The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James

The celebratory parade in Las Vegas, N.M., had to be put on a hold for a day when the bus of the Class 3A softball champion West Las Vegas Lady Dons broke down in the hours following their 2-1 victory over Cobre in Friday’s final. The misfortune couldn’t spoil their elation from winning their second title in three years, and the Lady Dons broke out in a karaoke session outside of a restaurant while waiting for a new bus.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, West Las Vegas coach Julie Esquibel said her players are still riding high after capturing another title. She spoke to Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron to discuss the program’s 73-13 run over the past three years, including a 24-4 record in 2026.

In her second year coaching the Lady Dons, Esquibel said she prioritized building team chemistry. In addition to winning another Class 3A championship, she said it’s moments such as the impromptu karaoke session that her players will remember forever.

The mother of sophomore sensation Malie “Moogie” Satete, who broke the state’s home run record as an eighth-grader, Esquibel also talks about her daughter’s drive, her busy sports schedule and the first time she blasted a home run.

In the second segment, the guys touch briefly on the upcoming season for the Santa Fe Fuego and share some of their most memorable moments from the end of the 2025-26 high school sports season.

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It’s the last week of spring sports and much remains to be decided, with state softball, baseball and large school track and field squads competing to lift a blue trophy. Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron are looking not blue but red, with the smoldering sun melting their brains and crisping their skin as they cover all the action.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Will reports from Isotopes Park where the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Kiké Hernández is on a rehab stint with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He got the chance to speak with Hernández before Wednesday night’s game against the Isotopes and shares what the charismatic fan favorite had to say.

James then gets into the prep action he’s seen this week, starting with slow play at state golf in Elephant Butte. He then covers what he saw Wednesday at state softball, where St. Michael’s and West Las Vegas took the stage.

The guys continued into state baseball, previewing some of the action ahead involving Santa Fe Indian School, St. Mike’s and West Las Vegas.

In the second segment, attention turns to college sports. Will shares his thoughts on University of New Mexico men’s basketball coach Eric Olen’s big extension with the Lobos after a successful first year at the helm. Then the guys talk about the turmoil at New Mexico Highlands, which is experiencing a major shake-up with top administrators.

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The 2026 season for the Santa Fe Indian School baseball team is history in the making.

The Braves, who finished at the bottom of District 2-3A last year, captured their first-ever district crown in Class 3A on Saturday with a win at West Las Vegas. Now, the determined squad is looking to make some more noise as the No. 2 seed in the Class 3A state tournament.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, SFIS head coach Jude Torres joins Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron to discuss the Braves’ turnaround and their approach to the postseason.

Torres shares how a focus on sound defense and pitching have propelled the program to new heights. He also talks about how the tight-knit squad plays as a brotherhood, saying “some seasons you can just feel something special, and this season there’s something special with this group.”

In the second segment, the guys share their thoughts on the upcoming state baseball and softball tournaments. They end by talking a bit about the upheaval at New Mexico Highlands.

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In a decade and a half with the West Las Vegas Dons baseball team, Sal Archuleta has seen the program go from an afterthought in its district to a title contender. Now in his fourth season as head coach, Archuleta has the Dons in the hunt for their first district title in more than four decades.

Archuleta joins Santa Fe New Mexican sports reporters Will Webber and James Barron in the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast to talk about his team’s strong season and how it is approaching a challenging final week of the regular season that includes a game against St. Michael’s and a crucial doubleheader against district leader Santa Fe Indian School.

Archuleta talks about his squad’s strong pitching rotation and its lineup that’s been hitting at a blistering rate. He also shares what it’s taken to develop a winning mentality within the program. 

The second segment begins with Will’s Movie Reviews, where he offers his negative feelings about Project Hail Mary and recommends reading the book instead. 

Will has a more positive take about the University of New Mexico’s football team is shaping up after watching the Lobos’ recent spring game, saying they will have one of the most talented rosters in the Mountain West. 

The guys also chat about the different vibes between attending New Mexico United and Albuquerque Isotopes games at Isotopes Park.

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University of New Mexico sports fans got a big lift late last week with star sharpshooter Jake Hall announcing he’ll be returning to the men’s basketball team for his sophomore season. The only underclassman on the All-Mountain West First Team, Hall will be a key cog for head coach Eric Olen as the Lobos vie for a conference crown and another trip the the NCAA Tournament in the 2026-27 season.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron chat about Hall’s decision, which came just after Hall’s younger brother, Dax, announced that he would be joining the Lobos. Will shares what Jake Hall had to say during a Monday Zoom meeting with New Mexico media members and the significance of Hall’s return to the program.

The guys then transition into talk about the New Mexico United’s push to get a new soccer-specific stadium and the challenges of sharing Isotopes Park with the Albuquerque Isotopes.

