St. Pius X (24-5) captured the Class 4A state baseball championship with a 5-2 triumph over No. 3 Artesia. On its way to the finals, the team beat Belen 8-0 and Academy 15-2. Cesar Garcia, Josh Lackner, Jacob McCoy and Grant Smith were selected to represent the North team for the North South All Star Game. In District 5-AAAA honors, named First Team All-District were Grant Smith, Jacob McCoy, Josh Lackner, Cesar Garcia, Hayden Walker, Mason Ashcraft and Nate Sanchez. Named Second Team All-District were Brayden Peyton, Jacob Martinez, Austin Jaramillo and Matthew Cornelius. Honorable Mention honors went to Robert Godshall, Alex Gruber and Danilo Padilla.
View the championship game photo gallery here.
Following the championship win, Gatorade selected Sartan pitcher, Hayden Walker, as its 2018-19 Gatorade New Mexico Baseball Player of the Year.
“The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Walker as New Mexico’s best high school baseball player.” Full NMAA article and videos available here.