Scenes from Elementary Day at the Bulldog Bowl
Artesia fifth graders add color with 2nd mural on JJ Clarke paying homage to new Rec. Center and current Aquatic Center
Public art is near Eagle Draw Flood Channel
Children from Yucca Elementary School got a break from the classroom Monday as work started on a new mural dedicated to the new Artesia Recreation Center and the existing Artesia Aquatic Center.
The mural is a continuation of a community mural painted last summer that depicted life and the recreational uses of a major storm drainage system through Artesia.
Artesia artist Kirsten Mauritsen supervised the painting of the Eagle Draw Community Mural in 2025.
Monday she and some adult volunteers helped paint and supervise the fifth graders work on a continuation of the community mural located along JJ Clarke Drive
“I love it,” she said as kids were painting by numbers etched into brick wall by Mauritsen.
“I love seeing kids make public art and see something that’s going to be around for a while.”
Once complete, the mural pays homage to the new Artesia Recreation Center, which is set to open during the summer and the Artesia Aquatic Center.
Both are located near the corner of JJ Clarke Drive and Bowman Avenue.
District 1 Artesia City Councilor Raul Rodriguez was on hand watching his granddaughter Taylen Torrez paint.
“During the first part, she didn’t get notified to come and paint,” he said as the first mural was painted last summer when children were out of school.
“It helps the artist and gives them a sense of ownership they can take pride (in) as the drive by.”
Earlier this year, he said the City of Artesia set aside $40,000 to finish the community mural.
Mauritsen said the mural was sponsored by the City of Artesia and Artesia Clean and Beautiful.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 extension-2361.
Here are the latest crimes and arrests from the Artesia Police Department case files
April 22
GRAFFITI
9:13 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Centre Ave. in reference to graffiti.
SUSPICIOUS
9:35 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. 2nd St. in reference to a suspicious person.
BATTERY
10:23 am – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Bullock Ave. in reference t battery.
WELFARE
10:49 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.
ACCIDENT
11:12 am – Officer dispatched to N 7th St. and W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.
SUSPICIOUS
11:36 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to a suspicious person.
12:03 pm – Officer dispatched to 1800 block of W. Main St. in reference to a suspicious person.
DISTURBANCE
1:04 pm – Officer dispatched to 1800 block of W. Feather Ave. in reference to disturbance.
3:02 pm – Officer dispatched to 300 block of S. 1st St. in reference to disturbance.
WANTED
2:48 pm – Officer dispatched to 100 block of N. 15th St. in reference to a wanted subject.
WELFARE
4:40 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of S. 11th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.
ACCIDENT
4:46 pm – Officer dispatched to 300 block of W. Washington Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.
BURGLARY
8:05 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Clayton Ave. in reference to a burglary.
8:52 pm – Officer dispatched to 200 block of W. Bullock Ave. in reference to an auto burglary.
SUSPICIOUS
9:07 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. 2nd St. in reference to a suspicious person.
10:31 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of N. 13th St. in reference to a suspicious person.
April 23
WELFARE
12:28 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Cleveland Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.
THREATS
1:35 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of S. 1st St. in reference to threats.
WELFARE
7:44 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Cleveland Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.
8:53 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Quay Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.
11:24 am – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of Gilchrist in reference to the welfare of an adult.
ACCIDENT
12:42 pm- Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. 26th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.
WELFARE
2:16 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 24th St. and W. Mann Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.
SUSPICIOUS
4:26 pm -Officer dispatched to N. 26th ST. and W. Main St. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
WELFARE
7:04 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Cleveland Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.
April 24
Arrest
Jesse Allen Scott arrested for assault against a household member, resisting, evading, obstructing and officer.
Jose Cueto Nava arrested for failure to appear.
Jorge Flores Jr. arrested for reckless driving.
BURGALRY
12:08 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richardson Ave. in reference to a burglary.
SHOTS FIRED
5:14 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to shots fired in the area.
SUSPICIOUS
6:27 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Cleveland Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.
GRAFFITI
9:20 am – Officer dispatched to S. 33rd st. and W. Main St. in reference to graffiti.
12:05 pm – Officer dispatched to 1300 block of W. Merchant Ave. in reference to graffiti.
SUSPICIOUS
10:49 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Lolita Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.
ALARM
12:45 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Runyan Ave. in reference to a burglary alarm.
