Logan girls get first playoff spot since 2019

The Logan girls softball team on Sunday landed its first postseason bid since 2019 by earning a 12th-seed in this week’s Class 1A/2A tournament.

The Lady Longhorns (8-7) will play fifth-seeded Mesilla Valley Christian (18-4) in a play-in game at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho.

“I’m so excited!” Logan coach Dustin Robertson stated in a text. “I’m just so excited for the girls. They have worked so hard. I just can’t explain how proud of them I am.”

Tularosa (20-4) is the top seed in the double-elimination tournament.

The last time the Lady Longhorns made the postseason was in 2019. The Lady Longhorns won its opener against McCurdy, but were eliminated by consecutive losses to Eunice and Santa Rosa.

The COVID-19 pandemic was rough for the Lady Longhorns program, as it went for two years without playing a game.

The resumption of the program in 2022 led to a 1-20 record, then 7-15 last season.

The Lady Longhorns earned a playoff spot this year by tying for the top spot in its district and winning its last six games, including a doubleheader sweep over district foe Clayton last Tuesday by scores of 19-4 and 22-5.

Logan and Santa Rosa each sported 7-2 record in the district, but the Lady Lions (11-10) took home the district crown because it beat Logan in two of three games this season.

Against the Yellowjackets in the first game last week, Kara Bibbs won the game via the 15-run mercy rule when she hit an RBI ground-rule double over the centerfield fence.

Camryn Cantrell walked four times, scored three runs and two in two for the Lady Longhorns. Jadyn Garcia walked four times, scored three runs and drove in a run. Hailee Robertson walked three times, scored twice and drove in two runs.

In the second game, Logan pitcher Zaiyana Grijalva struck out five in three innings. She also hit a double, drove in three runs and scored twice.

Bella Coronado walked four times, drove in two runs and scored three times. Marilyn Moreno went 2-for-2 at the plate with a double and four RBI.

Logan hosted a doubleheader last Tuesday instead of a single game. A storm postponed the second game of a doubleheader at Clayton on May 3.