MHS softball adds wins to record

The Cowboy softball team traveled to Eagle last Friday to play Battle Mountain. Both the varsity and JV came away with victories.

The varsity team was led by senior Reagan Hafey who went four for four at the plate, with two doubles and five RBIs. Hafey also pitched three solid innings with six strikeouts and only allowing one hit. Along with Hafey, Brea Garcia, Ryann Mergelman, Jade Miller, Kastyn Dembowski, Vivian Brown and Athena Lyon had successful at bats throughout the game scoring multiple runs to put the Cowboys ahead to win the game 18-0. “The team did a great job passing the bat and everyone on the team contributed to this solid victory,” commented head coach Kendal Bergman. The JV then played their game after a lengthy lightning delay. Vanessa Herrera, freshman from Craig, started the game pitching with Addie Knowles, freshman from Meeker, finishing off the game to get the win. The bats stayed alive through the second game as well with Autumn Stallings having two opposite field hits, Miah Wren using her speed and swing to score runs, and Aaliyah Castillo having a multi-hit game to keep the Cowboys ahead. “The defense worked well together even with multiple girls getting moved around to try out new positions,” said Bergman.

Brooklyn Garcia got her first game experience at third base and made some plays to support her team, Dylan Herndon caught a fly ball in center field and threw the ball to first base to double up the runner trying to advance, and Kastyn Dembowski having range at shortstop and making some plays for outs. “The JV team did great and worked awesome together to come away with the W,” commented Bergman. The JV team was back at it Saturday morning against Rifle for a double header. The teams went all the way to the seventh inning to decide a victor with Rifle edging ahead to win the first game. Vanessa Herrera from Craig started the game pitching with Addie Knowles finishing the game strong on the mound. “The defense clicked better as well throughout the game and there were great at bats by Miah Wren, Herndon, Knowles, Castillo, Dayonna Trabaudo, and Teryn Carter,” said Bergman. “The team never gave up through the entire game and I was very proud of their fight and performance.” Meeker was geared up and ready for the second game after a full seven inning first game. They kept Rifle close the first few innings but the Bears began to sneak away as the game progressed. Wren continued a hitting streak with a triple down the right field line, Dylan Herndon having herself a day at the plate with RBI hits, and with Emma Bauer, Carter, A. Knowles, Dembowski, and Wren all getting singles in the third inning. Later in the game, the hits kept coming by Miller and Trabaudo kept the Cowboys close in the third inning, only down by two runs. After finishing the fourth inning with the Cowboys down 12-9, the Bears came away with the win after putting up multiple more runs in the next inning. “I am proud that the girls never gave up and fought hard during the long day,” said Bergman. “The JV team had not played two days in a row all season and they gave it their all after an already long week.

We will continue to work on having quality at bats and playing clean defense to support our pitching staff. We look forward to seeing these girls hit the field again soon!” On Monday at home, the varsity girls faced off against the 4A/5A Southwestern League Grand Junction Tigers. Senior pitcher Garcia held the Tigers to only three runs through the fourth inning with numerous strikeouts even battling with a very tight zone. “Her defense was solid during those innings with great plays at shortstop by Mergelman, a steady catcher with Lyon behind the plate for Garcia, and a great relay from right fielder Dembowski to second baseman Hafey to catcher Lyon to get an out at home plate,” commented Bergman. Up at the plate, the Cowboys had some decent hits to get runners on.

A solid double over the center fielder’s head by Lyon in the second inning, but the Cowboys finally pushed a run across when Herndon hit a hard ground ball through the shortstop to score Mergelman from second base in the fourth inning after Mergelman’s lead off single. After some defensive positions got switched around, the Cowboys continued to battle to hold off the Tigers but their bats came alive and the defense had some miscues that caused extra runs for the opposition. Game end score 12-1. “The girls stayed mentally in the game throughout each inning and never gave up,” said Bergman. “We’re really pushing the motto of living in the moment and making every play count and we see great things for this team as we continue to move through the season. Brea Garcia truly is an outstanding leader on this team who proves herself day in and day out, we’ll clean up the defense for her and put up more runs to work towards more victories.” The Cowboys are looking forward to this weekend’s games against Cortez, a varsity double header on Saturday, Sept. 24, and 10 a.m. and noon.

By TIFFANY JEHOREK – Special to the Herald Times