4/23/09
The Española Valley Lady Sundevils secured their hold on first place April 18 by sweeping a double-header from Capital High School and improving to 7-1 in District 2AAAA.
The Sundevils had taken a tenuous half-game lead in district softball standings April 16 with a 9-3 victory over the Los Alamos Hilltoppers in the second game of a doubleheader at Española.
That much-needed victory vaulted the Sundevils ahead of the Hilltoppers, who took the first game of the double-header. Their subsequent loss dropped the Hilltoppers to 4-1, while Española improved to 5-1 in district play.
“We had to win that second game,” Española coach Robbie Garcia said.
Sundevil pitcher Renee Roybal took the loss in the first game despite striking out 12 Los Alamos batters. The Sundevils led 5-3 going into the top of the seventh inning, but the Hilltoppers scored four runs to go ahead 7-5. Española failed to score in the bottom of the seventh inning and Los Alamos took the victory.
Roybal came back in the second game, striking out 10 batters while scattering six Los Alamos hits. Despite a cold wind that had fans shivering, Roybal stubbornly stayed sleeveless on the mound.
“I’m constantly moving,” Roybal said. “I feel sorry for the other players because they have to stand around.”
In the second game, Los Alamos took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Sundevils responded with a single and a stolen base from Evelyn Caballero, who then scored on a hit by Megan Martinez.
Española loaded the bases in the second inning with three straight singles by Julie Trujillo, Serena Garcia and Maria Serna. Roybal drew a walk to score the tying run.
The Hilltoppers led 3-2 when Española rallied for another three runs in the fourth. Roybal struck out the side in the top of the fifth and the Sundevils finished the inning with two runs off base hits by Janelle Martinez and Monica Herrera. Española added two more runs in the sixth on a leadoff triple by Serna and a double by Roybal, who later scored on a passed ball.
The Hilltoppers went scoreless in the seventh, and Española earned a key district victory.
“We just wanted to come back and beat them,” Roybal said. “I felt stronger, faster and more accurate in the second game.”
Española is now 12-7 overall. The team’s wins include a wild 20-13 victory April 15 over Bernalillo. The Sundevils came back from a 7-3 deficit with six runs in the third inning, five in the fifth and five in the seventh innings.
Española has won two consecutive District 2AAAA softball titles.
Despite losing five senior starters from last year’s team, Garcia said the Sundevils can make it three in a row.
“We’re working on the little things that we need to get them to execute,” Garcia said. “We’re headed in that direction.”