DENVER — A come-from-behind victory Monday kept D’Evelyn softball in a share of the lead for the Class 4A Jeffco League title.
The Jaguars won their fourth straight with a huge 10-5 conference win over No. 7th ranked Conifer. The Lobos led 5-3 after a 4-run top of the fifth inning, but D’Evelyn closed strong scoring 7 runs in the fifth and sixth to double-up Conifer (14-5, 2-3 in league).
“After Conifer came back I knew we all of us had to clutch up,” D’Evelyn senior Izzy Mussara said. “We had to do it sooner rather than later because we are known for not being so great in the last inning.”
D’Evelyn (12-7, 4-0) didn’t even have to worry about batting in the seventh inning. Sophomore Peyton Marvel led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a triple that began a 4-run inning where the Jaguars sent 10 batters to the plate.
Mussara, Avery Garbarek and Rachel Perlman all had singles in the inning after the triple by Marvel. The Jaguars also took advantage of a pair of Lobo errors to regain the lead 7-5.
“They have been doing a good job of not panicking,” D’Evelyn coach Dan Porreco said of the Jaguars’ battling back after falling behind. “They don’t get down and I’m not barking at them, so that helps.”
It looked like Porreco might lift freshman pitcher Tess Miller to start the sixth inning, but after D’Evelyn regained the lead Miller came back to the circle. The freshman retired the Lobos in order in the sixth inning and gave up just a double to senior Katy Sims in the top of the seventh inning before a ground out to second base ended the game.
“I have nothing except good things to say about Tess,” Mussara said. “She came in when Avery got hurt. She has been carrying us on the mound. She has been huge for us. I’m very impressed and happy with Tess right now.”
Garbarek’s 2-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning provided more a cushion for Miller to work with.
“The offense pulls together whenever I need them,” Miller said. “We have a strong line-up.”
Miller has pitched complete-game victories during the Jaguars’ winning streak that has all been conference victories.
“Freshman and freshman, they have been handling it,” Porreco said of his pitching battery of Miller and Perlman. “I don’t know what’s going on. It’s working.”
D’Evelyn has worked its way into what is now a three-way race for the conference title. D’Evelyn, Golden (10-9, 4-0) and Wheat Ridge (6-11, 3-0) all remain undefeated in league play that wraps up next week.
“This was huge. Conifer was definitely one of the favorites to win league,” Mussara said. “This is a huge confidence builder for our team and now we have Wheat Ridge on Thursday.”
Conifer freshman Eleanor Sikora had the biggest hit for the Lobos with a 3-run in-side the park home run in the top of the fifth inning that gave Conifer a 5-3 lead. However, Conifer starting pitcher Cheyenne Prieto, along with relievers Jesse Nichols and Ashley Silvernale couldn’t prevent D’Evelyn from putting up double-digit runs for the sixth time this season.
“That was huge,” Porreco said. “Conifer is an excellent team, especially with Cheyenne throwing. We hit her right away and that helped.”
Conifer closes out its conference schedule against Bear Creek, Standley Lake and Alameda before attempting a regional postseason run.
