JT Keith
The No. 1-ranked Artesia Bulldogs swept Lovington 10-0 and 15-1 in the opening round of the 2026 Nusenda Credit Union State 4A Baseball Championships on Friday and Saturday at Brainard Park.
“That is a tough one,” Jackson Bickel said. “You’re playing a team you’ve already beaten by a pretty significant margin (55-8) and trying to get up for a game. We had to tell the boys we’re playing for each other, get after it and attack the game our way. First, we have to respect the game; if we don’t, it’s going to come back and get us.”
Next up is the No. 9 seed St. Pius X Sartans. The teams meet on Thursday, May 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the Jennifer Riordan Spark Kindness Sports Complex.
“This is what we’ve prepared for,” said Bickel, the Artesia coach. “We’ve prepared for this tournament and everything it brings. It’s high energy. It’s a new gear. All of these teams have gotten better, and they’re hungry for their moment. They’re ready to execute when the time comes.”
Bickel said this is what the Bulldogs have wanted all year and believes his team is ready. The way Artesia has played lately shows the Bulldogs can win in a variety of ways.
“I’m pretty excited to see our execution against the rest of the state,” Bickel said.
Bickel said the Sartans have consistently reached the semifinals or beyond over the past 10 years, and their experience makes them a tough draw.
He said St. Pius’ tournament history means Artesia will have to be sharp, and he’ll lean on scouting reports to figure out the best way to attack the Sartans.
Bickel said he told the team it has to execute the little things — no walks, no errors, and no popups — and keep the focus on playing as a unit.
Bickel said Jack Byers pitched a perfect game Friday and was one hit shy of the cycle at the plate.
“I think Jack had the pitch to hit a home run,” Bickel said. “Instead of swinging, he let the runner steal the bag. The rule is: If the runner has the bag, don’t swing. Let the runner have the bag and swing at the next pitch.”
“I think it was the best pitch of the entire night that Jack took so his teammate could steal the base,” he said. “I’m sure if he had swung at it, he would have hit for the cycle.”
Bickel said it was another example of Byers’ teamwork and the Bulldogs’ chemistry. If one part of the lineup isn’t producing, another part picks it up. He said the goal is for every out to be productive.
One of the team’s strengths in a three-game series is its pitching staff, led by Byers, with Daelon Pacheco, Charlie Campbell, Elijah Carrasco and Diego Morales behind him.
“I like our team and how they compete,” Bickel said. “Eight of our seniors have prior experience and will know how to handle things. Diego Morales has been in the tournament three years straight. He threw in the state championship as a sophomore and a junior, and now as a senior. That’s huge to have in your back pocket.”