Here are the Journal's 2025 All-Metro baseball and softball teams

James Yodice James Yodice James Yodice Journal Staff Writer

Published June 1, 2025 - 5:25 a.m. Modified June 1, 2025 - 5:25 a.m.

The last of our All-Metro teams today will highlight the best of the best from the recent prep baseball and softball seasons.

As always: just a first and second team, no ties at any position, although I did two years ago add a second pitcher to each team, something that was overdue.

La Cueva’s Dylan Blomker was a first-time All-Metro pitcher last season, though he was also a force at the plate. He has an important stretch of games coming up that could help decide his baseball path.

Baseball

The MaxPreps New Mexico Player of the Year, Sandia senior shortstop Adriel Figueroa-Brito, is one of two Matadors on our first team. Figueroa-Brito hit .443 with four home runs and 43 RBIs, plus 52 runs scored last season as Sandia won the Class 5A state title. He also won seven games on the mound.

Another Matador on the first team is one of the most promising prospects in the state, sophomore first baseman Colton Floyd (.526, 1.105 slugging %, 16 doubles, eight home runs, 42 RBIs). Floyd is such an imposing presence at the plate that he was intentionally walked eight times just in Sandia’s six postseason games.

La Cueva, the No. 1-ranked team pretty much all season, has four players on the AJ’s first team.

That quartet is led by junior pitcher Dylan Blomker. Blomker was 7-0 with a 1.95 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 50⅓ innings. At the dish, he hit .357 with 45 RBIs.

Senior outfielder Brayden Likar (.441, 44R, 1.093 OPS, 16-for-16 in stolen bases), senior second baseman Reid Jacobson (.430, eight HRs, 46 RBIs, 1.354 OPS) and junior utility player Everett Burdett (five pitching wins, plus strong production at the plate) also are on the first team from La Cueva.

The other first-team pitcher is Rio Rancho senior Brandon Segal, who was 8-0 with a 1.8 ERA for the Rams, and beat a handful of quality teams.

The three first-team outfielders include junior Anthony del Angel of Cleveland (.545, 7 HRs, 29 RBIs, 39R), who is arguably the top overall player in 5A baseball. He is joined out there by Likar and Eldorado junior Tim Kamphuis (.453, 40R, 12 doubles, 29 RBIs from the leadoff spot).

Senior Matt Delaney of Albuquerque Academy was in the hunt for a pitching spot, what with two no-hitters among his seven victories and 0.39 ERA. I have made him our first team designated hitter, on the strength of his .500 average, 1.64 OPS and 12 home runs.

The final two members of the first team are Sandia senior third baseman Jeremiah Bustillos (.457, 32 RBIs, 33R) and Manzano senior catcher Aljaeis Pineda (.545, .935 slugging %, 21 extra-base hits, 35 RBIs). Pineda received high marks for his defensive prowess, especially keeping opposing running games in check.

Reid Jacobson.jpg — Reid Jacobson senior 2B La Cueva

Brayden Likar.jpg — Brayden Likar senior OF La Cueva

Matt Delaney, senior DH Albuquerque Academy

Everett Burdett.jpg — Everett Burdett junior, utility La Cueva

2025 All-Metro Baseball First Team

FIRST TEAM

Pitcher: Dylan Blomker, jr., La Cueva; Brandon Segal, sr., Rio Rancho

Catcher: Aljaeis Pineda, sr., Manzano

First base: Colton Floyd, soph., Sandia

Second base: Reid Jacobson, sr., La Cueva

Third base: Jeremiah Bustillos, sr., Sandia

Shortstop: Adriel Figueroa-Brito, sr., Sandia

Outfield: Brayden Likar, sr., La Cueva; Anthony del Angel, jr., Cleveland; Tim Kamphuis, jr., Eldorado

Designated hitter: Matt Delaney, sr., Albuquerque Academy

Utility: Everett Burdett, jr., La Cueva

SECOND TEAM

Pitcher: Cooper Burak, soph., Eldorado; Jacob Gergen, sr., Hope Christian

Catcher: Noah Massey, sr., Volcano Vista

First base: Dean Ellison, jr., Rio Rancho

Second base: Damian Avila, sr., Belen

Third base: Jacob Madrid, sr., St. Pius

Shortstop: Matty Castillo, sr., Los Lunas

Outfield: Jacob Segotta, sr., Cibola; JJ Utash, soph., Los Lunas; Sebastian Chavez, sr., Rio Grande

Designated hitter: Braiden Reynolds, sr., La Cueva

Utility: Charlie Birdwell, jr., East Mountain

Softball

Half of the 12 first-team choices come from the metro’s two best teams, La Cueva and Cibola.

The Bears have four selections, all on the infield.

Senior pitcher Lili Montoya, headed for New Mexico State, had a monster campaign, going 21-2 in the circle with 252 strikeouts and a 1.69 ERA, while also hitting .552 with 12 home runs and 52 RBIs.

Her battery mate, junior catcher Brooklyn Eardley (.521, 50H, 42 RBIs, no errors), is behind the plate. Senior shortstop Genesis Jaramillo (.518, 51H, 12 HRs, 40 SB, 66R) and junior first baseman Alex Fox (.550, 44H, 35 RBIs, 45R) also represent La Cueva.

Cibola’s Gaby Moncada, a junior, is the other first-team pitcher. Moncada was 19-3 last season with 20 complete games and three shutouts, and 197 strikeouts in 154 innings. She also batted .402.

The Cougars’ second first-teamer is junior outfielder Vanessa Romero (.433, 45H, 24 RBIs.).

Rio Rancho has three on the first team, two of them — junior Lilyrose Larrabee (.481, 16 HRs, 44 RBIs, 1.241 OPS) and senior Destiny Gonzales (6 HRs, 27 RBIs, superior defensive skills) — being outfielders.

Senior Aleah Alvarado (.528, 47 H, 7 HRs, 30 RBIs), who made headlines in the regular season by hitting four home runs in a single game for the Rams, tying a state record, is the first-team choice at third base.

The designated player and utility first-teamers are giants at the plate. Atrisco Heritage senior Mel Macias, a future Lobo, not only won 13 games in the circle, but she batted .605 with 49 hits, 40 RBIs and 14 home runs. Her OPS was an incredible 2.001. She is our first-team DP/DH.

Academy senior Melissa Purcella is the first-team utility choice. The shortstop/pitcher is going to Division I Rider. Purcella hit .615 last season with nine homers and 55 RBIs.

Senior Lorissa Scott of Belen (.560, 44R, 51H, nine HRs, 42 RBIs), her district’s player of the year, rounds out the first team at second base. She also was the Eagles’ top pitcher, with a dozen victories.