Just a few swings into the season, it was hard to imagine that the Montezuma-Cortez Panthers were playing in their first softball game.
Facing rival Durango in their season opener on Tuesday, the Panthers clicked right out of the gate, scoring eight runs in the second inning to seize control of their first win of the season, 16-10, at Englehart Field.
After the Demons scored four runs in the top of the first and two in the second, M-CHS responded by batting around in the bottom half of the frame to build a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
Lizzie Likes led the way for M-CHS with four hits, including a solo home run in the sixth inning to cap a thunderous 14-hit performance for the Panthers. However, it might have been Likes’ adjustment in the circle that saved the day for M-CHS.
With the Demons finding their own traction at the plate through three innings in an 11-9 slug fest, the Panther senior made a huge adjustment mid-contest to change the tenor of the game.
“I got a tip from one of the parents about how I was dragging my foot,” said Likes, “and it helped me get back on track.”
From then on, Likes silenced the Demon bats, striking out seven while putting up zeros on the board in the fourth through the sixth innings while the offense expanded the lead.
Shea Fernandez sparked the bottom of the order with a pair of base hits, while sophomore Abigail Coffey struck with two knocks of her own.
Aubrey Rutherford, a sophomore taking the role at second base for the Panthers, enjoyed an emphatic varsity debut, rattling a pair of extra base hits to the fence and serving as one of seven different Panthers to score multiple runs.
M-CHS scored in five of their six innings at the plate, capitalizing on nine free passes, and stealing a combined six bases to keep the visitors on their heels.
For Durango head coach John Bernazzani, the Demons (0-2) found some steady improvement at the plate. Senior Tehya Barnes and freshman Cori Davis cranked out back-to-back RBI base hits in the second inning, and looked like a serious threat to cause problems every time in the middle of the Demon order.
Fellow senior Alaysia Kremer brought the positive energy for the Demons from behind the plate, steadying relief pitcher Grace Pargin to limit the Panther barrage in the last four innings.
“Our girls hung tough and played some good defense,” said the Demon manager, “but we know we missed some opportunities.”
The Demons had dropped their season-opener to Alamosa 14-4, but showed more offensive life in their second contest.
“After we lost a lot of pitching last year, we know that we’re going to be growing in that area this year,” Bernazzani said.
Quick to credit Likes, however, the Durango head coach knows that his team can learn from their early challenges.
“She (Likes) kept us off-balance,” Bernazzani said, “but I liked our approach at the plate with two strikes.”
“It felt to be back out there,” said Likes after the season-opening win. “We’re confident out there as a whole group.”
Durango and M-CHS will meet again on Sept. 13 on the Demons’ home turf. In the meantime, both Durango and M-CHS head north this weekend for contests – Durango to Montrose for their league opener on Saturday, while M-CHS takes on the Cedaredge Bruins in an early district test on Saturday.
