Young Cougars ready to repeat last year’s state showing

WARDEN — The Warden Cougars softball team pulled off a coup last year, taking second at state.  

“Nobody even thought we’d get out of districts,” said head coach Randy Wright. “We started the season pretty bad. But they got together and became a team and worked together and figured it out.” 

Wright is pretty confident this year’s squad will make a good showing as well. The Cougars are a young squad, having graduated five seniors last year. The focus this year is on training, getting the new girls dialed in on their positions and building up teamwork. 

“We’re mostly getting a lot of reps for the newer players, the younger players,” Wright said. “A lot of them might be playing positions they’ve never played, so (we want) to get them used to what they’re going to be doing.” 

Standout players this year are pitchers Jamilex Pruneda and Lindsey Grubb and first baseman Genesis Ozuna, Wright said.  

Ozuna and Pruneda, in particular, are good team leaders, Wright said, and that’s important. 

“You’ve got to have that,” he said. “I think I learned that more last year than any other year.” 

Pruneda, a junior, has been playing softball since she was 6, she said, but some of the newer girls have a ways to go. 

I think we have a good chance (of going to state),” Pruneda said. “We just need practice and reps to get there … Right now, we’re starting off rough. Everyone’s a little rusty. We’re getting back to our game and once we get there we’ll start getting better.” 

Her teammates are all good athletes, she added, just new to the team. 

Ozuna agreed. 

“It's looking a little rough right now, but once we get our practices in and our reps, then I think we're going to do pretty good,” she said. “It takes a lot of confidence and wanting to do good to get to playing at state level.” 

The Cougars’ strengths this year are their pitching and their lineup, Ozuna said.  

“Our hitting will be really good this year,” she said. “Lots of strength.” 

“We're going to practice and work hard out here and try to make everyone know to come watch us play so we can make it to state,” Pruneda said. 

Warden High School softball schedule 

March 12 at Othello High School with one other, 3 p.m. 

March 15 at Cle Elum-Roslyn High School, 11 a.m./1 p.m. 

March 18 at Lind-Ritzville High School, 2 p.m./4 p.m. 

March 28 at River View High School, 3 p.m./5 p.m. 

March 29 Kittitas vs. Warden vs. PWV, 3 p.m. 

April 5 Warden/Lake Roosevelt/Liberty Christian three games total, 11 a.m. 

April 8 Warden/Kittitas/Colfax, three games total, 11 a.m. 

April 12 Warden/Adna/Royal, three games total, 11 a.m. 

April 15 at DeSales High School, 3 p.m./5 p.m. 

April 18 at Tri-Cities Prep. 3 p.m./5 p.m. 

April 25 vs. Mabton High School, 3 p.m./5 p.m. 

May 2 vs. Columbia High School (Burbank), 3 p.m./5 p.m. 

    Allie Jensen gets ready to snag a grounder at the Warden Cougars’ softball practice Thursday.
  

    Senior Genesis Ozuna prepares for a ground ball at the Cougars’ practice Thursday. Ozuna is one of the more experienced players, Head Coach Randy Wright said, and a good team leader as well.
  

    Shelby Cole keeps her eye on the ball at the Warden Cougars’ practice Thursday.
  

    Kyla Tate watches for a pop fly at the Warden Cougars’ practice Thursday.