Aztec edges Kirtland Central in an extra-inning pitcher’s duel

By Truman Begaye
Special to the Times

AZTEC, N.M.

Aztec and Kirtland Central traded zeros for seven innings Saturday afternoon before the Lady Tigers finally broke through in the eighth inning for a 1-0 victory in the opening round of the 2026 Nusenda Credit Union State Softball Championships.

The matchup quickly turned into a defensive showcase between two of District1-4A’s top pitchers. Aztec senior Kamora Henry delivered another dominant outing, allowing three hits while striking out 18 batters in a complete-game shutout. Across two games Saturday, Henry pitched 12 innings, allowing just two hits and no runs while piling up 26 strikeouts.

“She’s a fifth-year senior, has been on varsity since eighth grade and works her butt off every day,” Aztec head coach Joshua French said of Henry. “It doesn’t surprise me. That’s kind of how she throws every day, and I really don’t think she’s thrown a bad game all year.”

Earlier in the day, Henry threw a perfect game in Aztec’s 17-0 play-in victory over Valley, striking out eight in four innings.

Kirtland Central reached the first round after a hard-fought 3-2 win over Los Alamos earlier Saturday. Senior Rory Benally pitched all seven innings in that game before returning to the circle against Aztec. Benally matched Henry inning for inning through regulation, allowing five hits while striking out three and keeping the Lady Tigers scoreless for seven innings.

“It was our fourth time playing Aztec,” Kirtland Central head coach Dillon Mason said. “We’ve just been consistently chopping at them and getting closer every time.”

Both teams threatened throughout the game but could not capitalize. Kirtland Central sophomore Elania Hosteen recorded the Broncos’ lone extra-base hit with a double, while Benally added two base hits, one which nearly cleared the fence in the fourth inning.

Aztec scattered doubles from Ayasha Yellow, Christina Whitehorse and Kayci Phillips but could not push a run across until the bottom of the eighth inning.

The game’s only run came when Graciella Lovato scored after Ayasha Yellow doubled on a ground ball into right field in the bottom of the eighth inning. The play at the plate proved decisive as Kirtland Central catcher Lacey Parrish nearly secured the throw while attempting to tag Lovato sliding home, but the ball came loose as she turned to tag, ending the pitcher’s duel and extending Aztec’s winning streak to nine games.

Parrish had preserved the tie an inning earlier in the bottom of the seventh. With Kayci Phillips attempting to score from third, Parrish secured a force out at home plate that led to a double play, keeping the Lady Broncos alive and sending the game into extra innings.

“Defensively, the girls showed up,” Mason said. “That Los Alamos game warmed us up and we came into this one ready to fight. They played 15 innings overall today, so the girls showed a lot of fight.” Mason said while adding they are looking to regroup heading into the consolation round of the double-elimination bracket.

“We just have to go back to the field on Monday and reset,” he said. “Every step from here could be our last, so we have to keep pushing.”

French praised Kirtland Central after the tightly contested battle.

“I’m not surprised how well Kirtland handled this game,” French said. “They’re a good team and capable of winning state if things fall their way. They’ve got a good coach and girls who compete hard.”

Aztec improved to 20-5 and advances to face third-seeded Silver in the second round on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Kirtland Central fell to 19-9 and moves into the consolation bracket, where the Lady Broncos will face Belen at 12 p.m. at the same venue.

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