The 46-43 vote fell along party lines and placed Pearce at the helm of the federal agency tasked with overseeing 247 million acres of federal public land in 12 states, mostly in the western region of the country, along with 700 million acres of underground mineral rights.

That includes oil and gas drilling, with public land accounting for more than half of New Mexico’s fossil fuel operations – mostly in the Permian Basin and positioning the state as second in overall crude oil production.

A Republican from Hobbs, Pearce served as the U.S. Representative for New Mexico’s Second Congressional District in seven terms from 2003 to 2009, and again between 2011 and 2019.

The Second District contains most of southern New Mexico, including its deep-red southeast corner consisting of portions of Eddy, Lea and Chaves counties. Pearce left the post to run for New Mexico governor in the 2018 election, losing to current Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Pearce also chaired the New Mexico Republican Party from 2018 to 2024. President Donald Trump nominated Pearce for BLM director in November 2025 and was supported by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

Both of New Mexico’s Democratic U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan were among the votes against Pearce’s confirmation.

Heinrich, who sits on the Senate Natural Resources Committee, which held Pearce’s confirmation hearing and ultimately voted to advance him to the full body, said he was concerned the former congressman would acquiesce to private industry needs over those of conservation of federal lands for public use.

Heinrich voted against advancing Pearce’s nomination at the Feb. 25 hearing. The senator said after his confirmation that Pearce must honor promises made during the hearing to address abandoned oil and gas wells which Heinrich said were pervasive across federal public land.

“I’ve strongly disagreed with Congressman Pearce’s past opposition to national monument designations and support for public land selloffs, and that is why I voted against his nomination to lead BLM,” Heinrich said in a statement.

“Now that the Senate has confirmed him, however, I will hold him accountable for following the rule of law, protecting our public lands, and honoring his confirmation hearing commitments.”

During his confirmation hearing, Pearce said public land should be used to develop domestic energy and other minerals where possible, ensuring the U.S. was not dependent on adversarial nations.

“We must preserve the natural spaces so all people have access to the spiritual beauty of the outdoors, where hunting and fishing can be passed down from one generation to the next, where critical minerals can be developed, freeing us from dependence on China,” Pearce said.

New Mexico Republicans celebrated Pearce’s confirmation as one that would give the state a voice in an agency critical to its economy.

Oil and gas operations, which are largely on BLM land in New Mexico, make up about 40% of the state’s General Fund revenue, providing more than $13 billion to state and local governments, according to the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association.

“With Steve’s immense experience in the oil and gas industry, he will bring much-needed experience to this position, and I am confident the bureau will thrive under his leadership,” said Amy Barela, chair of the New Mexico Republican Party and an Otero County commissioner seeking her second term in this year’s election.

“I would also like to extend my gratitude to President Trump for his nomination that made today possible.”

Oil and gas industry groups also supported Pearce to lead to the Bureau of Land Management.

Western Energy Alliance President Melissa Simpson said Pearce’s experience in the oil and gas industry displayed a value for “multiple uses” of public land she said would support multiple critical industries in the U.S.

“His tenure in Congress and his time as a small business owner in the oil field show he’s a champion of multiple-uses of public lands, from expanding domestic energy production, supporting grazing and recreation, and protecting landscapes through targeted conservation,” Simpson said.

Environmental groups were critical of Pearce’s confirmation, arguing his position to lead the Bureau of Land Management could present a risk to endangered species, air quality and lands set aside for recreation.

Chris Krupp, a public lands attorney with Santa Fe-based WildEarth Guardians raised concerns that Pearce would support selling federal public land to industries such as oil and gas.

“Today, we desperately need a new land management ethic–one that fosters resilient ecosystems and human health instead of resource extraction,” Krupp said.

“Unfortunately, new BLM Director Steve Pearce is the opposite of what we need but exactly what you’d expect from the Trump administration: an oil and gas industry insider who values public lands for their profit potential.”

The post Steve Pearce confirmed to lead Bureau of Land Management, overseeing public land oil drilling appeared first on Artesia Daily Press.

