MHS Softball Preview: Young team learning on the go

Feb 23, 2017

The Maricopa High School Lady Rams softball team is starts its 2017 season with a three-game home tournament Friday.[quote_box_right]Roster
1 Hannah Hickey – Fr
2 Sydney McDill – Fr
3 Hope Barajas – Fr
4 Chantel Holquin – Soph
5 Caitlin Wilson – Jr
6 Andrea Harker – Fr
7 Kianna Miller-Gomez – Fr
8 Kielee Keys – Fr
9 Elaina Olivarez – Soph
10 Bailey Petty – Fr
11 Julliette Hawthorn – Sr
12 Kayla Occhiline – Fr
13 Kennedy Glen – Fr
14 Daisy Guzman – Soph
15 Stephanie Palafox – Sr
16 Sabrina Montoya – Sr
17 Andrea Gallegos – Sr
22 Joy Breul – Soph
24 Mikaila Hogg – Sr[/quote_box_right]

Head coach Brandi Howell said her varsity line-up is somewhat young this year with only one returning player.

“It’s a whole new group of girls,” Howell said. “So, they’re definitely working hard, but we have lots to learn. Holguin [Chantel Holguin] is working hard and she’s really stepped up as a leader.”

Howell admitted one of the biggest challenges so far is the learning curve. With such inexperienced players, she has been working extra hard to teach them the ins and outs of the sport. The progress they’ve made, she said, is a great sign of things to come.

“We’ve come a long way from the first day already,” Howell said. “It’s like night and day.”

Howell believes the tournament is a perfect way for the relatively inexperienced team to pick up some hard knowledge of the sport before regular play begins.

“We definitely [still] have a lot to learn,” Howell said. “So, we’re using these tournaments as a learning tool.”

The mistake that her players make are “young” mistakes, she said, but their ability to catch on quickly is tremendous and you just can’t beat real-time learning.

“There is no better time to learn than in a game,” Howell said.

The team is carrying a larger than normal roster going into the tournament – 19 players, a measure Howell is taking in order to help get some of the less knowledgeable players see the game up close.

“With us being so young we think its super valuable for them to be around the game learning these things,” she said.

The varsity roster will likely shrink to around 13 players after the tournament.

Holguin returns as a sophomore utility player and pitcher. Also notable is a recent transfer from California, senior outfielder and infielder Juliette Hawthorn.

The Lady Rams will faceoff first against McClintock at 9 a.m., second against Peoria at 3 p.m., and last against Higley at 5 p.m., all on Friday at Maricopa High School.

Krysten Diehl Tourament – Maricopa High School
Feb. 24    McClintock   9 a.m.
Feb. 24     Peoria      3 p.m.
Feb. 24   Higley      5 p.m.
Feb. 25   TBA      TBA
Feb. 25     TBA      TBA

2017 Schedule
Feb. 24-25   Krysten Diehl Tourney   TBA   Home
Feb. 28           Sierra Linda                    4:00   Home
March 3           Desert Edge       4:00   Home
March 6           Glendale                         4:00   Home
March 7            Vista Grande                4:00   Away
March 9           Williams Field               3:45   Away
March 15         Youngker Invitational    TBA   Away
March 23   Mesquite                 6:30 Away
March 24   Ironwood*                      3:45 Away
March 28         Kellis*                            4:00   Home
March 30   Casa Grande       3:45   Away
March 31          Kellis*       3:45   Away
April 4              Sunnyslope*                 4:00   Away
April 6          Verrado          4:00   Home
April 7          Sunnyslope*      4:00   Home
April 11          Apollo*              4:00   Home
April 12      Ironwood*          4:00   Home
April 13         Apollo*              7:00   Away
April 18   McClintock*         4:00   Away
April 20   McClintock*(Senior Night) 4:00   Home