extend a win streak, but an earlier loss to Volcano Vista kept them just shy of the district crown. With senior leadership and a potent lineup, Piedra Vista has clinched a state berth and could make a deep run. Farmington’s softball team, meanwhile, has struggled for consistency. The Scorpions sit at 12-11-1 overall (2-6 district) after dropping four of their last five games. A morale-boosting 11-0 victory over Cleveland on April 22 snapped a three-game losing streak. Farmington will likely need an at-large bid for state, and a strong showing in their finale against top district leader Cibola which could help. Despite a fourth-place district finish, the Scorpions’ competitive schedule and recent flashes of strong play give them hope of extending their season.
Class 4A: Bobcats and Tigers Leading, Broncos Charging
In Class 4A baseball, the Bloomfield Bobcats have emerged as the team to beat. Bloomfield boasts a 19-5 overall record and an 8-1 mark in District 1-4A, clinching the district title. The Bobcats have won four straight games, including a key 11-7 road win at Miyamura on April 24 to secure first place. Senior pitching and timely hitting have been Bloomfield’s formula heading into a district finale at Aztec. That showdown with the rival Aztec Tigers is largely for pride and state seeding, as Aztec (11-14, 6-3) sits third in district despite a late surge. The Tigers caught fire with a four-game win streak in mid-April and bumped their district record to 6-3 before an 8-5 loss to Kirtland Central on April 24 halted their momentum. Aztec’s offense has been hot, averaging over 10 runs in those four wins, and they’ll aim to upset Bloomfield to improve their playoff resume.
Kirtland Central’s baseball team is also firmly in the mix. The Broncos are 12-13 overall and 6-3 in district, tied with Aztec for second. Kirtland handed Aztec that crucial defeat behind a strong pitching outing, giving the Broncos a season sweep of the Tigers. Winners of five of their last seven, Kirtland Central has turned around a 1-4 start in district and carries momentum into their final games. All signs point to Bloomfield, Kirtland, and Aztec all earning state bids, with final standings determining seeding. The Shiprock Chieftains, meanwhile, have had a rebuilding year. Shiprock is just 7-15 overall and winless (0-9) in district play, languishing at the bottom of 1-4A. They’ve been officially eliminated from the playoff race, but a young Chieftains roster gained valuable experience against the district’s top teams. Shiprock will look to play spoiler in their finale and build toward next season.
In 4A softball, the Aztec Tigers have dominated District 1-4A. Aztec is 16-11 overall and an outstanding 9-1 in district, clinching the 1-4A championship. The Lady Tigers ripped off 11 consecutive wins during district play, with an explosive offense that often ended games via mercy rule. That streak was finally snapped on April 24 in a 7-0 loss to second-place Kirtland Central – Aztec’s lone district blemish. Even with that setback, Aztec enters the state tournament as a top contender in 4A, armed with experience from last year’s state runner-up finish. Kirtland Central’s softball team (13-12, 6-3) is peaking at the right time as well. The Broncos handed Aztec that shutout loss behind ace pitcher Cierra Joe, and they’ve won three in a row. Kirtland sits in third place in district, just behind Gallup, but has likely done enough to secure a state berth. The Broncos close with a rivalry game at Gallup that could determine who gets the higher seed.
For Bloomfield and Shiprock softball, 2025 has been a challenging season. Bloomfield is just 6-17 (2-8 district), a far cry from last year’s 20-win campaign. The Lady Bobcats have shown flashes – an 18-3 win over Miyamura was a highlight – but a lack of pitching depth and defensive miscues have them in fifth place. Over in Shiprock, the Lady Chieftains are 6-16 (1-8) and will miss the postseason. Still, Shiprock played spoiler with a mid-season upset of Bloomfield and nearly knocked off Kirtland in a 9-8 extra-inning thriller. Both Bloomfield and Shiprock will wrap up their schedules this week and hope to send their seniors out with a victory.
Small Schools: Navajo Prep Soaring, Newcomb Building
At the 3A level, Navajo Prep has quietly put together strong campaigns in both baseball and softball. The Navajo Prep baseball team finished 9-13 overall but a perfect 4-0 in District 1-3A, securing the district championship. The Eagles clinched the title with back-to-back wins over Wingate and Thoreau, riding a seven-game win streak in district play. Senior outfielder KJ Johnson has been a star, leading 3A with a .636 batting average and 29 runs scored. Navajo Prep will host the District 1-3A tournament and is assured a state playoff spot as the district’s top seed. On the softball diamond, Navajo Prep’s girls have been even more dominant. The Lady Eagles are 14-5 and ran the table at 6-0 in district. They outscored district opponents 88-15 and are on a six-game winning streak entering the week. With the program’s first unbeaten district season in hand, the Eagles are poised to make noise in the 3A state tournament.
For the Newcomb Skyhawks, a younger program, the focus is on growth. Newcomb’s baseball team has faced an uphill battle in 3A and has been eliminated from contention. However, the Newcomb softball squad provided some late-season highlights. The Lady Skyhawks went 5-16 overall (2-4 in district), good for fourth place in District 1-3A. On April 24, Newcomb’s girls exploded for a season-high 19 runs in a 19-9 rout of Thoreau. That win, their fifth of the year, snapped a lengthy losing skid. Newcomb will wrap up the regular season with a trip to Zuni, aiming to finish on a two-game win streak. While neither Newcomb team will make state, both have shown improvement and gained confidence that they hope to carry into next season.
Postseason Outlook
With district tournaments and make-up games concluding this week, local teams are turning their attention to the state brackets. District champions like Bloomfield baseball, Aztec softball, and Navajo Prep in 3A have automatic bids in hand. Several others are all but assured at-large berths – Piedra Vista’s baseball and softball teams, plus Kirtland Central and likely Aztec baseball, should hear their names called on Selection Sunday based on their winning records and rankings. For bubble teams like Farmington (both baseball and softball), every result is under the microscope. The Scorpions may need favorable outcomes around the state, but a strong showing in their finales will bolster their case. Key matchups remaining include Bloomfield vs. Aztec baseball on Saturday for district bragging rights and a Piedra Vista–Rio Rancho doubleheader in Farmington that will serve as a final tune-up for two 5A contenders. By early next week, the regular season will be complete and the NMAA state tournament brackets will be set – and a host of San Juan County teams expect to be firmly in the championship chase.