Before the break, Will and James share their favorite memories of getting splattered with blood while covering boxing matches.

In the second segment, the guys talk about their selections for NorthStars for the winter season and dive into district races in prep baseball. They also delve into the struggle of Santa Fe’s large school’s competing at the 5A level in baseball and softball.

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With state championships in football and basketball in hand, Kamal Stith has visions of a perfect senior year in focus as his attention turns to the track.

Santa Fe New Mexican sports reporters Will Webber and James Barron have spent a lot of time speaking with Stith over the years following big wins and had him back on “The Sports Den” podcast this week for a chat about his decorated career, his family support, his shoe game and his plans for the future.

The guys spoke with Stith about his performance at the recent Marilyn Sepulveda Meet of Champions, where he finished third in the long jump and fourth in the 300-meter hurdles. He also discussed his desire to wrap up his high school career with another title.

Stith then gets into what he wants to do after graduating from St. Mike’s. He took a recent visit to Santa Monica, where he said he plans to play quarterback at the collegiate level. The multi-sport star discusses why he is leaning toward football over other sports.

In the second segment, Will and James discuss the exodus from the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team since the Lobos' run to the NIT Final Four. They also address the hiring of Paul Weir as St. Michael’s new president.

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Santa Fe New Mexican Sports Editor Will Webber has a lot on his mind after returning from the Final Four in Indianapolis — the uncertainty around the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team that will experience a major retooling this offseason, the expansive gap between UNM and the power programs that have the money to stay at the top of college athletics, and a hotel elevator ride that he and one unfortunate soul won’t soon forget.

Will shares it all on the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast. He and fellow sports scribe James Barron offer their perspective on how the NIL era is making it more challenging for mid-major programs to compete with the big dogs of college basketball. In a watered-down Mountain West, they think it may even become more likely to see the UNM football team to make the College Football Playoff than the men’s basketball team to make the Sweet 16.

The guys also talk about the roster turnover the basketball program is likely to see, and the players Eric Olen is likely prioritizing to try to convince to return.

After the break, Will overshares a bit when discussing how his road trip diet of three-meat sandwiches and chili cheeseburgers resulted in an agonizing elevator ride for an unsuspecting hotel guest in Indianapolis.

He also recounts his whirlwind experience covering the basketball bonanza in Indianapolis, from the intimate atmosphere of Hinkle Fieldhouse for the men’s NIT Final Four to the cavernous, expensive environment in Lucas Oil Stadium for the men’s NCAA Final Four.

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The rims may be the same height at Hinkle Fieldhouse as they are at The Pit, but they weren’t kind to the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team Thursday as a rough shooting night from 3-point land bit the Lobos in a 74-69 loss to Tulsa in the National Invitation Tournament semifinals in Indianapolis.

In a postgame edition of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican Lobos beat writer Will Webber reports from Hinkle after visiting UNM's locker room to provide the reaction from players and coaches and break down what went wrong against the Golden Hurricane.

Webber and colleague James Barron share their thoughts on the team’s first season under head coach Eric Olen, which ended with a 26-11 mark. They then talk about the team’s uncertain future and Will offers his opinion on the likelihood of Olen, Jake Hall and Uriah Tenette returning next year.

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Santa Fe New Mexican Lobos beat writer Will Webber is about to live out a sports writer’s dream by experiencing college basketball euphoria in Indianapolis, where the NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III and NIT men’s Final Fours will play out in the next handful of days, but is the highlight of his epic road trip from Albuquerque to the Hoosier state already in the rearview mirror?

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Webber reports from his driver’s seat during a brief stop in Tulsa to share with listeners his newly discovered passion for Buc-ee’s after a life-changing visit to a location in Amarillo. He also spends some time talking about the UNM men’s basketball team, which has trounced its competition to reach the NIT Final Four and will take on Tulsa Thursday.

Will and fellow Santa Fe New Mexican sports writer James Barron discuss the opportunity for the UNM program, which has never won a postseason event outside of the conference tournament. While some teams that miss the NCAA Tournament skip the NIT, coach Eric Olen and the Lobos have clearly been locked in.

The guys talk about how this is likely the last time much of this group will play together, though they think there’s a good chance Olen and a couple of key players will return next season.

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They just missed out on the Big Dance but the Lobos have been having fun at home while routing their first two opponents in the National Invitation Tournament.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron discuss the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team’s NIT run heading into Tuesday night’s quarterfinal matchup against Saint Joseph’s.

The guys talk about the lively atmosphere at The Pit and what may lie ahead with the semifinals and finals in Indianapolis.

In the second segment, James shares his experience at the state spirit championships over the weekend. Will and James then chat a bit about prep baseball and other spring sports, which are already off and running.

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