After losing three consecutive games, the Pojoaque Valley High School softball team rebounded strong against district foe, St. Michael’s High School.
They were out-scored 45-16 in their previous three outings, but their bats came alive again to outlast the Lady Horsemen 13-9, April 10, at St. Michael’s.
“They have to have confidence in what they’re doing,” head coach Ricky DeHerrera said. “They know the game, but sometimes they just lose focus. They didn’t lose it today, and they can do wonders when they keep that focus.”
Their attention to detail was evident early, as the Elkettes scored eight runs in the first two innings, surpassing their total from the last three games, combined.
Hailey Ortiz hit the final of three RBIs in the first inning, to give Pojoaque a 4-0 lead.
St. Michael’s would respond in a hurry, getting hits from their first two batters to put runners into scoring position. Rhiannon Salazar hit a an RBI double to score two, before the Lady Horsemen tied the game at four to end the inning.
Pojoaque added another four runs in the second, with the biggest coming from their senior leader, Analisa Lovato.
While she was at third base, St. Michael’s pitcher Lynnsey Glidewell threw a wild pitch, giving Lovato the chance to head home.
She sacrificed her entire body, sliding head-first into home plate to beat the tag from Glidewell.
“That was a lot of dirt,” Lovato said with a laugh. “When I got up, I couldn’t even see, so I didn’t know how much dirt there was until I opened my eyes.”
The play excited the team and brought them together for the rest of the afternoon. The players said they talked before the game about being more together, as a group.
“We’re starting to come together as one,” Mikayla Padilla said. “Before, we were focused on our own thing. Now, we’re laughing and bonding, which is making us stronger on and off the field.
DeHerrera also noted the importance of teaching his team to play together.
“It’s not jealousy, but kids can be that way (focused on themselves),” he said. “You have to keep them unified and positive through the whole process.”
After four near event-less innings, the Elkettes held a 10-8 advantage heading into the seventh. They came together one more time to put the game away.
They added another three runs, thanks to RBIs from freshman Jessica Roybal and Rianna Arellano.
Pojoaque improved to 7-10 on the season, with nine games remaining.