WELFARE
12:46 pm – Officer dispatched to 1600 block of W. Centre Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.
DISTURBANCE
2:27 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. 6th St. in reference to a neighborly disturbance.
GRAFFITI
3:26 pm -Officer dispatched to 200 block of Champ Clark Ave. in reference to graffiti.
WELFARE
5:22 pm – Officer dispatched to 130 block of W. Main St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.
April 27
Arrest
Gilbert R. Saiz arrested for aggravated battery vs household member with deadly weapon, resisting, evading, obstructing, and officer, leaving the scene of an accident with death or great bodily harm, criminal damage to property.
Kenneth Kline Knotts arrested for battery against a household member.
Eric Lee Lunsford arrested or municipal failure to pay.
DOMESTIC
10:54 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of W. Lolita Ave. in reference to physical domestic.
LARCENY
11:12 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Main St. in reference to larceny.
1:14 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of N. 10th St. in reference to larceny.
ACCIDENT
1:59 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.
2:41 pm – Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. 16th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.
THREATS
5:26 pm – Officer dispatched to 2000 block of W. Sears Ave. in reference to threats.
DOMESTIC
7:47 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 13th St. and W. Richey Ave. in reference to physical domestic.
7:51 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of S. 20th St. in reference to verbal domestic.
SHOTS FIRED
7:51 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 20th St. and W. Grand Ave. in reference to shots fired in the area.
DISTURBANCE
10:39 pm – Officer dispatched to 200 block o s w. Hermosa Dr. in reference to disorderly disturbance.
WELFARE
11:54 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Bullock Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.
April 28
Arrest
Jesus F. Salmon arrested for unlawful use of drivers license driving while suspended or revoked, speeding from 11 up to 15 mph over speed limit.
Kenneth Kline Knotts arrested for disorderly conduct.
Sunny V III Molina arrested for battery against a household member, criminal damage to property, affricated assault against a household member with a deadly weapon.
ACCIDENT
5:11 am – Officer dispatched to E. Logan And N. 1st St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.
WELFARE
8:57 am – Officer dispatched to S. 1st St. and E. Hermosa Dr. in reference to the welfare of an adult.
DISTURBANCE
11:40 am – Officer dispatched to S. 27th St. and W. Richardson Ave. in reference to disorderly disturbance.
WELFARE
1:08 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Clayton Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.
THREATS
1:25 pm – Officer dispatched to 400 block of W. Garst Ave. in reference to threats.
DISTURBANCE
2:56 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of W. Lolita Ave. in reference to disturbance.
ACCIDENT
3:35 pm – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Cannon Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.
DISTURBANCE
4:36 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 13th St. in reference to disorderly disturbance.
TRAIN DERAIL
4:34 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Washington Ave. and S. 1st St. in reference to a train derail.
WELFARE
9:10 pm – Officer dispatched to 200 block of N. 2nd St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.
SUSPICIOUS
10:21 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of N. 13th St. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
10:39 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of N. 8th St. in reference to a suspicious person.
ALARM
11:47 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of W. Bullock Ave. in reference to a burglary alarm.
April 29
Arrest
Joseph Estevan Olivos Jr. Arrested for driving while revoked, municipal failure to comply and failure to appear.
Nathan Ray Rivera arrested for aggravated battery vs household member inflicting great bodily harm, false imprisonment, contempt of court, failure to comply.
DOMESTIC
1:08 am – Officer dispatched to 300 block of S. 2nd St. in reference to physical domestic.
ALARM
1:16 am – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of N. 1st St. in reference to a burglary alarm.
WELFARE
1:34 am – Officer dispatched to 1300 block of S. 1st St. in reference to the welfare of a child.
WANTED
8:14 am – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of W. Richardson Ave. in reference to a wanted subject.
GRAFFITI
8:34 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Centre Ave. in reference to graffiti.
BURGLARY
8:35 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of W. Bush Ave. in reference to structure burglary.
UNWANTED
9:27 am – Officer dispatched to 600 block of S. 1st St. in reference to an unwanted subject.
SUSPICIOUS
10:03 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of S. 1st St. in reference to a suspicious person.
GRAFFITI
11:27 am – Officer dispatched to 600 block of W. Mahone Dr. in reference to graffiti.
