The Montezuma-Cortez High School softball team hung with some teams in the fast-paced 5A/4A Southwestern League a year ago, but couldnt keep up.
Going into the season opening home doubleheader against Delta on Friday, Aug. 26, the Lady Panthers feel they are mentally and physically fit to take the diamond. The ladies have spent the past five weeks doing morning conditioning and going to afternoon practice.
This is our fifth week of doing two-a-days. Weve had an average of 14 to 18 girls out each day, M-CHS coach Heath Elliot said. We got a good core to build off of.
Junior starting catcher Randy Elliot also expressed the importance of the new team conditioning method heading into the season.
We wake up at 6 and go run our butts off. Its good for us. Its getting us ready for playing those 5A teams, the ones that are going to be more challenging, she said. Well be that much closer to go head-to-head with them. We werent in the best of shape last year.
The veteran softball team composed of juniors and seniors has high hopes this year and plans to return to the postseason. The Lady Panthers played well in the nonconference schedule, but struggled in SL play and finished just 6-15 overall in 2010. Many of the girls went to an offseason camp at Mesa State College in Grand Junction, where they learned many new skills. Heath Elliot even learned a thing or two.
As many years as Ive been doing this, I still learn from these college coaches in strategy and coaching technique to help improve each player, he said. It was time and money very well spent.
The major question mark surrounding the Lady Panthers is at the pitching position after losing Angeleta Topaha to graduation. Junior slugger Sadie Threlkeld will be the starter with Randy Elliot seeing some time at the mound as well.
Sadie has come a long way, Randy Elliot said. Last year, she was just kind of struggling, kind of trying to get the speed and accuracy. During this whole summer, Ive been working with her. Weve been playing in the city league. Shes gotten so much faster. Shes getting a lot more accurate now.
Seniors Taylor Bailey, Deena Martin, Charley Stewart and Zoey Young, and junior Tori Laymon will be in the starting rotation. Not all defensive positions are finalized, but there will be a lot of depth on offense. Young, of Dove Creek, led the team as a junior in batting average (.596), home runs (four) and RBIs (21), which garnered her All-Conference honorable mention.
Zoey, in my eyes, should make All-State this year, Heath Elliot said. If she doesnt, then theres something drastically wrong with our voting system in the league. Shes just an amazing player.
M-CHS squeaked into the 4A playoffs last year. But they had to face top-seeded Wheat Ridge and a talented Fort Lupton squad that ended the Lady Panthers season.
This year, a deep postseason run is definitely the goal.
One of the biggest goals is to go to playoffs and get further in playoffs, Randy Elliot said. Were hoping to get further this time and not just go.
After the doubleheader with Delta at the Cortez Softball Complex, the Lady Panthers will hit the road for more than a month. M-CHS returns home to face rival Durango on Tuesday, Oct. 4. The game against Durango is the first of a five-game home stand to conclude the regular season.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.
