State Champion East Mountain Dominates 3A All-State Baseball Team

SANDIA PARK — Fresh off a dominant 28-1 campaign that culminated in a Class 3A state championship, the East Mountain High School baseball team has taken over the New Mexico High School Coaches Association (NMHSCA) All-State selections.

Leading the charge for the Timberwolves are senior outfielder Charlie Birdwell, who was named the Class 3A State Player of the Year, and head coach Chris Moya, honored as the Class 3A Coach of the Year.

The individual accolades cap off a historic season that saw East Mountain storm through an unblemished 15-0 district run en route to the top of the podium.

Birdwell, Moya Highlight Major Awards

Birdwell’s Player of the Year honors come on the heels of a staggering senior season at the plate. In 29 games, the outfielder posted a microscopic clearance for opposing pitchers, batting .615 (56-for-91) with 64 RBIs, 62 runs scored, and 21 doubles. Showing immense power in the middle of the order, Birdwell also smacked four triples and nine home runs while anchoring the Timberwolves’ outfield defense to earn a First-Team All-State nod.

On the bench, Coach Moya guided East Mountain to a near-perfect season, managing a deep roster that combined high-octane offense with elite pitching depth to finish the year on top of the 3A classification.

Dominating the First Team

East Mountain’s championship foundation was built on pitching and defense, which was reflected in the heavy First-Team All-State representation.

  • Luke Stoerner (Sr., Pitcher): Headlined the All-State starting rotation. On the mound, Stoerner turned in a flawless 6-0 record over 11 appearances, maintaining a microscopic 0.84 ERA while offering plenty of support at the plate with a .541 batting average and 48 RBIs.
  • Cole Darnell (Sr., Pitcher): Joined his teammate on the first-team staff  with a 6-1 record across 15 appearances and a stellar 2.03 ERA.
  • Ty Rector (Sr., Infielder): Secured a first-team infield spot after hitting .478 with 52 runs scored and 41 RBIs.
  • Aidan Madrid (Sr., Catcher): Earned top honors behind the plate, handling the elite pitching staff while batting .461 with 48 RBIs of his own.

Complete All-State Representation

The Timberwolves’ depth showed through the remainder of the NMHSCA honors, with six additional players receiving recognition across the second team and honorable mention lists:

Second Team Honors

  • Christopher Moya (Sr., Infielder): Battled his way onto the second-team infield, hitting .309 with 24 RBIs and 33 runs scored on the year.
  • Quinlan Gwyther (Sr., Outfielder): Placed on the second-team outfield after a steady senior year, hitting .414 with 30 RBIs, while also flashing a 2-0 record and 3 saves on the mound.

Honorable Mentions

  • Ryan Moorhead (Jr., Infielder): Received an infield nod after hitting .395 with 25 RBIs. Moorhead was also a weapon out of the bullpen, logging a 0.00 ERA across three relief appearances.
  • Dalton Springall (Sr., Utility): Recognized in the utility spot, hitting .349 with 27 runs scored while logging five pitching appearances (1-0).
  • Brody Johnson (So., Outfielder): Earned an outfield mention following a strong sophomore season where he batted .427, driving in 18 runs and scoring 53 times.

At a Glance: East Mountain All-State Selections

Player / CoachPositionAll-State SelectionKey Season Statistic
Charlie BirdwellOutfield1st Team (Player of the Year).615 AVG, 64 RBI, 9 HR
Chris MoyaCoachCoach of the Year28-1 Overall, 15-0 District
Luke StoernerPitcher1st Team6-0 Record, 0.84 ERA
Cole DarnellPitcher1st Team6-1 Record, 2.03 ERA
Ty RectorInfield1st Team.478 AVG, 52 Runs, 41 RBI
Aidan MadridCatcher1st Team.461 AVG, 48 RBI
Christopher MoyaInfield2nd Team.309 AVG, 33 Runs
Quinlan GwytherOutfield2nd Team.414 AVG, 30 RBI
Ryan MoorheadInfieldHonorable Mention.395 AVG / 0.00 ERA (3 APP)
Dalton SpringallUtilityHonorable Mention.349 AVG, 15 Hits
Brody JohnsonOutfieldHonorable Mention.427 AVG, 53 Runs