Manns enjoys homecoming, new softball family at Western New Mexico University

Los Lunas

The crack of the bat from a “no-doubt-about-it” walk-off home run for Western New Mexico, made sure that 2023 Los Lunas graduate Marleigh Manns would have an exciting return home.

The blast Friday afternoon by Jenna Peters came during the Mustangs’ first game of the South Central Region Softball Tournament against Adams State at the Los Lunas Sports Complex.

Manns, an All-State selection while at LLHS, had three doubles and three runs batted in to help claw WNMU to within one run after trailing 6-0 against ASU. Her two-out clutch double in the seventh inning kept hopes alive and set the stage for the dramatic homer by Peters.

“Honestly, no,” Manns said when asked if she felt pressure at the plate with the game on the line.

After all, Manns was in front of hometown fans that included her father, Denvis Manns, the NMSU football great and LLHS assistant softball coach.

“I’ve prepared for this for a very long time, so when it’s my turn I know it’s my calling and I know what I have to do for my teammates,” she said.

The 9-8 victory came in Manns’ very first game for Western after initially signing with New Mexico State out of high school and transferring after one season to Temple College, a JUCO in Texas.

“We love Marleigh,” said Ashley Hickman, WNMU head coach. “I’m so thrilled that we have her now as a junior. She is such a great teammate.”

Hickman added that she recruited Manns, who plays left field, before she signed with NMSU. Hickman continued to follow the progression of Manns at Temple College.

“At the end of the year, it was time,” Hickman recalled about the recruiting process. “We want you to be here. We want you to be a Mustang.”

The answer was yes. So far, so good.

“It’s a great place,” Manns said of the Silver City community and campus. “This program, they really care about you. They will not leave you behind, for sure.”

Both Manns and Hickman referred to the Mustangs as “family,” and were impressed that WNMU interim president Dr. Christopher Maples made the trip to Los Lunas to watch, bringing cookies for the team.

“It’s very fun to be back home and show people what I can do,” Manns said, adding that in the summer she works at the Los Lunas Recreation Center, a stones-throw from the fields. “I live, like, five minutes away.”

For the four games, Manns had five hits in 10 official plate appearances, with four doubles and five RBIs for the Mustangs. WNMU, assisted by former Valencia head coach Jeff Young, posted a 3-1 record that included another game-ending home run. No champion was crowned, with teams playing a predetermined schedule.

This was the third year South Central Region was held in Los Lunas, and while there are no promises it will return, Hickman says sponsorships have increased and the village of Los Lunas has “done such a great job providing us a place to play every single year.”

An added bonus was the three days of pleasant winter weather enjoyed by the eight teams, including New Mexico Highlands and their fans.