Cleveland Rallies Past Piedra Vista 9-7, Ending Panthers' Unbeaten District Run

Piedra Vista's perfect district record lasted exactly two weeks.

The No. 1-ranked Cleveland Storm rallied past the No. 2 Panthers 9-7 Wednesday at Ricketts Park in Farmington, ending Piedra Vista's unbeaten run against New Mexico opponents and dealing the Panthers their first in-state loss of the 2026 season.

The Farmington program had entered the day as the state's most compelling challenger to Cleveland, carrying a 16-1 overall record with their only blemish a February loss to a Portland, Oregon school that shares the Storm's name. Piedra Vista had also opened District 1-5A play with a dramatic 9-4 extra-inning win over Volcano Vista the previous week, scoring five runs in the eighth to escape.

Wednesday went the same direction for much of the afternoon, until it didn't. The Panthers mounted a furious seventh-inning rally, scoring five runs to close within two. But with the tying run stranded on base, Cleveland held on for the two-run victory and sole possession of first place in District 1-5A.

For Cleveland, which had gone unbeaten through its entire non-district slate including a Sal Puentes Tournament title and wins at the Panther Invite in Farmington, the win at Ricketts Park carried extra weight. The Panthers had beaten or run with anyone on their schedule. Stopping the comeback attempt on the road against a hostile crowd underlined why the Storm came into April ranked atop every poll.

Piedra Vista, playing at home before its own fans for a game that drew considerable regional attention, now absorbs a district loss that will test the Panthers' resilience in a 1-5A race that still includes Rio Rancho, Cibola, and Volcano Vista. Cleveland, meanwhile, improves to 2-0 in district and keeps its grip on the district lead with the most grueling stretch of the schedule still ahead.