Tigers, Eagles reload, Jaguars optimistic

As high school baseball practice started this week, changes are afoot this season in Valencia County, with two new head coaches and plenty of new faces.

Sprinkled in with those elements is plenty of optimism for Belen, Los Lunas and Valencia.

Los Lunas Tigers

It may be a tough act to follow for Cliff De Graaf, the longtime Los Lunas assistant who takes over for Paul Cieremans as head coach. LLHS (19-11) went all the way to the 5A semifinals in 2025, but will need to replace significant talent before making another long postseason run.

De Graaf says the returners have “made it really easy to transition” to his new role in the dugout. As for his expectations, “I want the kids to compete and have fun.”

Expectations for some of the players, including senior outfielder Robert Pino, are more elevated.

“We expect to take it all the way, win the state championship,” said Pino, who believes hitting will be a strength for the Tigers.

As for an area to improve, Pino looks to something a bit more abstract, “things like baseball IQ — like base running.”

There are big holes to fill for De Graaf. First team All-State pitcher Matthew Castillo has graduated, along with catcher James Utash. It will be odd not to see the Utash name in the lineup for LLHS.

JJ Utash, who has committed to Texas, has transferred to a school in Arizona. His cousin, Jonah Utash, a standout golfer, opted not to play baseball this season.

Despite the absences, De Graaf likes his lineup.

“We’re going to be a better hitting team,” and “on the bump (pitching mound), I think we’re going to be very strong,” De Graaf believes.

The pitching rotation will include Kaiden Reese, who signed with Eastern New Mexico, Jesus Diaz and Isaiah Barela.

Other key players are Stran English, catcher, Noah Luna, shortstop, Josh Mora, second base and JD Diaz.

The schedule doesn’t do LLHS many favors. Starting Feb. 26 at Cleveland, Los Lunas competes in four straight tournaments. The Tigers first home game against St. Pius isn’t until March 26.

Belen Eagles

“There’s a little bit of a buzz in the air this year,” is how Justin Miller, second-year Belen coach, sizes up the anticipation for the season. “These boys are definitely excited and they’re hungry.”

Part of that hunger comes from the success of last season, a 19-10 record, but also the pain of an early exit from the state 4A playoffs, ousted at home by Chaparral.

“It has lingered. It’s kind of been a rallying cry,” Miller said.

Senior Logan Gonzalez echoes that thought.

“It did something to all of us,” Gonzalez said of being eliminated. “All of us are ready to come back with a different kind of fire.”

Following what Miller calls an “awesome” off-season, the Eagles believe they are ready for the new campaign.

“We’re really fast, Our speed has taken off this year,” Gonzalez, an All-District slugger, says, adding that the team is “really gritty.”

Outfielder Diego Otero will lead off, with freshman Marcos Baca expected to make an impact.

No doubt graduation has left some holes, including the departures of Damian Avila, Jesse Aragon and Antonio Gomez, the Eagles top pitcher from 2025. Ethan Haldeman and Wyatt Lueras, who pitched on the junior varsity, will pick up the slack in the rotation.

“We expect (Lueras) to essentially fill that role that Antonio left,” said Miller. “He’s very capable of it.”

As the Eagles went through tryouts on Monday, a dozen or so fans watched from the stands.

“They’re helping out and supporting,” Miller says of the community’s involvement. “We’re looking forward to seeing everybody here this year for some baseball.”

BHS starts the season Feb. 26 in the Valencia tournament.

Valencia Jaguars

Valencia (10-15) hasn’t had real success in about a decade, with the last winning record for a full season posted in 2015.

“It’s kind of a new start for myself, for the program,” said Rustin Porter, in his first year as VHS head coach after replacing Carlos Ramirez. “But I’m super excited about it.”

That excitement comes from a returning group of players, as well as an infusion of freshmen and eighth-graders.

“I think our pitching is going to be solid this year — keep guys from getting on base,” said Brady Hoefler, one of the Jaguars’ top returning hurlers.

Giving up double-digit runs was a problem last year that Porter hopes will be rectified.

“We’ve got some pretty strong arms,” Porter said of his pitching staff, as well as a solid catching corps and defense. “I think we’re going to keep the ball in front of us and make plays.”

With one of the biggest fields in all of high school baseball, 350 feet down both lines and 385 feet to centerfield, the Jaguars will look to “manufacture runs” and play “small-ball,bringing back old school baseball a little bit,” according to Porter.

That means bunting, hit-and-run and stealing bases.

“Our base running looks pretty good this year,” noted Hoefler. “We’ve got a lot of quick guys. We’ll be able to move guys around.”

Aside from Hoefler, Porter will count on veterans Pryce Henry, shortstop, Isaiah Luna, second base, Rodolfo Chavez and outfielder Noah Vigil.

The season begins Feb. 21 for the Jags, a doubleheader at Rio Grande.