Adrian Hedden
El Rito Media
achedden@elritomedia.com

Duke Rodriguez planned to tap into his experience as a state cabinet secretary and healthcare executive should he be elected governor of New Mexico.

Rodriguez, 68, is chief executive officer of cannabis company Ultra Health, New Mexico’s largest, which he founded in 2012. He was named chief operating officer of Lovelace Health System at age 32 and served as cabinet secretary of the state’s Health and Human Services Department from July 1996 to October 1997, under former Gov. Gary Johnson.

One of three candidates vying for the Republican Party’s nomination for governor in the June 2 Primary Election, Rodriguez will take on the Democrat nominee on Nov. 3 to replace outgoing Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat who is term limited and cannot run for another term.

El Rito Media sat down with Duke Rodriguez to talk about his plans for the state.

What are your plans for k-12 education?

“What I’ve often said is we don’t have a resource problem when it comes to education. We have a results problem. And the thing that I would do differently is to, at the very core, let teachers teach. We built a system that rewards the administration, that takes dollars out of the classroom, and spends more dollars on the administration.

“I want to put monies back in the classroom, support teachers, make sure that no one’s throwing books at them, no one’s choking them out, and emphasizing two things, the core curriculum, reading, writing, arithmetic, but also realizing we need to supplement it with new activities for a new student.”

What are your spending priorities?

“All we do in New Mexico is increase spending. We call it Medicaid. We call it SNAP, the food stamp program. We call it the Behavioral Health Trust Fund. We call it the Health Care Affordability Fund.

“All those things are about is spending. They’re not about investing in New Mexico’s future. I would prioritize investing in projects that increase jobs, increase employment. Take, for example, desalination. I am a huge fan of desalination. On my drive up here from Albuquerque, outside of, just outside south of San Antonio, if you go by the Rio Grande right now, it is dirt dry. There’s not an ounce of water traveling through that river right now.”

What is your tax policy for individuals and companies?

“I am talking about the absolute elimination of New Mexico state personal income tax, done, no tax returns. No. 2, I believe, and I’m very careful to say this where other candidates don’t know what it mean; I’m very careful to say elimination of New Mexico gross receipts tax on retail sales.

“(I’m also for) the elimination of property tax on the state’s portions of the mill levy. Mill levy includes normally a city, county, and state portion. I believe we can eliminate 100% on the state’s portion

“This pushes back on those that say, oh my God, you’re going to destroy the cities and counties. Here, you go right back, cities and counties, and you’re accountable to your local voters. You tell them why you need what you need. The state has no role in that.”

How would you reduce homelessness and drug abuse?

“One third of the homeless on the street today have been previously through the foster care or (Children, Youth and Families Department) system. One third of them. I believe that we owe them the opportunity to give them crisis treatment for mental health.

“I believe we should enhance our investment in addiction care. But after that, if they’re not willing to accept the help, then we have to be a little more institutional and there’s nothing to apologize for being institutional. But in no case is it compassionate or responsible to let them rot in the sun on our sidewalks.”

What can New Mexico do to attract new businesses?

“I am the only candidate who has lived and done Main Street to Wall Street. And when I say that I’ve started my own companies. I’ve written the paychecks. I’m the guy that owns the company.

“How do you can you run your small business if you don’t have more customers buying homes? How can you run your smaller business if you don’t have more people coming in and buying dresses at your boutique shop? You need a growing population. That’s what Texas has. So, if you want to grow this state, you have to have a vibrant economy. That’s how you attract business.”

What are your plans for rural health care?

“I believe under any structure, the rural health care system has to be maintained and kept intact. We need to prioritize where the dollars go and say that if this doesn’t matter anymore, I’ll spend it on primary care. The least cost investment is making sure that the primary care network is intact. That’s an easy fix. It’s not a big dollar. That’s not what’s driving New Mexico’s health care dollars.

“Medicaid recipients have to have skin in the game. The liberals are going to hate this. There’s a copay on your office visit. You don’t show up, you will copay. You show up, it’s a $5 copay, $20 for not showing up. You have to have skin in the game.”

How would you address environmental concerns?

“I believe that the environment, for whatever reason, is going to produce greater challenges going forward. We have the resources to make sure that we take preventative action to make sure it’s not catastrophic.