4:29 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Clayton Ave. in reference to graffiti.
THREATS
12:09 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of Memorial Dr. in reference to threats.
HARASSMENT
5:58 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Grand Ave. in reference to harassment.
WANTED
8:00 pm – Officer dispatched to 300 block of S. 2nd St. in reference to a wanted subject.
RECKLESS
8:44 pm – Officer dispatched to 200 block of W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to a reckless vehicle.
DOMESTIC
10:54 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to a verbal domestic.
WELFARE
11:36 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Gilchrist Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.
Artesia Recreation Center Foundation seeks higher court’s overturn of EV lawsuit dismissal from lower court
Rules mandating electric vehicle chargers at new buildings were at the center of an appeal filed by an Artesia nonprofit.
The Artesia Recreation Center Foundation filed the appeal in the New Mexico Court of Appeals on March 9 hoping to overturn District Judge David Finger’s dismissal of the foundation’s lawsuit.
In dismissing the lawsuit on Feb. 5, Finger upheld the building codes in question, which were enacted in July 2024 to require all new buildings in the state include electric vehicle chargers in their parking facilities.
On April 9, the foundation issued a 21-page docketing statement to the court, outlining the reasons for its appeal and arguments that could be used at trial.
The initial suit and the appeal sought to overturn requirements put in place via new building codes enforced by New Mexico’s Construction Industries Division, a subsidiary of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department.
The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department (NMRLD) is a cabinet agency within the state’s administration tasked with regulating building codes and permitting. The head of the department is Superintendent Clay Bailey, who was appointed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
At issue are the construction costs for the upcoming Artesia Recreation Center, which the foundation argued were driven up by about $285,000 by the division’s adjusted code, including costs for chargers and the power needed to support them.
The center was expected to open this summer.
The number of chargers required is based on the size of the building and number of total parking spaces. Under the code, the Artesia Recreation Center was required to have 12 chargers installed – 5% of the planned 230 parking spots – and the power capacity to install 24 more in the future.
Meanwhile, the foundation and local officials in Artesia and Carlsbad argued that little demand existed for electric vehicles in rural southeast New Mexico and that requiring chargers at all new buildings in the state was problematic for developers throughout the region.
The appeal also contended the regulations were “vague” because they did not specify the exact equipment needed to comply and questioned the division’s authority to mandate the requirements via building codes without public input.
Imposing a state requirement for EV chargers, the appeal read, constituted a “taking” of the property, meaning the state was illegally occupying land the foundation argued it owned.
“All applicants suffer economic damages and a physical taking of their property to construction and commercial building in New Mexico because of the regulation,” read the foundation’s docketing statement.
Fifth Judicial District Judge David Finger on Feb. 5 ruled in a summary judgment that the state of New Mexico was within its authority to issue the codes and require chargers in parking spaces at commercial and industrial buildings – which the division is tasked with regulating.
Finger also ruled the foundation “lacked standing” to challenge the rules.
The recreation center project began in the summer of 2023 when the foundation was formed as a nonprofit to raise funds for the work, and before the EV rules went into effect July 30, 2024.
Donors for the recreation center project are: PY Foundation, Chase Foundation, TLC Foundation, Frank Yates Jr. Family Foundation, Western Bank, Royal Services, First American Bank and Devon Energy.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Oct. 29, 2024, and the final building permit application to the Construction Industries Division was filed Nov. 22, 2024, months after the rules took effect but without plans for EV chargers.
That’s why the state denied the initial building permit. Another application was filed to comply with the EV rules in December 2024, and the permit was issued Jan. 13, 2025.
“Plaintiff’s project thereafter proceeded to construction without interruption, citation, penalty or enforcement action by CID,” read Finger’s ruling. “The record reflects no regulatory impediment beyond the ordinary denial of the first, noncompliant submission.”
The rules also required new homes in New Mexico to host a power load capable of supporting electric vehicle chargers that could be installed in the future.
Carlsbad Mayor Rick Lopez said this would increase the cost of new homes by up to $5,000.
Lopez said the codes would impede the city’s attempts to build more affordable housing, which local leaders hoped could address a dire need for homes throughout southeast New Mexico as the area’s population swells along with booming oil and gas production.
He said housing is Carlsbad’s “top priority.”
