For the first time since 2016, Elks baseball is in the state tournament.
The Elks (15-11, 9-3 in district) likely sealed their spot in the state with a doubleheader sweep over Española Valley (3-19, 0-12) on April 29, winning 16-3 and 9-0.
Under first-year coach David Soveranez, players mentioned a new culture and discipline for the team propelling them to success, a year after finishing 6-20.
“It’s a change of culture, really,” said senior Mateo Soveranez.
“A lot of discipline, holding us accountable,” said fellow senior Tobias Velasquez. “Teaching us to rely on each other and learn from what we’ve done in the past. And I think that’s just something that we lacked last year.”
Pojoaque earned the No. 15 seed for the state tournament, barely sneaking into the field. They face No. 2 seed St. Pius X (17-5) in the first round, playing a best-of-three series that starts Friday. The Sartans will be a tough meeting, averaging 11.5 runs per game despite a top strength of schedule.
They finished with their first winning record since 2012, and their best record in district in at least 15 years. The Elks won a state championship in 3A in 2005 under Brian Ainsworth.
“Extremely happy with this group,” David Soveranez said. “The senior leadership has been great, that’s what’s leading us this year.”
Their state tournament appearance is the first since the most recent classification realignment, when the New Mexico Activities Association shrunk down from six to five classes, and Pojoaque joined 4A. Before that, they were in 4A out of six classes, and most of their success came when they were in 3A out of five.
Pojoaque has been led this year by six seniors, all of whom are making key contributions to the team.
“It showed a lot of the younger kids how to work hard,” David Soveranez said of the senior leadership. “It’s important in trying to build a program.”
In the first game at Española, senior Caleb Roybal started the game with a bang with a two-run home run. Española scored twice in the bottom of the first, but Pojoaque pulled away with a nine-run third inning, highlighted by a two-run double by Roybal and a two-run hit by Andres Trevizo.
“It’s the best feeling, there’s nothing like it,” Roybal said of his home run.
Pojoaque finished the game in the fifth inning with a run-rule victory. Velasquez threw a complete game with seven strikeouts and two hits and two earned runs allowed.
The second game was a star performance on the mound by Mateo Soveranez. He threw a seven-inning complete-game shutout with 13 strikeouts, and three hits and two walks allowed.
“They wanted to be aggressive and go after the batters,” David Soveranez said of the two pitchers. “I think that it showed today.”
Mateo Soveranez also gave credit to Roybal for calling a good game behind the plate, helping out both pitchers.
The Elks scored in the first inning on Velasquez’s sac fly, again in the second inning and then added six runs in the fifth inning. Senior Angelo Romero hit a two-run double in the inning.
Senior Jaymo Leno also had another good day with four hits, continuing a recent hot streak at the plate.
Pojoaque is prepared for state after having games earlier in the season against the No. 1 seed (Grants, a 16-0 loss) and No. 4 Belen (10-2 loss).
“We’ll be ready,” David Soveranez said.