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The metro’s three top 5A softball teams this season — Los Lunas, Cleveland and Albuquerque High — take up eight of the 12 selections on the 2026 Journal All-Metro first team.
Cleveland, the District 1 champion, puts second baseman, sophomore Danika Jaime (.477, 1.39 OPS, 52 hits, 39 RBIs) — who was the 1-5A offensive POY — and junior shortstop Isabella Chavez (.410, 46 runs, 22 stolen bases) on the first team.
But the Storm’s top overall player was probably senior center fielder Julia Montoya, who was the defensive POY in 1-5A. She hit .463 with six home runs and 35 RBIs, plus six outfield assists and eight pitching victories (against just two losses) in the circle.
Montoya is part of a star-studded outfield on the first team.
Did anyone have a season that could approach the numbers by St. Pius senior, and Howard-bound, Zoë Mangrum?
Check out these stats: .722 average, 54 hits, 65 runs and an incredible 73 RBIs. She hit 15 doubles and 15 home runs, and her OPS was 2.176. She struck out only twice in 101 plate appearances.
Rounding out the outfield is Los Lunas senior Kelsie DeGraaf, who helped the Tigers become a 4 seed for the 5A postseason. She hit .457, with 42 hits and 37 runs (all team highs), and was the 5-5A Player of the Year.
Raquel Waldrop of Albuquerque High is one of our first-team pitchers, though she was a dual threat. Waldrop did it all for the Bulldogs, going 9-0 in the circle with 99 Ks in 99 innings, and she batted .524 with seven homers and 57 RBIs.
The other first-team pitcher is Volcano Vista senior Audrianna Jim (15-4 for the Hawks) with 110 strikeouts, plus nine home runs and 39 RBIs at the plate, and a .562 average and was one of 5A’s most influential players.
Albuquerque High has two other first-team choices in senior catcher Annika Stanley (.553 BA, nine home runs, 44 RBIs), plus designated player, senior Aurora Green (who led the Bulldogs with a .602 average, including 53 hits and 56 runs).
Rio Rancho senior LilyRose Larrabee, who will play at UTEP, is our first-team utility player. She hit 411 with eight home runs plus 10 doubles and 33 RBIs. As a catcher, she threw out 15 runners trying to steal.
District 2-5A has the remaining two first-teamers in La Cueva senior first baseman Alex Fox (.500 with 41 runs and 23 walks as the leadoff batter for the Bears) and Sandia’s superb senior Liliana Villanueva, who won nine games in the circle but also batted .585 with 11 homers and 48 RBIs, and 40 runs scored. She was the 2-5A POY.
James Yodice covers prep sports for the Journal. You can reach him at [email protected] or via X at @JamesDYodice.
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2026 All-Metro Softball
First team
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Pitcher: Audrianna Jim, sr., Volcano Vista
Raquel Waldrop, sr., Albuquerque High
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Catcher: Annika Stanley, sr., Albuquerque High
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First Base: Alex Fox, sr., La Cueva
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Second Base: Danika Jaime, soph., Cleveland
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Shortstop: Isabella Chavez, jr., Cleveland
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Third Base: Lily Villanueva, sr., Sandia
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Outfield: Julia Montoya, sr., Cleveland
Zoë Mangrum, sr., St. Pius
Kelsie DeGraaf, sr., Los Lunas
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Designated player: Aurora Green, sr., Albuquerque High
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Utility: LilyRose Larrabee, sr., Rio Rancho
Second team
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Pitcher: Brooke Baca, sr., Los Lunas
Lexi Jaramillo, 8th, St. Pius
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Catcher: Brooklyn Eardley, sr., La Cueva
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First Base: Janessa Lane, sr., Atrisco Heritage
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Second Base: Ava Benavidez, jr., Cibola
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Shortstop: Honey Mirabal, jr., Belen
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Third Base: Kylee Herrera, sr., Bernalillo
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Outfield: Hailey Silva, sr., La Cueva
Kaylee Sanchez, jr., Volcano Vista
Bella Perez, sr., Bernalillo
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Designated player: Naia Thompson, sr., Cleveland
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Utility: Breanna Griego, fresh., Volcano Vista
Continue reading...
