8TH GRADER TIES SINGLE SEASON HOME RUN RECORD

Malie Satete, a 8th grader who plays for West Las Vegas, tied the New Mexico high school record for most home runs in a single season. Tuesday, she hit her 20th home run of the year in a 14-7 win against Raton.  Satete has a chance to break the record of 20, set by Jalyn Montes of Cibola High School in 2023, on Friday at Albuquerque Academy.

Satete has 20 home runs in 20 games with the Lady Dons.  “My goal is to try and beat the record,” said the 8th grader.  “For the past two years I’ve worked a lot on my hitting.”

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 only has two strikeouts this year. She is confident and you don’t always see that in an 8th grader.”