The Artesia City Council voted unanimously on Aug. 13, 2024, to oppose the regulations, and the Carlsbad City Council followed suit Aug. 27 of that year.
“If we want growth, we have to have housing,” Lopez said. “You want to build a quality home, but when you have too many add-ons it takes away the affordability.”
Managing Editor Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.
Artesia school children paint part two of Eagle Draw Mural. Here are some pictures and some details.
Photos by Mike Smith, Artesia Daily Press
Fifth graders from Yucca Elementary School in Artesia took a break from class Monday to paint a second mural near Eagle Draw.
Fifth grade teacher Kelise Garrard was supervising her students late Monday morning.
“They’ve been excited today to be part of this. I think they’ve had a lot of fun,” she said.
Artesia artist Kirsten Mauritsen mixes up some paint Monday for Yucca Elementary School students.
Garrard said painting the mural near the soon to be opened Artesia Recreation Center and the Artesia Aquatic Center gives the kids a sense of ownership in the community.
More pictures and further details are coming later to this website and in Wednesday’s newspaper.
Daelyn Neel adds a painter’s touch to the new Eagle Draw Mural on Monday.
Meghan Mooney: Charter schools strengthen public education with a fresh perspective for possible changes
Across the country, charter schools have quietly emerged as a proven public-education model, delivering strong academic outcomes while operating with greater accountability and fewer resources. They represent a public-education model built on the premise that when granted flexibility and held responsible for results, students benefit and steadily rank at the top of educational outcomes. In regions like the Permian Basin—where workforce demand is growing faster than educational capacity—communities need flexible, accountable education models that align learning with real-world outcomes. Hobbs is not lacking in committed educators or families invested in public education; it is facing a shortage of options that meet diverse learning needs while preparing students for modern careers. Charter schools are bringing a fresh perspective to education that’s greatly needed and changing how modern education looks.
The top two public high schools in the nation are charter schools, according to the U.S. News & World Report 2025-2026 rankings. Twenty-four of the top one-hundred schools of all levels in the U.S. are charter schools. These statistics are startling given that charter schools serve only 7.6% of students in public schools, according to USA Facts, a nonpartisan nonprofit civic data-collection organization.
While serving similar demographics of low-income, English-language learners, and Special Education students, NM charters still outperform traditional district schools in reading, math, and science proficiency. New Mexico students in traditional public schools (TPS) received approximately $14,600 – $17,000 from the state per student in 2025 for grades K-12 with charter schools receiving only 70-90% of this public funding; these funds differ per school district throughout the state and fall far below the national average of $18,500 or more. Regardless of the difference in funding, New Mexico’s charter schools lead education with reading comprehension at 52% compared to 43% at TPS, math proficiency is 30% compared to 25% at TPS, and science is 44% compared to 35% at TPS. Considering a charter school on the New Mexico side of the Permian, students at Sidney Gutierrez Middle School in Roswell (authorized by the Roswell Independent School District) achieve proficiency in reading and math close to 70%, and these students are showing growth faster in both subjects than those in traditional public schools.
It’s not only the students and families of charter schools that are benefitting from this success but surrounding schools in the same school districts. It’s easy to understand this when the adage “Competition breeds excellence” is considered. Many students who graduate from charter high schools are the first in their families to receive a high school diploma, and whether they go onto higher education or enter the workforce immediately after high school, this new emphasis on success in education makes positive generational changes in their families.
Past studies in cities of different states across the nation demonstrate positive effects on test scores, attendance, and college readiness. With funding received from the Department of Education, the National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice (REACH) conducted a study that found indirect positive effects on students attending nearby TPS, drawing conclusions with a 2-4% increase in high school graduation rates, a 6% increase in math scores, and a 3% increase in reading scores for students across all socioeconomic backgrounds; these results become apparent when charter students represent about 5% of the education market and continue to increase until that share reaches 15%. “By understanding how charter schools affect student outcomes, education leaders can better design policies to serve the needs of students,” REACH stated. The closer proximity a charter school has to a traditional public school, the greater positive impact the charter school has on the TPS.
As the Souderton Charter School Collaborative of Pennsylvania states, “The core of the charter school model is the belief that public schools should be held accountable for student learning. In exchange for this accountability, charter schools have the responsibility to innovate and share what works with the broader public school system so that all students benefit.” Charter school educators’ duty to share what works with their fellow public school educators means that all in local education benefit from the curriculum and practices proven to work.
