With about half of its roster being new to the game, wins and losses aren’t the only measuring stick for Sedona Red Rock High School’s softball team this season. The game against Chino Valley on Tuesday, April 14 was a prime example of that.
The Scorpions knew that the Cougars would be one of the toughest teams they’d face all season and that’s exactly how things unfolded. Chino Valley defeated Sedona 15-0.
But even in the loss, there were positives drawn. One was on offense. While the Scorpions were shut out and recorded only three hits — two from sophomore shortstop Annabelle Cook and another from senior pitcher Bella Horton — they made a lot of contact.
“This game gave us a lot to learn from and it was also good to see the girls swinging at a faster pitcher,” Horton said. “Even if they didn’t get a hit, they were not just taking strikes and getting out.”
“They’re swinging at good pitches — and that’s the best pitcher we’ve faced all year,” SRRHS coach John Parks added. “We didn’t get a lot of hits but we’re making contact. The girls that haven’t played before are out there competing and battling at the plate.”
Horton pitched for four innings. In the fifth and what proved to be the final inning, she went behind the plate to play catcher while starting catcher, sophomore Annalee Dearden, went to the mound to pitch.
Among the other positives has been the team’s defense. While there were still errors made against the Cougars, the Scorpions are far better at executing routine plays like ground balls and fly balls than they were at the beginning of the season.
A final positive that the Scorpions took pride in from the loss to Chino Valley was their attitude. The game’s final outcome was never in doubt. Despite that, there was constant energy and chatter coming from the Scorpions bench — generally with words of encouragement.
“We’re all having good attitudes,” Dearden said. “I’m still having fun. Bella and the seniors are still having fun. They haven’t had a real softball season. This is the year when girls are coming out and really trying softball and I love to see it because I’ve loved softball for most of my life. I like just letting other people enjoy the sport. And although we’re not the best, we’re wanting to get better and enjoying our time out here.”
The Scorpions are now 2-4. Next up is a road game against Northland Prep Academy on Tuesday, April 20 at 3:45 p.m.
After that, Sedona will be at North Pointe Prep for a 4 p.m. game on Wednesday, April 21, home against Glendale Prep at 3:45 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, at Valley Lutheran at 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27, at Heritage Academy Laveen on Wednesday, April 28 at 3 p.m. and home for the season finale against North Pointe Prep on Thursday, April 30 at 3:45 p.m. Parks sees those final five games as an opportunity for the Scorpions to improve their record.
“They’re all tough girls and trying to battle through this,” he said. “And we still think the last five games of the season are winnable for us. We try to use these tough ones to improve and make us a little better.”