“We can’t stop every windstorm where the power lines cross, that then ignite a fire, that the wind then blows and goes across. But we can take mitigating steps to make sure the damage can be controlled, and we can respond faster.”

The post GOP Gov. candidate Duke Rodriguez talks vision for NM before June primary appeared first on Artesia Daily Press.

 Special to the Artesia Daily Press

Albuquerque- The 2026 NMAA track and field state championships have come to a close, and the two-day event ended with both Artesia teams getting to hop on the podium to collect state trophies on May 16.

“We’re a top program in the state, and we’ve done that consistently for the past five years, so it means a lot to have this payoff,” first-year head coach Adrian Olivas said, who leads both teams. “Coming into this weekend, everything is done. We’ve already done all of the work all year, so it was time to come out and show what you’ve done. I’m proud of them, really proud of them,” Olivas said.

The boys scored 74.5 points en route to a second-place, 4A runner-up finish, while the girls finished in third place with 36 points.

“We came down here to compete. We weren’t really expecting the outcome we got. We did awesome, and I couldn’t be prouder. This is my last year, and we gave it our all,” Artesia senior Gabriela Aguilar said.

In total, Artesia had seven individual state champions.

“At the end of the day, it’s great to be a Bulldog, it’s great to be a part of this tradition, a part of this program, you’ve got to love it,” Artesia sophomore Ulises Montanez-Acosta said.

The boys team dominated the hurdling events. Artesia’s Tootie McNeil claimed the 300m hurdles state title (39.10) and was the state runner-up in the 110m hurdles. Artesia’s Marcos Ornelas won the 100m hurdles with a 14.79 time.

Artesia runner Tootie McNeil races at the state meet on Saturday.

“I am feeling ecstatic. That was a really great race. I had that Albuquerque Academy kid pushing me, as well as the Lovington guy. I am really glad I came out on top,” McNeil said.  “Out of my blocks, I really wanted to get out fast, make up that stagger. And, on the curve, keep my stride going, no stuttering. Then, that last 100 is just everything you’ve got.”

Artesia’s Marco Soto secured the three-peat in the shot put and won the event with a 51 ‘7.75 ” toss. Teammate Derek Lopez was right behind Soto and finished in second place with a 50’4” throw.

In the javelin, senior Brant Usherwood had a throw of 173 ’11 “, which topped Portales’ Antonio Bonilla’s top throw of 173’01”. In fact, Artesia claimed four of the top five spots, joining Usherwood in the top five: Jayden Leyva (third place), Cael Houghtaling (fourth place), and Jett Whitmire (fifth place).

As for the girls, it was Ellie McGoughy who owned the pole vault runway; she would secure the state title by clearing 10’6”.

Like the boys, the Artesia girls went one, two in the shot put: senior Brooklynne Ivans took first place with a 37’9” throw, and sophomore Harper Murray took second place with a 36’6” throw. With the state title, Ivans has now won back-to-back state championships in the shot put.

Finally, senior Jenna Whitmire secured Artesia’s third individual state title by sailing the javelin down the green; her throw was marked at 135 ‘4″. Teammate and sophomore Gracen Kuykendall secured fourth place in the javelin with a 118 ‘0 ” throw.

Artesia had many track and field athletes on double duty Friday and Saturday. A few players also played for the baseball and softball teams that were competing in the state title games at the UNM fields right across the street.

“We’re doing a really good job of working with other coaches to get the boys and girls out here,” Olivas said. “Everyone’s 100% invested in it, and that’s just Artesia for you.”

Brant Usherwood and Jett Whitmire play for the baseball team, and Jenna Whitmire plays for the softball team.

Some other notable performances came from Cael Houghtaling, who was able to clear 6’0” in the high jump, which earned him third place. Houghtaling had a busy day and also finished as the runner-up in the triple jump (44’2.5’ mark).

The Artesia boys’ 4x200m and 4x400m relay teams had strong finishes and earned a couple of third-place medals. McNeil’s leg in the 400m was lightning quick and had the Bulldogs in first place before the hand-off.

