LITTLETON — The Class 5A Jeffco League opener couldn’t have gone much better for Lakewood’s softball team on Wednesday.
The Tigers racked up 12 runs on 14 hits while Lakewood senior Reagan Medina threw a no-hitter while striking out nine Dakota Ridge batters. Lakewood cruised to a 12-0 victory in four innings.
“We just came out here wanting to hit the ball and play good defense,” said Medina after her first complete-game, no-hitter this season. “That was the plan and we executed.”
Medina walked three batters over the four innings. Dakota Ridge only put three balls into play during the game. The Eagles’ best scoring chance came in the bottom of the fourth inning. Senior Shelby Whiteaker worked a lead-off walk, but was stranded at third base when senior Ariana Torres struck out to end the game.
“It was huge for Reagan. Way to come out and pitch her tail off,” Lakewood coach Dannielle Gunn said of Medina throwing a no-hitter. “With her in the circle and building up her confidence is huge for us.”
Gunn has used Medina and senior Destiny Martinez pretty equally during non-league play.
“It going to be a 1-2 punch is what we call it,” Gunn said of using Medina and Martinez on the mound. “That’s our general plan.”
If Lakewood (11-5 record) can produce offensively like it did against Dakota Ridge (4-11) it will take a lot of weight off the Tigers’ pitching staff. Senior Jazlyn Arvizo had the big hit early with a bases-loaded home run in the top of the second inning to push Lakewood to an early 6-0 lead.
“I’m really proud of Jaz,” Medina said of the fellow senior’s grand slam to open the flood gates in the second inning. “Everyone kept going after that.”
Lakewood senior Savana Corthell went 4-for-4 from the plate with three runs scored from her lead-off spot in the line-up. The Tigers’ centerfielder hit a 2-run home run in the top of the fourth inning that hit off the top of the fence in right field and over.
“I was like, ‘We need two more runs to finish the game soon.’ I had to help Reagan out,” Corthell said of her home run that pushed the lead to 12-0 allowed the Tigers to end the game after four innings due to the mercy rule.
Corthell, Arvizo, Medina, Destiny Martinez and Angelyse Martinez all had multiple hit games for Lakewood.
“Dominating and keeping our bats hot is huge for us,” Gunn said. “Our energy and what we put into our offense is huge. We got to have that consistency. We’ve got to have girls on base. We are too talented to not have girls on base.”
Arvada West, Chatfield, Columbine and Lakewood all have double-digit non-league victories as 5A Jeffco League play starts to really heat up next week. The Chargers are the defending conference champs.
“I definitely think we have a shot at it,” Corthell said of the league title. “Our team is really solid as a senior-loaded team. I think we’ll make it far.”
