JIMMIE MERGELMAN PHOTO
Miah Wren of Rangely is playing for the Cowboys this year.
The Meeker Cowboys softball team ended the busy week taking on Alameda on Friday evening and then Limon on Saturday morning. After the long trip, the girls started off the game strong against Alameda and finished with a 22-4 win. The Meeker offense put up three runs in the first inning when senior Reagan Hafey took the mound for the cowboys and allowed no runs. Freshman Addie Knowles pitched the rest of the game with five strikeouts.
“A very strong performance for our young pitcher,” commented head coach Kendal Bergman, “she gained great confidence and showed strength out there on the mound”.
Emma Bauer, Vivian Brown, and Reagan Hafey each having two hits in the game, drove the offensive score, coupled with multiple RBI’s from Kastyn Dembowski, Ryann Mergelman, Emma Bauer, Vivian Brown, and Dylan Herndon, the Cowboys racked up 22 points.
“This game was a good experience for a lot of girls to gain confidence and fine tune our swings and defense before facing Limon,” said Bergman.
Senior Reagan Hafey finds that positivity is key for the Cowboys, “I think keeping a positive attitude during the game no matter how good or bad the game is going, especially for what I know about the girls, we seem to all do a little bit better when we know someone believes in us.”
“Saturday didn’t have the outcome that we were hoping for but I can’t say enough positive things about this group of girls,” began Bergman about the Limon game. “Even if things didn’t go our way, they never gave up and fought hard through two tough games.”
The first game started off with the Cowboys scoring five runs in the first inning, assisted by Athena Lyon putting up two of those runs with a single. Defensively senior pitcher Reagan Hafey gave it her all to keep the Limon Badgers at bay but between the strong bats of Limon and miscues by the Cowboy defense, the Badgers came back strong to win the game 18-5.
Game two proved to be a better competition between the teams with Brea Garcia putting forth an outstanding effort pitching for the Cowboys.
“After a tough first game I felt like we all regrouped and started the second game off with good energy and we all refocused,” said Hafey.
“Garcia always battles hard on the mound but this was one of the best games I’ve seen her throw and I’m so proud of her,” said Bergman. “Not only did she steal the show on the mound, she also had a hit to lead off the fourth inning to start a rally.”
Lyon followed up Garcia’s hit with another single and Vivian hit another two-out RBI single. In the bottom half of the inning, Cowboy catcher Lyon threw a runner out trying to steal second.
“Athena’s out was a big boost to the confidence of the defense,” commented Bergman. “More great plays and pitching continued through the game with Brea having a 3 up 3 down inning in the 2nd, Vivian with a sliding catch in left field to end the 5th inning, and both Dembowski and Miah Wren both having RBI singles to keep the Cowboys in the game.”
The Badgers ended up winning the game but Meeker made them work for it.
“With more work on defense and keeping our bats going with runners in scoring position, I see us competing better with teams of that caliber,” wrapped up Bergman. “We’ve got such a solid team and I couldn’t be more proud of the effort and determination they have, we just need to work on putting it all together when we step out on the field for the games. The remainder of the season will be very bright indeed for this team!”
After a long weekend the team returned immediately to the field for the beginning of a busy week, with a game in Aspen.
”We won 21-1,” said Bergman. “A good fun win for sure. We needed that little morale boost.”
The Cowboys look to the week ahead with three full days of practice before returning to their home field on Saturday for a varsity doubleheader against Gunnison, game time 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
“My priority this week is getting healthy as I will be out for the next two weeks” commented Hafey. “With that, since I won’t be able to be on the field, I think it’s important that I focus on being uplifting to the team and being there for others to remind them to stay positive.”
By TIFFANY JEHOREK – Special to the Herald Times
