Softball Team Struggles In Loss

By Nicky Romero

SOCORRO -- The Socorro Lady Warriors Softball Team (8-7) were shut out 10-0 in five innings against the Class 4A Valencia Lady Jaguars (8-4). This was Socorro's first loss by the 10- run rule this season.
The game was supposed to get the Lady Warriors ready for their first district game this Tuesday against rival Cobre.
“I expected a lot more from our varsity today,” Socorro coach Gary Apodaca said. It just didn't come through. Defensively, we made a lot of errors. Offensively, we hit the ball a little bit, but we just couldn't move people around the bases.”
Before Socorro got its first at-bat, Valencia was ahead 7-0 in the top of the first inning. Valencia began the inning with a single, the leadoff batter scored all the way from first base on a wild pitch.
Valencia scored its next two runs on errors from the second baseman and one on the shortstop. Valencia continued to get runners on base and scored four more runs on singles to the outfield.
Pitcher Maureen Trujillo finally ended the long inning by forcing a groundout to the shortstop.
Coach Apodaca said, “You can't start an inning and be down seven runs. That just puts you in a hole. You have to start off with a lot of energy and intensity and we didn't have that today. We had been off for a few days, so I thought we would be rested and ready to play. As the game went on, we had mental mistakes that just hurt us.”
In the second inning, Courtney Edmister and Brittany McDaniel began the inning with two consecutive walks. With no outs, Socorro attempted a double steal and Edmister was thrown out at third. Socorro ended the inning with McDaniel standing at second.
In the third inning, Valencia scored two more runs on throwing errors to give them a 9-0 lead. Socorro again threatened in the third with two runners on and no outs, but it was quickly squelched with three straight strikeouts by the Valencia pitcher Kylah Montano.
Valencia added their last run in the fourth inning on a triple to left field and scored quickly on a passed ball to the catcher.
Socorro then went down quietly in the fourth and fifth innings to end the game by the ten run rule.
Socorro will host a single crucial game on Tuesday against district opponent and No. 2 state-ranked Cobre (11-4) starting at 4 pm.
“If we don't pick it up, Cobre will just walk all over us” Apodaca said.
“Cobre's a tough team and mentally strong. They have the hitters and experience. We have that same type of experience, we just have to apply it on the field. Hopefully, things will turn around for us. Hopefully when we hit district next week, we'll pick it up a notch or two.”

Softball Team Struggles In Loss