Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Logan softball team’s first postseason trip in six years was short in duration, with an 18-8 first-round loss to eventual state runner-up Mesilla Valley Christian on Wednesday.
The Lady Longhorns lost despite the heroics of Marilyn Moreno, who went 3-for-3 with a triple and two home runs. She drove in four runs.
“Marilyn is a phenomenal player,” Logan coach Dustin Robertson said. “She’s first-team all-state in my opinion, and no one will convince me otherwise.”
Also for Logan, Jadyn Garcia hit a three-run triple and scored two runs. Presley Griffitt went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Camryn Cantrell was 1-for-3 with an RBI, and Hailee Robertson went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
“The girls played well,” Robertson said. “One or two baserunning errors hurt us, and several fielding errors hurt our chances.
“Zaiyana (Grijalva) gave up some hits but pitched very good. As an eighth-grader, performing the way she has all season, is pretty unheard of.”
Logan (8-8), the 12th-seed in the Class 1A/2A tournament, tied for first place in its district and earned its first postseason berth since 2019.
“I couldn’t be any prouder of the girls,” Robertson said. “From where we came from when the program started back up two seasons ago (1-15 record) to making the state tournament, I think they can hold their heads up high.”
The Lady Longhorns lose four seniors — Robertson, Cantrell, Bella Coronado and Brookel Smith.
“This program will have their fingerprints all over it for a long time,” coach Robertson said. “However, the remaining girls are great players, and now that they got a taste, I think they’re wanting more.”
Mesilla Valley advanced to the finals, including ousting top-seeded Tularosa, before losing to second-seeded Loving 16-0 in the final on Friday.