LAKEWOOD — Lakewood softball got some much-needed late insurance runs in its season-opening 5-2 victory over Conifer on Tuesday at Ray Baker Field.
The Tigers turned a 1-0 lead into a 5-0 advantage thanks to a 4-run bottom of the sixth inning. Senior Olivia Pederson delivered the big hit with a 2-run double to give the Tigers a 5-0 lead.
“We needed this win as a team,” Pederson said. “We kind of pulled it together in the end.”
Lakewood (1-0 record) took advantage of a pair of walks and three Conifer errors in the sixth inning to give a 5-run cushion to sophomore pitcher NeVaeh Roybal. Lakewood coach Dannielle Gunn gave the sophomore the start in the home opener.
“I’m really glad we gave NeVaeh the start. She has come a long way for sure,” Gunn said. “I’m super proud of her. She pitched a great game.”
Roybal worked her way out of traffic on the bases in the first five innings. Conifer stranded seven runners on base despite not getting a hit through the first six innings.
“I’m really proud of NeVaeh. She really bounced back,” Pederson said of the sophomore pitcher that pitched in three varsity games last year as a freshman.
Conifer (0-1) finally got to Roybal in the final inning after Conifer coach Carrie Oletski went to her bench. Junior Bella Alley delivered with a lead-off single to break up the no-hitter.
“Credit to Conifer for sure. They are a great squad,” Gunn said of the Lobos making things interesting in the seventh inning. “It got a little closer than what we wanted.”
After pinch-hitter Ryli Metcalf walked for the Lobos, junior Sydney Aikin singled to drive in Conifer’s first run. A hard hit ball by senior Kellyn Dougherty produced another run for the Lobos to cut the lead to 5-2 with no outs.
Gunn went to her bench with the tying run at the plate and brought in senior pitcher Reina Castro-Johnson. Gunn said she had planned on brining in Castro-Johnson at some point during the game, but with Roybal throwing a shutout and not allowing a hit through six innings kept the Tigers’ ace on the bench.
Castro-Johnson shut the door on the Lobos’ rally with back-to-back strikeouts and forcing a fly ball to center field to end the game.
Lakewood took an early 1-0 lead with a lead-off triple by sophomore Lucy Retzer in the bottom of the second inning. Retzer scored on an RBI bunt single by Roybal.
“I defintely think with this team we’ve figured it out,” Pederson said after a 10-17 overall record and 2-5 league more in 5A Jeffco last season. “I think we can really bounce back from last year.”
Despite Lakewood’s below .500 regular-season record, the Tigers clawed their way to the Class 5A state tournament as the No. 16 seed by finishing second in their regional tournament. Lakewood lost in the opening round at state to top-seeded and eventual 5A state champion Columbine 11-1 to end the Tigers’ season.
Conifer is also looking for a return trip to the 4A state tournament. The Lobos advanced to the 16-team state tournament, but had a tough draw getting top-seed and eventual state champion Lutheran in the opening round. Conifer lost 11-0 in the state tournament first-round game.
“I told them to be expecting to go to state,” Oletski said. “We expect to be right there. When it comes to league (4A Jeffco) we have to go in there and win it.”
It was a rough tournament for 4A Jeffco last season with Golden and D’Evelyn also suffering first-round state tournament defeats.
Oletski did add some depth this season. Evergreen didn’t have enough players to field a team this Fall after the Cougars had a 11-14 over record and strong 6-2 league record. Three Evergreen players joined Conifer’s varsity team this fall.
“It’s going to help,” Oletski said of three Evergreen students joining Conifer’s program. “The girls have excepted them.”