Cougars softball falls in home opener

WARDEN — Saying there was “little joy in Mudville,” Warden softball coach Wes Richins had plenty of time to reflect on the Lady Cougars’ 7-1 season opening loss Tuesday to Cheney.

Fielding a young squad, the Lady Cougars (0-1) fell behind early after two wild pitches in the top-of-the-third inning gave Cheney a 2-0 lead.

“Our youth and inexperience showed,” Richins said. “The game started well for both defenses since both pitchers were pitching no hit ball.”

However, Warden’s only senior, Randi Wright, issued a two-out walk and the Cheney third continued on an infield errors.

Cheney would then score on the two passed balls to the next better.

“That error really brought our heads down and our defense tightened up and it took us a couple of innings to toughen up again,” Richins said. “By then it was too late.”

Cheney rode their early momentum into the fourth inning, scoring four more runs, including three hits, one of which was a home run.

Warden committed two more errors as well.

Despite the team’s struggles in the field and the early passed balls, Richins noted Wright’s performance as being better than the numbers indicate.

“ If we get out of the third inning unharmed, who knows maybe this game wouldn’t have got out of hand” Richins said. “She’s pitching to a new Catcher, — freshman Bianca Hernandez — and it’s going to take some time to build that pitcher/catcher relationship that is needed. Randi will keep us in most games if we give her a little help.”

Richins added that Hernandez has played well so far despite her youth.

“She is fearless and tough and is progressing well,” Richins said.

The Warden offense struggled all day against Cheney pitching, recording only three hits total with Elizabeth Pruneda, Crystal Chavez, and Wright all recorded one apiece.

Pruneda got the team’s first hit in their half of the third but it wasn’t until the sixth when they would get on base again. There Chavez singled home Wright after the senior herself had gotten on with a one bagger.

“We struck out 15 times, which is not typical of a Warden team” Richins said. “ Their girl kept us off balance, but we didn’t help ourselves either. We haven’t seen much live pitching yet, and it showed. We were not aggressive until later in the game and against a good pitcher, it’s hard to come back.”

Richins did note the defensive play of freshman third baseman Iris Rodriguez.

“She made several tough plays, walked twice, and advanced a runner on her third at bat,” Richins said. “Iris is fun to watch as she made some great plays on defense and had three really good bats. She is definitely not playing as a freshman. She’s going to be a real tough player.”

With the season just starting Richins knows he will just have to remain patient.

“We are young, and we have to grow up quick, if we going to be successful” Richins said. “I like this group of kids and we will get better.  They work hard but we just have to work harder.”