Charter schools are not private schools and do not select children based on their performance. Every student enrolled in a charter school represents a family that believes in public education with choice, innovative education, and a student-centered mindset. They operate within an independent system with more control over their curriculum and resources and less money than traditional public schools and consistently outperform. In New Mexico, charter schools serve students in both urban and rural areas, including minority or underserved populations.
The structure of a charter school is not to completely wipe the educational slate but to provide them with an environment with more sovereignty on choosing programs that help students learn most effectively. The New England educator who established the original concept of charter schools, Ray Budde, believed that empowered teachers with additional freedoms can achieve a much higher rate of student success. His idea for groups of teachers establishing contracts, or “charters,” with their local school board is to develop ideas and approaches that would benefit all students’ opportunities to improve individual outcomes and success in literacy, education, job choice, financial freedom, and family success across the nation. Charter schools represent one approach to shaping that future—offering communities a means to strengthen public education through accountability, innovation, and collaboration.
As technology engineer and developer of the modern personal computer Alan Kay stated, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Charter schools’ growing track record suggests that when thoughtfully integrated into local education systems, they provide a proven path to course-correct outcomes for future generations while reinforcing the shared goals of academic outcomes, workforce readiness, long-term community resilience, and elevating public education performance across school systems while preserving access and equity.
Meghan Mooney is community relations coordinator for Mewbourne Oil Company.
April groundbreaking starts the process moving for a new Eddy County Detention Center in Carlsbad. Here are some details.
Construction of Eddy County’s new jail complex got underway Tuesday, April 21, with a groundbreaking ceremony one official called “a milestone event.”
The new jail, which will replace the county’s current detention center in downtown Carlsbad, is being built across the street from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office on Corrales Road south of Carlsbad.
The $170 million project is expected to take three years to complete.
Participants in the groundbreaking included representatives of county government, the architectural firm that designed the new facility, and the construction firm hired to build it.
“This is milestone event that has been years in the making,” said Eddy County Manager Mike Gallagher. “There is great support for this day.”
The current Eddy County Detention Center, built in 1993, was designed to house around 70 inmates, said County Commissioner James “Bo” Bowen
“A lot has changed since 1993. We’re not the same place that we were in 1993,” Bowen said. “The jail needs to be out of the center of town.”
The new, 142,000-square-foot building will accommodate 400 to 800 prisoners, said detention center warden Billy Massingill.
The current jail could not expand in downtown Carlsbad due to continued growth and development in the heart of the community, Massingill said.
Commissioner Ernie Carlson said the need for a new jail has been discussed throughout the nearly eight years he has served on the county’s board of commissioners. He said the county needed to act as Carlsbad and Eddy County continue to grow.
“We’re doing the right thing,” Carlson said.
The project is being paid for through a combination of budgeted money from the Eddy County building fund and federal money.
Robert Maze of Albuquerque architectural firm Studio Southwest said a new jail needs to be well designed to meet the needs of a growing community and changes in technology.
With the drawings complete, Maze said, it was time to hand off the project to Bradbury Stamm Construction of Albuquerque.
“We’re here for the long term. We’re very happy to be here, said Cynthia Schulz, chief executive officer of Bradbury Stamm.
“This is a huge investment,” she said. “You should be proud. This is the right thing to do.”
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 extension-2361.
Artesia baseball team repeats as district champs
JT Keith
The Artesia baseball team walked off the Launch Pad on Thursday with the swagger of a champion, beating Goddard 3-1 to win a three-game series and claim its second straight District 4A-4 title.
The road back to the top was anything but smooth. Artesia dropped four straight early, including losses to Goddard (3-1) and Deming (4-1), two teams the Bulldogs could see again in the Class 4A state playoffs.
The Bulldogs were 7-7 through their first 14 games, then used a week off to get healthy as several basketball players returned to the diamond.
Artesia responded with a 10-game winning streak and closed the regular season against the state’s top-ranked team, Goddard, in a series that would decide the district championship.
Game 1 was moved up a day because of the weather, and Artesia sent ace Jack Byers to the mound on Wednesday.