Artesia relay runner Marlyn Corza runs in the relays at the state meet on Saturday. The Artesia girls would finish third at state.

The Artesia girls’ 4x200m relay team nearly edged Albuquerque Academy in the prelim round with a 4:15.79 time (just a second short of Academy). Then, in the finals, the Bulldogs finished in fifth place behind a 4:13.53 time, which wasn’t too shabby considering the amount of talent in the finals.

“This is my favorite relay that I’ve run with. I think we are very positive together, we push each other really hard, and we know what we can do,” Artesia sophomore Kaidence Hnulik said.

The 4x200m relay included Gabriela Aguilar, Marlyn Corza, Kaylee Berdoza, and Hnulik. Aguilar is the lone senior, while the rest are sophomores.

The post Artesia boys’ and girls’ teams place in the top three at the state track meet, with seven individual state champions appeared first on Artesia Daily Press.

The letter orders Rodriguez’s “Run with Duke” campaign to cease all use of Trump’s likeness in campaign materials.

Rodriguez is one of three potential nominees, along with Taos businessman Doug Turner and Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull running in the June 2 Primary, seeking the Republican nomination to run for governor in the Nov. 3 General Election.

The campaign did not immediately return a request for comment.

Below is the complete text of the cease-and-desist letter sent to Rodriguez’s campaign and obtained by El Rito Media:

VIA UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
Duke Rodriguez
Run With Duke
P.O. Box 90967
Albuquerque, NM 87199
Re: Cease and Desist Fraudulent Campaign Activities

Dear Duke Rodriguez and Run With Duke:
We represent President Donald J. Trump and Never Surrender, Inc., President Trump’s
leadership PAC. I write to address the unauthorized and deceptive use of President Trump’s image
and likeness by New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez and Run With Duke (the
“Committee”), to garner support for Mr. Rodriguez’s campaign.

Mr. Rodriguez and the Committee have recently distributed two campaign advertisements,
one via text message and one via mail, that prominently feature a stylized depiction of President
Trump to falsely suggest that President Trump supports Mr. Rodriguez’s candidacy. Copies of
these advertisements appear below.

As can be seen from these images, the advertisements feature an illustration of President
Trump depicted in the pose of the iconic “Uncle Sam” recruitment poster, pointing directly at the
viewer alongside text stating “I WANT YOU TO VOTE FOR DUKE RODRIGUEZ FOR NEW
MEXICO GOVERNOR” or “I WANT YOU TO VOTE DUKE RODRIGUEZ FOR NEW
MEXICO GOVERNOR!” The mailer additionally bears the message “ABSENTEE BALLOTS
ARE IN MAILBOXES” alongside an alert icon, creating the unmistakable impression that
President Trump is urging voters to cast their ballots for Mr. Rodriguez.

Both advertisements use President Trump’s image and likeness in direct connection with Mr. Rodriguez’s candidacy. The advertisements’ use of President Trump’s image and likeness grossly mischaracterizes
President Trump’s position with respect to the Republican primary election for Governor of New
Mexico. President Trump has not endorsed Mr. Rodriguez for Governor. The advertisements
nonetheless use President Trump’s image in a manner plainly intended to give voters the false
impression that President Trump has endorsed Mr. Rodriguez, that President Trump supports Mr.
Rodriguez’s candidacy, or that Mr. Rodriguez’s campaign has President Trump’s approval—none
of which is the case. In short, the Committee’s advertisements use President Trump’s image and
likeness in a deceptive manner that is inconsistent with President Trump’s decision not to endorse
a candidate in New Mexico’s gubernatorial race to date.

This misuse of President Trump’s image and likeness must cease immediately. In addition
to the public opprobrium that Mr. Rodriguez and the Committee would undoubtedly suffer if they
continue this deception, they may also face legal consequences.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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Patrick Lohman
Source New Mexico

This story was originally published by Source New Mexico on sourcenm.com.

The United States Department of Justice on May 8 filed a motion urging a federal judge to immediately prohibit New Mexico officials from enforcing House Bill 9, the Immigrant Safety Act, saying the new state law is unconstitutional and would irreparably harm a New Mexico county.

