Piedra Vista senior J.W. Bayless saved his best baseball for the biggest stage of the season. This Weeks Graphic Designer Athletes of the Week
By Wally D
Photos by Chuck Cook dustdevil505 Photography
After leading the Panthers through an unforgettable postseason run and helping deliver the 2026 Class 5A state championship, Bayless has been named the San Juan County Athlete of the Week.
Bayless was the driving force behind Piedra Vista’s championship season both on the mound and at the plate as the Panthers captured the Class 5A state title with a dominant 10-0 victory over Cleveland in the championship game at Lobo Field in Albuquerque. The title run became even more impressive considering Piedra Vista defeated both the No. 1 team in the state, Rio Rancho, and the No. 2 team in the state, Cleveland, on the way to the blue trophy.
Following the championship victory, Piedra Vista climbed to No. 39 in the national MaxPreps rankings, putting the Panthers among the elite high school baseball programs in the country.
The Panthers finished the season with a 27-4 overall record and earned the No. 1 ranking in New Mexico.
But the defining moment of the postseason belonged to Bayless.
In the state quarterfinals against Las Cruces, Piedra Vista trailed 6-5 entering the bottom of the seventh inning with its season hanging by a thread. Bayless stepped to the plate and delivered one of the biggest hits in recent San Juan County baseball history — a walk-off two-run single that gave the Panthers a thrilling 7-6 victory and sent them into the state semifinals.
Bayless was sensational from start to finish in that game. He went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate while also throwing a complete game on the mound. The senior left-hander struck out seven batters and allowed only one earned run while battling through a pressure-packed elimination game.
Piedra Vista head coach Jeff Kiraly said those clutch performances are nothing new for Bayless.
“Well, I mean, that’s just who he is,” Kiraly said. “He’s been like that since he was in eighth grade when I got him. He’s just a clutch player. He’s very focused at the plate. He’s very capable at the plate. And then on the mound, that’s where he just feels at home.”
Kiraly went on to call Bayless the best pitcher he has personally coached.
“He throws three or four pitches for a strike, commands the zones, always ahead in the count,” Kiraly said. “And if something starts to waver or go the wrong way, he corrects it immediately, and that’s why he’s so good.”
It was the type of performance championship seasons are built around.
And it was far from the only time Bayless delivered in 2026.
Throughout the season, Bayless established himself as one of the premier pitchers in New Mexico baseball. He finished the season with an outstanding 0.731 ERA while consistently shutting down some of the best offenses in Class 5A.
Kiraly said Bayless’ ability to command multiple pitches at a high level made him extremely difficult for opposing hitters to face.
“Well, first of all, he’s left-handed, which is huge for him,” Kiraly said. “His velocity is very good for high school. He throws in the mid to upper 80s, and he commands three or four pitches, and that’s unheard of.”
Kiraly said even advanced pitchers struggle to do what Bayless consistently accomplished.
“There’s guys in college and the big leagues that don’t command that many pitches,” Kiraly said. “He can throw three or four pitches for a strike at any time. He changes speeds really well. He’s just a next-level pitcher at the high school level.”
Bayless produced clutch performances throughout the entire season.
Earlier in district play against Cibola, Bayless threw a complete-game shutout while also driving in key runs offensively during a 4-0 victory that helped keep the Panthers near the top of the standings.
Late in the regular season against rival Farmington at Ricketts Park, Bayless dominated again, striking out 12 batters in a complete-game shutout while also helping lead the offense in a crucial district victory.
The Panthers then carried that momentum into Albuquerque for the state tournament.
After surviving Las Cruces in dramatic fashion, Piedra Vista faced top-seeded Rio Rancho in the semifinals and earned a hard-fought 4-2 victory to advance to the championship game.
That win proved Piedra Vista belonged among the state’s elite teams.
Then came the championship performance.
Against Cleveland, the Panthers exploded offensively in a 10-0 mercy-rule victory to secure the Class 5A title. Bayless once again contributed offensively as Piedra Vista completed one of the most impressive postseason runs in school history.
But beyond the statistics and big moments, Kiraly said Bayless’ leadership and work ethic helped define the Panthers throughout the season.
“He’s not a real loud guy. He’s quiet, but his presence commands respect,” Kiraly said. “He works hard at practice every day. He’s always on time. He puts in the work. He’s a great teammate. The kids flock to him.”
Kiraly said Bayless earned the respect of the entire team because of the example he set daily.
“He’s our best player, so he’s got a lot of respect from his teammates because they see the work he puts in and the results he gets from doing that,” Kiraly said. “And he’s easy to like.”
What separated Bayless all season wasn’t just the statistics. It was his ability to rise to the occasion in the biggest moments.
Whether it was striking out hitters in pressure situations, delivering timely RBIs, pitching complete games, or producing a walk-off hit with the season on the line, Bayless consistently came through when the Panthers needed him most.
Congratulations to our San Juan County Sports Athlete of the Week, JW Bayless
San Juan County Sports Athlete of the Week is proudly sponsored by The Graphic Designer — your local source for custom embroidery, screen printing, promotional products, business branding, signs, banners, and creative design services. Conveniently located in Farmington, The Graphic Designer helps businesses, schools, teams, and organizations stand out with professional quality and personalized service.
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