Byers struck out 10 and did not allow an earned run. Goddard’s only run scored on an error. Artesia manufactured runs with small ball before Diego Morales, the Bulldogs’ hottest hitter, hit a home run to center field in a 4-1 win.
“The curveball and cutter were working really well for me,” Byers said.
That win gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 edge in the series heading into Thursday’s doubleheader at the Launch Pad.
In Game 2, Artesia faced Goddard ace Cameron Brown and countered with senior Daelon Pacheco. Pacheco went 3 1/3 innings and allowed four runs before Charlie Campbell IV relieved him and kept the Bulldogs within striking distance. Goddard held on for an 8-6 win to force a winner-take-all Game 3.
Artesia jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the finale. Morales started and threw 121 pitches over six innings, striking out eight and allowing no earned runs. Goddard starter Jadon Herrera allowed two earned runs on 88 pitches and struck out 10.
Goddard pushed across a run in the fourth to make it 2-1, but Artesia answered with an insurance run in the sixth and closed out the 3-1 win to repeat as District 4A-4 champions.
“We challenged the guys today that we are going to compete in every game,” second-year coach Jackson Bickel said. “Our goal is to win each inning. Our goal is to walk out of Goddard’s Stadium as district champs.”
jtkeith can be reached at 575-420-0061, or on X@JTKEITH1.
The Artesia boys baseball team are the No. 1 seed in the 4A tournament
The Artesia baseball team will enter the 2026 Nusenda Credit Union 4A Baseball Championships as the No. 1 seed. The team will play a district opponent they have beaten three times this season, the No. 16 seed Lovington Wildcats, at 6 p.m. Friday at Brainard Park, then at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Artesia (18-8), which won the District 4A-4 championship on Thursday by taking two games out of three from the Goddard Rockets, could face them again in the championship game as Goddard enters as the No. 2 seed.
The Bulldogs return eight seniors from a team that won it all last year. The win last year was the team’s first state championship since 2000. The team is led by University of Arizona commit Jack Byers. The pitching rotation is deep with Daelon Pacheco and Elijah Carrasco as frontline starters, and will bring in Charlie Campbell IV as a relief pitcher.
The team is aggressive on the base paths and plays an exciting, aggressive style of stealing bases and taking the extra base when possible. One of the hottest hitters on the team is Diego Morales, who hit a home run at Brainard Park against Goddard to give the Bulldogs a 4-1 victory in the opening game of the series.
The Bulldogs are on a roll after getting the basketball players back and in baseball shape. The team has won 12-of-13 games. Artesia could potentially face five teams they have played during the regular season in Lovington, Grants, Albuquerque Academy, Deming, and Goddard to win the championship. The only team that defeated the ‘Dogs this season was Deming, 4-1 on March 19, and Goddard twice: 3-1, on March 28, and 8-6 on April 30.
“Let’s see how great we can become,” Bulldogs coach Jackson Bickel said. “How great can you be? We have to seize the day every day. Referencing the Carpe Diem quote. We have to dominate the details,
Artesia softball team is the No.1 seed
The Artesia softball team will enter the 2026 Nusenda Credit Union 4A Softball Championships as the No. 1 seed. The Lady ‘Dogs (22-4), who are on a 14-game winning streak, will face the No. 16 seed, Bloomfield. The game will be played at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Mack Chase Sports Complex. Goddard will face Bernalillo at 5 p.m. on Friday, with the winners playing on Saturday at 11 a.m.
The Lady Dogs could face two teams from the same side of their district bracket. The Goddard Rockets are the No. 9 seed and will face Bernalillo, the No. 8 seed. Artesia will play the winner of that game. Artesia has faced and defeated the Lady Rockets three times this season.
The Lady ‘Dogs’ arch-rival, the Lovington Wildcats, could also meet them in the semifinals. Artesia has defeated Lovington three times this season as well. Artesia has last played in the championship game in 2024, and last won it in 2021.
“I would tell our girls that the number on the front of our jerseys does not matter until the end,” Lady ‘Dogs coach Sandra Pulido said. “On any given day, you never know who is going to show up. The last couple of years, we have gone in as the No. 1 seed team and not made it to Saturday. There are teams we haven’t seen this season, and they are going to show up. It is exciting, it is going to be fun, and the girls are excited. Going in as the No. 1 seed is kind of big for us, knowing how we ended last season. We are excited about it.”