Los Lunas Returns Many Starters; Belen, Valencia Open Season Eyeing Postseason

Los Lunas returned many starters as the spring softball season opened Feb. 12, 2026, giving the Tigers continuity that local coaches say is a key ingredient for postseason runs. That continuity put Los Lunas in early conversations across Valencia County as Belen Eagles and Valencia Jaguars also opened their campaigns with postseason goals in sight.

The Los Lunas Tigers enter the schedule with experience on the field after returning many starters, a fact that should make lineup decisions easier for coaches and reduce the immediate pressure on underclassmen to carry innings. For a program that drew attention this offseason, having seasoned players back offers situational familiarity at the plate and in the field that can matter in tight district and regional games.

Belen opened its season alongside Los Lunas, and the Belen Eagles have already signaled a focus on building toward postseason play. The Eagles’ season start shifts attention to in-county competition and to how Belen’s rotation and defensive alignment will hold up across a full spring slate. Early nonconference games will be important for Belen to test depth and for coaching staffs to evaluate pitching workloads.

Valencia also began play with postseason hopes, and the Valencia Jaguars will be watched for how quickly they can translate preseason work into midweek and weekend results. For Valencia County programs, the first weeks of the season often reveal the teams best prepared to manage travel, practice schedules, and game-day recovery - all practical factors that influence a push toward postseason berths.

Beyond wins and losses, the collective opening of the seasons for Los Lunas, Belen and Valencia spotlights broader issues for high school athletics in the county. Returning starters and well-managed rotations can reduce injury risk and the need for rostering inexperienced players into high-stress game situations. That connection between roster stability and player health matters for athletic trainers, school nurses and families across the county who track weekday practices and weekend tournaments.

As the spring schedule unfolds after the Feb. 12 season openers, Tigers, Eagles and Jaguars will each face the immediate task of converting early continuity and preparation into consistent results. For Valencia County fans and program leaders, the early returns from Los Lunas, Belen and Valencia will set expectations for who might be playing into the postseason.