COLORADO SPRINGS – As the Mesa Ridge softball team dives deeper into league play, there is one thing glaringly obvious. The girls are a lot better than their 5-7 record would indicate.
And to boot, it’s a young team as the roster doesn’t have a single senior listed.
The slate of non-league teams was tough for sure, but now that the girls are focusing on play in the Class 4A/3A Colorado Springs Metro League, they’re settling in like they always do.
“When we play other schools and some of those Denver teams, we’re a little inexperienced,” coach Al Bustillos said. “But when we come back to our league, we’re the two-time defending champs so obviously the target is on us.”
Which makes those non-league games against schools like Fountain-Fort Carson, Ponderosa and Durango all the more important. The Grizzlies lost their first three games of the season before battling it out to beat Canon City 5-4.
They dropped their league opener to Coronado before beating Liberty. Then they faced Ponderosa, Pueblo South and Durango, losing all three. Now in the depth of league play, wins against Palmer, Woodland Park and Harrison have them back on track.
“It’s been better lately for all of us,” Lucy Quintana said. “We had a rough start, but we’re finally getting together and finally playing as a team. That was something we really struggled with early was working as a team.”
And it’s working wonders. Quintana is one of three players on the squad who is batting over .400. Emily Arellano and Haleigh Orndorff are also above that mark. Catcher Cheyenne Walker has shown some power at the plate as she has two of the Grizzlies three home runs.
There is little doubt that Mesa Ridge still has the ability to make a run at another league title, the youth of the roster just gives them a little less room for error. Bustillos is taking every opportunity to get his players experience at other positions and Thursday’s win, a 19-2 win over Harrison was a good time.
Qunitana usually serves as the team’s staff ace, but he gave the ball to sophomore Shylah Murray to get her more experience as a pitcher.
“It’s different when you go into the circle and you’re not used to being the primary pitcher,” Murray said. “It’s always fun to do it. I just have to stay positive after every pitch.”
The Grizzlies play in one more regular season tournament this weekend then turn their attention to the CSML. Since the start of the 2019 season, they’ve lost a total of two league games, both to Coronado. They’ll get their chance at the Cougars again on Sept. 21.
Until then, they’re just working on getting better every week.
“We have about four or five girls back from last year’s championship team,” Bustillos said. “Those are my leaders and they’re the ones that will start out the game for us and get on base so our big hitters can drive them in. But overall, our young team is forming up nice and easy every game.”