FARMINGTON – Piedra Vista senior pitcher J.W. Bayless believed all along this was going to be a special season for the Panthers baseball team.
With a a strong group of returning starters and a coaching staff that pushed all the right buttons for much of the campaign, Bayless was proven correct as Piedra Vista hoisted the Class 5A championship trophy last week after shutting out Cleveland 10-0 in the title game at UNM Baseball Field.
Bayless, one of the aces on the Panthers pitching staff this season, was one of three hurlers who helped guide the team to its first state title in more than a decade. In his final start on the mound, Bayless threw a complete game and struck out seven while also going 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs batted in to lead Piedra Vista to a 7-6 quarterfinal win over Las Cruces.
Prior to that start, Bayless’ final two outings on the hill were a testament to his overall performance throughout the season.
In a 6-0 win in the regular season finale over Farmington, Bayless struck out 12, allowing only four hits and one walk. The following week, in the opening game of the Class 5A tournament against Clovis, Bayless struck out four and allowed only one run in an 11-1 rout.
Bayless finished his senior season with a record of 12-0 with 74 strikeouts, culminating a five-year high school career with 27 wins against six losses. Over the course of his prep career, He struck out a total of 279 batters.
At the plate, he achieved a .351 batting average over the course of 99 career games.
For all his efforts in this most recently completed season, Bayless has earned the distinction of being named a 2026 Spring Splendor by the sports department of The Tri-City Record, recognizing the top individual athletes during the high school spring sports season.
“We knew coming into the season the kind of team we had, and what we were capable of,” he said. “It was just a matter of executing what we needed to do and performing well.”
Bayless isn’t done yet. He will look to continue his baseball career and education at Midland College. The Chapparals are wrapping up their 2025-26 season in the National Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado, entering the fourth round of the tournament as the No. 3 seed with an overall record of 52-11.
Before he heads off to college, Bayless is preparing for hip surgery which will keep him out of action for the summer with a likely return to action later this fall.
“My next step is just to have fun with my friends all summer. I won’t be playing any,” he said. “I’m just going to try to have fun for my last summer while I’m here with all my friends.”