The law prohibits public entities like counties from contracting with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to hold immigrant detainees. The law has faced sustained pushback in Otero County, where county officials say the measure will result in the loss of up to 284 jobs and force the county to sell its immigrant detention facility, the Otero County Processing Center, at a loss.

The federal DOJ’s Civil Division and the United State’s Attorney’s Office in New Mexico filed the motion for a preliminary injunction Friday in federal court. The defendants are the State of New Mexico, including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Attorney General Raúl Torrez.

The 49-page motion alleges that House Bill 9, which goes into effect May 20, amounts to an unconstitutional regulation of the federal government and its responsibility to detain and remove undocumented immigrants.

“State law may not stand as an obstacle to the enforcement of federal law,” the motion reads. “And under intergovernmental immunity principles, state governments may not regulate or discriminate against the Federal Government.”

The lawsuit contains declarations from a federal ICE agent who says the closure of the “mission critical” Otero County Processing Center would immediately impact law enforcement operations in the border region and deprive it of nearly 1,000 detainee beds it needs.

Otero County Manager Pamela Heltner also attested in the lawsuit that the facility’s closure would be “a devastating blow to the local economy of one of New Mexico’s most economically vulnerable rural communities.”

In a news release about the motion Friday, Brett Shumate, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Civil Division, said New Mexico is “attempting to regulate immigration policy, something the federal government is clearly and uniquely empowered by the Constitution to do.”

Torrez, in a statement Friday, defended House Bill 9 as a “constitutional exercise of state authority” and said he is eager to defend it in court.

“This lawsuit asks a federal court to override a democratically enacted state law because the administration disagrees with the policy choice the Legislature made. That is not a constitutional argument. It is an attempt to use federal litigation to reverse an outcome the administration dislikes.”

Leah March, the governor’s deputy communications director, told Source NM on Friday via email that the governor’s office could not yet comment on the lawsuit because it had not yet been served, “but we are confident in the constitutionality of House Bill 9.”

The lawsuit also names the City of Albuquerque and Mayor Tim Keller as defendants, alleging that a recent citywide ordinance, the “Safer Community Places Ordinance” also impinges on the federal government’s ability to enforce immigration laws.

The ordinance prohibits the use of city-owned property as staging areas or processing locations for immigration enforcement, along with other measures.

In a statement Friday, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico said both the state law and ordinance “unlawfully interfere with federal immigration enforcement, illegally discriminate against federal operations, and violate constitutional protections regarding contracts and federal supremacy.”

The post Calling it unconstitutional U.S. DOJ sues NM to halt immigrant detention bill appeared first on Artesia Daily Press.

Bruce Lesman

There’s a certain elegance in simplicity—especially when it comes chilled. This Festive Southwest Gazpacho is a celebration of bold regional flavor, built on peak-season produce and finished with the smoky, unmistakable character of roasted Hatch chile.

Refreshing yet layered, this soup delivers sweetness from ripe tomatoes, brightness from lime, and a subtle heat that lingers just enough to keep each spoonful interesting. It’s equally at home as a casual patio offering or a refined first course served in chilled bowls or glassware.

YIELD

4 to 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

6 large ripe tomatoes, cored and chopped

1 cup tomato juice or vegetable juice

1 small red onion, finely diced

1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 cup fire-roasted corn (fresh or thawed)

1 roasted Hatch chile, peeled, seeded, and minced

2 cloves garlic, minced

Juice of 2 limes

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon ground cumin

½ teaspoon smoked paprika

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

GARNISH

Diced avocado

Chopped fresh cilantro

Crumbled queso fresco

Crispy tortilla strips

Optional: diced mango

METHOD

Combine tomatoes, tomato juice, onion, cucumber, bell pepper, corn, Hatch chile, and garlic in a large bowl or blender. Process to desired consistency—chunky for a rustic presentation or smooth for a more refined finish.

Add lime juice, red wine vinegar, cumin, smoked paprika, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and mix well.

Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 2–3 hours, preferably overnight, to allow flavors to fully develop.

Taste and adjust seasoning before serving. Ladle into chilled bowls or glasses and finish with garnish of choice.