Cleveland, the District 1 champion, puts second baseman, sophomore Danika Jaime (.477, 1.39 OPS, 52 hits, 39 RBIs) — who was the 1-5A offensive POY — and junior shortstop Isabella Chavez (.410, 46 runs, 22 stolen bases) on the first team.
But the Storm’s top overall player was probably senior center fielder Julia Montoya, who was the defensive POY in 1-5A. She hit .463 with six home runs and 35 RBIs, plus six outfield assists and eight pitching victories (against just two losses) in the circle.
Montoya is part of a star-studded outfield on the first team.
Did anyone have a season that could approach the numbers by St. Pius senior, and Howard-bound, Zoë Mangrum?
Check out these stats: .722 average, 54 hits, 65 runs and an incredible 73 RBIs. She hit 15 doubles and 15 home runs, and her OPS was 2.176. She struck out only twice in 101 plate appearances.
Rounding out the outfield is Los Lunas senior Kelsie DeGraaf, who helped the Tigers become a 4 seed for the 5A postseason. She hit .457, with 42 hits and 37 runs (all team highs), and was the 5-5A Player of the Year.
Raquel Waldrop of Albuquerque High is one of our first-team pitchers, though she was a dual threat. Waldrop did it all for the Bulldogs, going 9-0 in the circle with 99 Ks in 99 innings, and she batted .524 with seven homers and 57 RBIs.
The other first-team pitcher is Volcano Vista senior Audrianna Jim (15-4 for the Hawks) with 110 strikeouts, plus nine home runs and 39 RBIs at the plate, and a .562 average and was one of 5A’s most influential players.
Albuquerque High has two other first-team choices in senior catcher Annika Stanley (.553 BA, nine home runs, 44 RBIs), plus designated player, senior Aurora Green (who led the Bulldogs with a .602 average, including 53 hits and 56 runs).
Rio Rancho senior LilyRose Larrabee, who will play at UTEP, is our first-team utility player. She hit 411 with eight home runs plus 10 doubles and 33 RBIs. As a catcher, she threw out 15 runners trying to steal.
District 2-5A has the remaining two first-teamers in La Cueva senior first baseman Alex Fox (.500 with 41 runs and 23 walks as the leadoff batter for the Bears) and Sandia’s superb senior Liliana Villanueva, who won nine games in the circle but also batted .585 with 11 homers and 48 RBIs, and 40 runs scored. She was the 2-5A POY.
James Yodice covers prep sports for the Journal. You can reach him at [email protected] or via X at @JamesDYodice.
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2026 All-Metro Softball
First team
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Pitcher: Audrianna Jim, sr., Volcano Vista
Raquel Waldrop, sr., Albuquerque High
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Catcher: Annika Stanley, sr., Albuquerque High
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First Base: Alex Fox, sr., La Cueva
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Second Base: Danika Jaime, soph., Cleveland
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Shortstop: Isabella Chavez, jr., Cleveland
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Third Base: Lily Villanueva, sr., Sandia
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Outfield: Julia Montoya, sr., Cleveland
Zoë Mangrum, sr., St. Pius
Kelsie DeGraaf, sr., Los Lunas
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Designated player: Aurora Green, sr., Albuquerque High
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Utility: LilyRose Larrabee, sr., Rio Rancho
Second team
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Pitcher: Brooke Baca, sr., Los Lunas
Lexi Jaramillo, 8th, St. Pius
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Catcher: Brooklyn Eardley, sr., La Cueva
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First Base: Janessa Lane, sr., Atrisco Heritage
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Second Base: Ava Benavidez, jr., Cibola
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Shortstop: Honey Mirabal, jr., Belen
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Third Base: Kylee Herrera, sr., Bernalillo
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Outfield: Hailey Silva, sr., La Cueva
Kaylee Sanchez, jr., Volcano Vista
Bella Perez, sr., Bernalillo
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Designated player: Naia Thompson, sr., Cleveland
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Utility: Breanna Griego, fresh., Volcano Vista
Continue reading...
