When Durango High School softball takes the field, there’s an optimistic feeling compared to years past, according to senior center fielder Autumn Rymerson.
Rymerson credited Demons’ head coach Melissa Fundora for turning the program around and winning games. But her coach can dish back the praise as easily at her center fielder.
“Autumn brings such a great level of positivity to the field,” Fundora said. “No matter where we’re at in the game, whether we’re up by 10 runs or down by 10, it doesn’t matter. She always has such a positive attitude, and that’s something that we want to work on as a team. The rest of the team sees that and are starting to feed of it more.”
Fundora, a former Fort Lewis College standout in her third year as head coach of the Demons, said Rymerson has been a large part of the team’s success, specifically on offense.
Rymerson bats second in the order. The daughter of Dawn and Rick has hit for a .647 average at the plate, which is second best in the Southwestern League. She also has scored 33 runs and boasts 28 runs batted in, while she has hit 17 singles, 11 doubles, two triples and three home runs. In 11 steal attempts, nobody has been able to throw out Rymerson, either.
She also has 13 putouts from center field and leads the conference for on-base percentage at .719.
“She backs up what we need with her stats,” Fundora said. “She’s a good athlete by what she brings to the table but also brings it by having a humble attitude. She wouldn’t say she’s one of the top hitters on the team this year, but she is. She’s really shown it through her caliber of play.”
The attitude of the team has shifted dramatically this season, and the Demons capitalized by winning the Sheridan Tournament two weeks ago behind 68 runs in the four games played.
“I think this year’s team has a really good group,” Rymerson said. “I think when Missy started coaching, the feel of the team got a little bit more positive and a lot more enthusiastic about softball. I also think this group of girls is really good. We’re all really tight and there’s no tension between us; it’s always pretty fun.”
Durango (9-6, 0-4 Southwestern League) has a winning record to start the season. Despite a three-game losing streak, it’s clear the offensive potential is there, as the Demons have scored 230 runs at the midway point of the season despite being outscored 45-15 last weekend in losses to Palisade and a double-header with Grand Junction.
With six games to play in the regular season, Rymerson said the Demons have to refocus and find the proper mindset that got them off to the solid start if they are to snap the losing streak.
“When we really get pumped, like at the tournament, we went in saying, ‘We can do this,’ and even the girls who go up to bat and are normally a little bit nervous about it, they took some of the energy from the dugout that we were giving them and put it into their bats, and it’s just amazing when you’ve got the right mindset,” Rymerson said. “We are trying to focus less on the mistakes we make because I feel like we will make errors. I think sometimes, as a team, we get caught up on the little things, and we need to get past those and push past them. We’ve had a lot of games where we’ve been up and then we’ve kind of fallen apart with our errors and we’ve dwelled on the bad stuff instead of saying, ‘Hey, we’re still in this.’ I think it helped, and I’m ready for our next game.”
bploen@durangoherald.com
Behind the scenes
Do you have a nickname?:
“Fall.” Some of my friends call me that because I’m a very clumsy person.
What is your favorite sports movie?:
“A League of Their Own”
What is your favorite pre- or post-game meal?:
For a post-game meal, my teammates and I go to Olive Garden, and, for a pre-game meal, I don’t know what it is but I always have waffles on game days at the hotel on road trips.
Who is your favorite artist?:
Panic! at the Disco
What is your dream car?:
A Chevy Impala – It’s not necessarily a dream car, just a cool car that I’d like to own one day.
If you could have any superpower, what would you pick?:
The ability to fly. Some people are afraid of heights, but I honestly love them.
If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?:
Paris, which is ironic because I’ve been studying Spanish for four years.
What is your favorite local restaurant?:
Ken & Sue’s
What is your favorite outdoor activity?:
Skiing at Purgatory
What teacher has had the greatest impact on you?:
My chemistry teacher Miss Ann Tidwell and my Spanish teacher Mr. Brett Wilson. I had them both my sophomore and junior years, and they were both so understanding.
What is your favorite childhood book?:
“The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein and “Masterpiece” by Elise Broach.
