The spring sports season at Sedona Red Rock High School starts at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26 — whether Mike Keider is ready or not.

That is when the Scorpions softball team will host Show Low High School, a quarterfinalist at last year’s state tournament before losing to eventual state champion Empire High School.

“If we got it, we got it,” Keider said. “Do I think we can be [No.] 8? I don’t think so, but I think we can get back there.”

The schedule was changed to accommodate this home opener three days after the Scorpions, who finished last season ranked eighth in Division III, lost freshman outfielder Karenna Carmona for a week to concussion in a home scrimmage loss to Holbrook High School.

“We did well through four innings,” said Keider, whose daughter, Emma, will not only be expected to build on a .587 batting average — second-best in Section IV last season — but also shoulder a majority of the pitching load this season as a senior. “Then I left Emma in one too many innings. She got tired.”

Keider would give up four runs to Holbrook, with sophomore center fielder Natalie Monge doing the same in relief.

Monge is the “most aggressive base-runner … by far” on the team, Mike Keider said, and thus could move from her clean-up spot to leadoff hitter Feb. 26.

“I want to make sure she gets on early,” Keider said. “She’s getting around the bases.”

Monge will both be throwing to a young gun at catcher this spring, Desiray Davis.

“I was pretty happy with both of them, where they’re at,” Keider said. “I have to work with [Davis] on her throw down to second [and] streamline her delivery.”

When Monge is pitching, junior Courtney Howard, ninth in the section last year in both stolen bases and fielding, will slide her .948 fielding percentage over from shortstop to center field.

Karen Giorgianni, whose arm, Keider said, “has really gotten stronger,” will give way to junior Tara Kohlan in left field.

Giorgianni will move in from the outfield to start at third base, with fellow senior Michelle Galvez playing second.

“She hasn’t played since I coached her in eighth grade,” Keider said. “She was a manager for two years. I just bugged her to throw a little, and she saw how much fun it was.”

Davis and right fielder Kamila Doran will be the two freshmen starting this spring for Keider, with Drew Maguire the equally young backup for Doran.

Ally Alver, just slightly more experienced as a sophomore, is expected to start at first base.

“It’s a building year,” Keider said. “We’ve just got to play our game.”

For the Sedona Red Rock High School season softball schedule, please see the Friday, Feb. 26, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.