Roasted Hatch chile offers a softer, more complex heat than jalapeño—earthy, slightly smoky, and distinctly Southwestern. Adjust intensity by selecting mild or hot varieties.

For elevated presentation, reserve a portion of diced vegetables and fold into the soup just before service for added texture and visual appeal.

Bruce Lesman is a seasoned culinary professional and hospitality leader with decades of experience across luxury cruise lines, resorts, and premier dining concepts. His approach blends classical foundations with modern flavor profiles, creating dishes that are both approachable and refined.

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Artesia Chamber of Commerce

Join us in officially welcoming Quenched, LLC to the Artesia Chamber of Commerce! Quenched has just released their summer menu, and it offers something for everyone. From refreshing energy drinks and specialty sodas to handcrafted lemonades and a wide variety of customizable flavor combinations, it’s the perfect stop to cool off and treat yourself this season. Located at 2506 W. Main Street, Quenched is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is quickly becoming a go-to spot for locals. We are excited to have Quenched, LLC as part of our business community. Be sure to stop by, try something new, and help us give them a warm Artesia welcome!

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For a team that had been in big games all year, the Bulldogs handled Saturday the same way they handled everything else — with no panic, no excuses, and no quit. But in the game that mattered most, Artesia finally ran out of answers.

Goddard beat Artesia 11-6 on Saturday at Lobo Baseball Field in Albuquerque to claim the 2026 Nusenda Credit Union Class 4A state baseball championship.

That ending did not erase what Artesia had done to get there. The Bulldogs fought through a slow start, climbed to No. 1 in Class 4A, and beat Goddard in the regular-season finale to lock up the District 4-4A championship.

By the time the state tournament arrived, Artesia looked like a club that knew exactly who it was. The Bulldogs survived a 3-2 quarterfinal against St. Pius X and pushed ace Jack Byers to within two batters of his 120-pitch limit just to keep the season moving.

Then came Deming, a team that had beaten Artesia earlier in the season. This time, the Bulldogs answered with a 7-4 semifinal win and one more shot at a blue trophy.

In the final, Artesia was tied at 3 before Goddard seized control. Cameron Brown doubled, and Marcos Rodriguez followed with a home run, and from there the Rockets kept the pressure on.

Artesia never solved Goddard starter Jadon Herrera, who went five innings, gave up six hits, struck out five, and walked none.

A five-run seventh inning put the game out of reach, but it did not change the way this Artesia team will be remembered.

Artesia came into the spring as the defending state champion and spent the season carrying those expectations. Now the Bulldogs lose eight seniors and turn the page in the dugout. Jackson Bickel is moving into administration and will serve as assistant principal at Artesia High School next season.

The search is expected to begin immediately, starting in-house with assistant coaches Tony Jaramillo, Robert Fernandez, Taylor Null and Gentry Doolittle if they choose to pursue the job.

If history is any guide, athletic director Jeremy Maupin and the hiring committee will not take long. When former basketball coach Michael Mondragon retired on a Friday, Derek Montoya was named his successor by Tuesday.

Bickel finished 47-15 overall and 17-1 in district play, and Artesia reached the state championship game in both of his seasons as head coach. He brought home the 2025 title, the program’s first since 2000, and leaves behind a standard that did not slip this spring, even in the final game.

The post Artesia’s title run ends, but not without a fight appeared first on Artesia Daily Press.

The Artesia softball team proved Saturday that championships are won by teams, not just great individual players, and the Blue Trophy gave coach Sandra Pulido her fourth state title in 11 years.

The Lady Dogs have won in every style this season, from small ball to the long ball, and on Saturday, they won by answering adversity.

After dropping the first game Saturday and watching ace Kayden Apodaca run into trouble in the circle, Artesia came back to beat Aztec 8-3 in the decisive third game of the best-of-three Class 4A state championship series and bring home the Blue Trophy.

In the first game against Aztec, Artesia’s No. 2 pitcher, Katrin Marquez, was playing third base when she suffered a knee injury.

