Española softball’s weather has been all over the place early in the season, as is to be expected in northern New The team has played through snow, rain and wind.
They finally had a sunny and warm day to open district play, but came up short on their home field.
Hampered by fielding issues and a quiet afternoon at the plate, Española (3-10, 0-3) lost to Los Alamos (10-4, 3-0) 15-1 in five innings on March 29 to start the district season. Through the season they average 17 runs in their three wins, but just 1.4 in 10 losses.
For senior Ashley Osegueda, Española softball’s hitting is great during practices.
But when it comes to games, nerves are still getting the better of the team.
“I know we can hit,” Osegueda said. “We can rip it. I think it’s just we get so nervous up on the plate. And we just overthink it.”
Los Alamos started the game with a leadoff triple by Nadia Cedillo, who scored on a squeeze bunt. But Española was shut down on the other end. Cedillo, the eighth-grader, retired all nine Sundevils she faced, striking out six.
Los Alamos scored another run in the second, and added three more in the third. Three more runs came through for Los Alamos in the fourth, stretching the lead to eight.
Española’s bats finally came to life in the fourth inning, starting with a leadoff triple by Leah Vigil. Osegueda brought her in with a single. But that was all that Española’s offense could do for the day, as they finished with just three hits and no other baserunners.
Osegueda said Vigil finding success helped her mindset entering her second plate appearance.
“The first inning, I’ll be honest, I was overthinking,” Osegueda said.
And Española’s defense came apart in the fifth inning, though after allowing a two-run homer, errors continued another long inning where the Hilltoppers sent nine to the plate and scored seven runs. In total, Española gave up eight unearned runs in the game.
An issue for the Sundevils this season is pitching depth. Estrella Tena, who pitched a majority of last season, suffered a concussion, leaving freshman Aliah Villalobos stuck in the game without a potential replacement.
The Sundevils lost both games of a doubleheader to Moriarty (11-2, 3-0) 16-2 on April 1. Their next pair of games come on Saturday at Taos (1-9, 0-2).
“I know there’s going to be teams where it’s going to be close,” Osegueda said about the rest of the district season. “And we just have to keep fighting. We just need to fight more for districts. I have faith in us this year.”