Kourtnie Polanco did not know why the softball coaching position became open, but she knew she wanted to take over.
Longtime coach Robbie Garcia left the program after well over a decade. Polanco, the junior varsity coach a year ago, officially took over in December.
“I just got the call and asked to take over this year,” she said. “I didn’t want to leave the girls.”
With Polanco at the helm, Española Valley (5-14, 0-6) is still searching for their first district win after losing 12-6 to Pojoaque (4-15, 2-3) at home on Wednesday.
“It’s mostly the same girls that we coached last year on JV,” Polanco said.
The Sundevils are a young team this year, with no seniors, and much of the production coming from sophomores. Two eighth-graders are on varsity, including starting leftfielder Gabriela Segura.
So, the team’s five juniors are having to step up a year early as leaders. Polanco pointed to the infield of two sophomores and two juniors as team leaders.
“We’re really growing as a team,” said junior second-baseman Allysandra Sanchez. “From the beginning of the year to right now, we’ve excelled.”
Sanchez said the team is well connected, and are friends off the field.
“It’s a pretty good team,” Sanchez said. “We’re all going to grow to next year. No one’s leaving.”
Polanco said that defense has been a strength for the team, while they are still working on improving their hitting.
Junior shortstop Aria Chavez highlighted that defense with a pair of highlight catches during the game. Last year, she was playing third base, but moved over for this year.
“I’m adjusting, and I think I’m getting it down pretty good,” she said.
Pojoaque scored twice in the first, but Española scored one in the first and four in the second inning.
Freshman Amberly Oritz pitched well through the first three innings, including a 1-2-3 second. But after giving up a couple big hits in the fourth, Española subbed in sophomore Aliah Villalobos.
Polanco said that since the start of district play, they have been having Ortiz start games and Villalobos pitch in relief. Ortiz pitched much less early in the season.
“Starting (Ortiz) every game has been giving her that confidence that we really need,” Polanco said. “And (Villalobos) is coming out strong closing the game. That’s just been working, so that’s probably what we’re going to stick with.”
Chavez said she has seen the growth of the pitchers, Ortiz especially, throughout the season.
But Pojoaque’s bats came alive in the fourth inning, scoring six runs on eight hits, including an inside-the-park home run by Onessa Weahkee. That inning proved to be the difference in the game, and Española’s bats went cold, scoring just one run in the final five innings.
Pojoaque’s defense made the difference in slowing down Española later in the game. They committed five errors in the first two innings, but cleaned it up afterward.
For Pojoaque, Allayah Rios was 4-for-5 with a double, three runs and two RBIs, and Stephanie Romero had four singles and three RBIs, while Mikaela Mondragon pitched a complete game. For Española, Leah Vigil went 2-for-4 and reached on an error, and Alyssa Lomayma went 2-for-3 with a hit by pitch and reaching on an error.
The Sundevils next play at home on Saturday against Los Alamos (12-9, 6-0) in a doubleheader. Pojoaque will travel to Moriarty (12-6, 3-2).
“It’s a confidence thing,” Polanco said. “The girls get flustered. Once we learn to calm down and not freak out in pressure situations, we’ll be right where we’re supposed to.”