That left Artesia coach Sandra Pulido turning to shortstop Danyela Munoz in the circle. Munoz turned out to be exactly what the Lady ’Dogs needed, getting defensive gems from all three outfielders — Brooklyn Fuentes, Isabel Cruz, and Janae Molina — and key plays from the infield to snuff out Aztec rallies.

Munoz was different enough to keep Aztec’s aggressive hitters off balance, and she pitched a complete game in the 8-3 victory.

Munoz said when Pulido told her to get loose, she knew she had to do her job.

“I took a nap as soon as we lost the first game,” Munoz said. “When I woke up, they said, ‘Hey, Z, you’re pitching.’ I never doubted our defense, and I knew they would work for me if I worked for them. I had my five minutes of sadness after we lost the first game, and then I was up. I knew we would win, and I am so grateful.”

In the championship series, Aztec adjusted by pitching Artesia’s lineup inside and working Apodaca outside after she homered in the opener.

That took the bat out of her hands. She had just one hit over the final two games while drawing a string of walks.

Apodaca struggled in the fourth inning of the first game. She had control issues, walked the bases loaded, and then surrendered a grand slam that gave Aztec a 4-3 lead. The Tigers added two more runs in the fifth to win 6-3. The inning seemed to rattle Apodaca, and Pulido lifted her and did not bring her back in the rest of the series. The loss snapped the Lady ’Dogs’ 18-game winning streak.

“It was hard to lose,” Pulido said. “It was not an easy loss to take, and we had a lot of adjustments we needed to make with our lineup and how we were going to approach the next game. But we knew we were not out of it.”

Pulido said that is what made this team special. Apodaca did not have to do it all, and when it was not there for her in the circle, her teammates picked her up, had her back, played clean defense, and finished the job.

With that approach, Aztec dared Artesia to beat it as a team. The Tigers were not going to let Apodaca beat them with the long ball.

Artesia’s Jenna Whitmire pulled double duty. She began the day by winning the state javelin title, then hurried across campus to play in the championship game. Whitmire saved her best for last, hitting an inside-the-park home run in the second game, then collecting three hits in the finale, including a two-RBI single in a four-run first and a double.

“Honestly, it means so much to me,” Whitmire said. “I have tried for five years, and in my senior year, we finally did it. It’s very meaningful to my fellow seniors and me.”

Apodaca said the victory was special and felt great.

“I think this helps me a lot because it is dedication,” Apodaca said. “All the way through, I am really happy.”

jtkeith can be reached at 575-420-0061, or on X@JTKEITH1.

The post Artesia Rallies to Win Class 4A Blue Trophy appeared first on Artesia Daily Press.

Staff reports

Salado Isolation Mining Contractors announced its 2026 SIMCO scholarship program recipients.

This year’s slate included 20 scholarships totaling $20,000 for high school seniors in Eddy and Lea counties. They were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants.

“SIMCO is committed to investing in our student’s post-secondary education. A college education can have a lasting impact on their lives. We’re proud to play a small part in that journey,” said Dr. Joy James-Foster, SIMCO Education Outreach Lead. “SIMCO scholarships are just one way we’re supporting our students and investing in their futures.”

Here are the students awarded scholarships.

Artesia High School

Clay Kincaid

Carlsbad High School

Reenson Akwiembi, Raj Bhakta, Jaylynn DeAnda, Makayla Franco, Jaren Fuentes, Tristan Henley, Emma Hernandez-DeAnda, Abigail Huston, Alexia Lujan, Omar Machuca, Megan McKibben, Chloe Melvin, Hanli Norman and Ariyana Rogers

Hobbs High School

Mia Amezcua, Chloe Conder, Dakota Hayes and Basilia Hernandez

Loving High School

Tabias Chacon

SIMCO also provided funding for the Martin Luther King Scholarship Fund, the Carlsbad Class Act Scholarship Fund, the Hobbs Bash Graduation Night Fund, and the Falcon Fest Scholarship Fund.

To be considered for a SIMCO scholarship, students must plan to attend an accredited college or university.

The post SIMCO gives out $20K to Eddy and Lea County students, including Artesia’s Clay Kincaid. Here are additional details. appeared first on Artesia Daily Press.