McCurdy softball started the year with a lot of road trips.
They have traveled to Santa Rosa, Moriarty and Las Cruces for tournaments.
Finally, this week they got to play at home.
“I think it’s taken a toll on us,” said McCurdy coach Joe Valdez. “Now that we start to settle down and be home, I think we’ll be alright.”
The Bobcats (3-11) defeated Pecos (0-6) 15-3 in five innings on Wednesday. McCurdy broke a seven-game losing streak. A day before, they played twice and lost to Estancia in their first “home” game at the Española city fields.
“It boosted our confidence,” said senior pitcher Andrea Croff. Looking forward, she hopes for, “Hopefully a couple more wins.”
The big tournaments pushed McCurdy in challenges, and “showed us how to work together,” said senior Esperanza Sandoval, who had two hits and four RBIs against Pecos.
Mariana Arambula had a double, walk and hit by pitch, and scored three times.
Croff pitched all five innings, allowing three earned runs. She both started and ended strong, with a 1-2-3 first inning and striking out the side in the fifth. Pecos scored a run each in the second, third and fourth innings.
“Her release is good,” Valdez said. “Putting the ball in different locations, just moving that ball around.”
McCurdy started with two runs in the bottom of the first, with Karina Archuleta leading off and stealing home, and Elisa Noches hit an RBI single. They added three more in the second, and four in the fourth including three batted in by Esperanza Sandoval.
And in the sixth inning, McCurdy piled on six runs with their first six batters scoring, including Arambula’s RBI double.
“We were hitting,” Valdez said. “That’s one of the other things we haven’t done, is we haven’t hit.”
Valdez said they look to improve on their hitting through practice.
McCurdy ended the game in the middle of the fifth with the mercy rule with their 12-run lead.
Even if it has not been the most winning season, McCurdy is still enjoying the time on the field, especially the seniors.
“The bonding that we all have,” said senior Aliyah Aragon. “We all grew up together.”
McCurdy next plays against Santa Rosa (4-7) on April 20. They started the year 0-2 in district with losses to Estancia, and their next game in the three-team district comes at Mora (5-3) on April 30.
The next day, the Bobcats also hosted a field day at the city fields for an elementary school. The players, some of whom were able to get most of the day off school, hosted fun activities for the elementary school field trip.