By JT Keith
El Rito Media Sports Editor

Artesia High School baseball coach Jackson Bickel wants to instill in his players what it means to wear the “A” on the front of their jerseys.

In his first year as head coach after serving as an assistant since 2018, Bickel wants to bring back the traditions of Artesia baseball.

Bickel has revived the original A on the team cap to what it was when former Bulldogs coach Dale Bohannon was in charge. Bickel said the goal is to value the history and tradition of playing for the Artesia Bulldogs.

“That A means something,” Bickel said. “We switched it back to bring more of a purpose to it. We are discussing what the name Bulldogs means on the front of the jersey. You win championships when you bring back the A to the jersey.”

Bickel said he wants his players to show that Artesia Bulldogs are fierce competitors – individuals who know how to compete and win in any sport they play.

“Our community expects us to compete in a class way,” Bickel said. “It is a privilege to wear that uniform. These players represent our values and principles and do things right.”

The Bulldogs (6-3) have won state championships in 1976, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1996 and 2000.

Bickel, 33, grew up in Farwell, Texas, and lived there until the oil wells dried up and his family moved. He graduated from Clayton High School in 2009 and spent 12 years in the Army National Guard (2008-2020) while attending Eastern New Mexico University.

The Bulldogs hosted the Artesia Invitational baseball tournament over the weekend and faced stiff competition from Deming, Roswell and Goddard.

Bickel noticed that Deming was ranked higher in Class 4A than Artesia.

“We saw that Deming was ranked ahead of us going into the tournament,” Bickel said. “We wanted to set a tone on those guys (Deming), letting them know that we are the top dog.”

The Bulldogs shut out Deming 10-0. Against Roswell, a Class 5A school, Artesia came back from a 4-0 deficit to win 5-4 and then blanked district rival Goddard, 10-0.

“My assistant coaches are a big key to our success,” Bickel said. “Our motto is next pitch; our coaches have helped instill that message.

Tony Jaramillo is a coach who does everything behind the scenes, Bickel said. “Gentry Doolittle is the pitching specialist and helps with the infielders. Elvis Acosta coaches the first basemen, and Robert Fernandez coaches the catchers. We have a full-scale operation with each coach doing their job to help us win.”