West Las Vegas 8th Grader Breaks Single Season Home Run Record
Malie Satete, an 8th grader who plays for West Las Vegas, put her name on top of a list in the New Mexico high school record book. Satete hit her 21st home run of the season on Tuesday against rival Robertson, breaking the previous mark of 20 home runs in one year. Last week, Satete tied the record with her 20th home run of the year in a 14-7 win against Raton. Jalyn Montes of Cibola High School set the previous high mark in 2023.
Satete has 21 home runs in 23 games with the Lady Dons. “For the past two years I’ve worked a lot on my hitting,” said the 8th grader.
Satete is also a pitcher for the Lady Dons and she says that works to her advantage at the plate. “I pay attention to what the pitchers do when they throw, their hands, their movements, and I try to think what I would throw myself,” she said. “I try my best just to make contact and try not to hit grounders, just try to hit line drives.”
“She’s amazing,” said West Las Vegas head coach Roy Pacheco. “If she can put a bat on it, it has a good chance to go out. She hits the ball well. She is confident and you don’t always see that in an 8th grader.”
West Las Vegas is 20-3 overall with a doubleheader against Santa Fe Indian School scheduled for Friday, before their first game of the postseason next week.
