Wins that break long losing streaks are often dramatic and frequently require a fortunate bounce or two. But Sedona Red Rock High School’s softball team showed in its game against Glendale Prep Academy on Wednesday, March 4, that is not always the case.
Things did start slow for the Scorpions, who surrendered four runs to the Griffins in the top half of the first inning. Sedona wasn’t down for long, though, scoring 10 runs in the bottom of the first and six more in their half of the second inning. In the end, the Scorpions won 19-4 in a game called after five innings due to the mercy rule. In the process, the SRRHS softball team picked up its first win in nearly two years.
“It was a great win for all of us because we’re such a young team,” junior catcher Lesley Suarez said. “But I’d say it was a great win for both of us [referencing herself and fellow junior, pitcher Bella Horton] because we haven’t won a game since our freshman year. It’s a good feeling to win. It’s just going to make us work harder.”
If the Scorpions had a standout player, it was Horton. She pitched through the early defensive struggles and completed the game, allowing only one hit in the process. Horton also delivered in a big way on offense, slugging an inside-the-park grand slam.
Sedona Coach Bri Young noted that two things changed defensively after the first inning. One was that Suarez switched gloves. She had a problem handling Horton’s pitches in the opening inning but caught a much cleaner game after switching gloves. Additionally, Young opined that when the SRRHS bats came alive, the gloves did, as well. Her starting pitcher agreed.
“I feel like we definitely had more confidence,” Horton said. “We were able to work more cohesively
and overall I think we just did better recovering from our mistakes and not getting down on ourselves.”
The coach also heaped praise on sophomores Sedona Sturgeon and Bianca Cline. Both have spent extensive time in the batting cages through the early part of the season. Young asked both to lay down bunts during the game against the Griffins and both came though.
Of course, as is typically the case when a team scores 19 runs in a game, the Scorpions did not lack for offensive standouts. Young noted that her team took advantage of the good accuracy of the Glendale Prep pitcher.
“They had a pitcher who could throw strikes and our girls teed off,” Young said. “Everyone got hits.”
The win was big for the Scorpions. Not only did it break an extended losing streak but it was also the first time Sedona took the field since losing the opener to Trivium Prep. While the loss to the Crimson Knights — who are ranked No. 2 in the state — was expected, losing 25-0 naturally left the SRRHS team eager to change their fortunes.
That happened against the Griffins, and freshman shortstop Annabelle Cook stated after the game that she expects it to be the first win of many.
“I think it was a preview of what this season is going to look like,” Cook said. “And I think it made our girls feel that they want to do it for our veterans and for the school. I think it’ll draw more attention
to the softball team which will be good for the following years to get more girls out.”
After a double-header against Joseph City on Thursday, March 5, the Scorpions are now on an extended break. They’ll next be in action when they host American Leadership Academy-Ironwood on Tuesday, March 17 at 3:45 p.m.
