MEEKER | The Meeker 1, 11-13 Meeker 1 Rec Center softball team opened its season with a 27-13 road win over Rifle on Thursday night at Skinner Field.
Coach Phil Patton said he was pleased with the way his team competed in its first game together.
“We were thrilled to get a road win to open the season,” Patton said. “I was proud of how the girls competed. Scoring 27 runs shows our plate discipline was excellent.”
Meeker’s offense was fueled by a mix of patience and contact at the plate, drawing 10 walks and collecting 10 singles. The Cowboys also added extra-base hits, including a double from Emilee Woodruff and a triple from Annabeth Moody. The power game came through as well, with back-to-back inside-the-park home runs from Samantha Patton.
Meeker jumped out early, scoring seven runs in the first inning before adding 11 in the second and 10 more in the third.
Patton said the team’s approach at the plate was a key difference-maker.
“We were disciplined in our decision-making, determining balls and strikes,” he said.
On the defensive side, Meeker recorded six strikeouts in the three-inning contest and showed improvement in communication, something Patton said has been a point of emphasis.
“Field communication has definitely improved since last year,” Patton said. “The girls are talking more and identifying where and how plays will happen depending on the scenario.”
A defensive highlight came on a tag at third base by Gracelyn Walker.
Leading up to the season opener, Patton said the team focused on conditioning and chemistry, which he felt carried over into the performance.
“It was rewarding to see that foundation translate directly into a gritty road win,” he said.
Now 1-0, Meeker turns its attention to a Tuesday road game against Grand Valley at Vix Ranch, with Patton emphasizing continued aggression at the plate and cleaner defensive execution.
