(Kim Orona)
PUEBLO — When the Pueblo East softball team began practice in August, history was in the back of the mind of the Eagles.
A year ago, Pueblo East’s softball squad won the school’s inaugural softball state title defeating a Niwot team led by pitcher Nickie Blue 4-2 in the Class 4A state championship. That team finished with a 24-0-1 record.
“Last year we were kind of going through it blind, and we didn’t know any better,” said Pueblo East star senior pitcher Katie Orona.
The win was extra special for the Eagles, who lost in the state title game in their previous four other trips in 1996 and 2001-2003. What’s more, Pueblo East’s softball team joined the school’s 1978 girls cross country team as the only teams to wear a state crown in the school’s history.
Now, the softball program wants to cement its legacy at the school by capturing back-to-back state championships.
The Eagles are well on their way. They are ranked No. 3 in CHSAANow.com’s latest 4A poll and sport a 15-3-1 record.
“We need to relax and not put the pressure on us,” veteran coach Ben Garcia said. “Last year, we didn’t really expect a lot, but we knew we had the capabilities, and that was the key. I think this year we have had great spurts, but we have also had situations where we have been very tense. We need to get back to the basics.”
The Eagles have won ten games in a row and have clinched their second consecutive South-Central League crown with an 12-0 mark. Pueblo East concluded its regular season with a 12-2 win against Pueblo West.
Now, the squad will take aim at Class 4A Regionals on Oct. 12. The top eight seeded teams will host four-team regionals. The top two finishers at each of the eight regionals advance to the state tournament Oct. 18-19 at Aurora Sports Complex.
“Obviously you want to host, that is the first thing, and I think we are set to do that,” Garcia said. “Right now, I think we are playing our best softball. We learned some lessons going up north playing against some of those teams (at the Erie tournament). Now, we know what we need to do and we just have to take care of ourselves.”
The Eagles’ defense is fueled by Orona. Heading into this week, Orona has a two-year record in the circle of 32-2-1. She has a 1.25 ERA this season with 124 strikeouts.
Pueblo East’s only in-state losses this season came at the Erie tourney to top-ranked Wheat Ridge (7-2) and Broomfield (4-1). They also tied No. 2 Erie 8-8.
Orona has verbally committed to play for Brown University in the Ivy League.
(Kim Orona)
“If we peak around regionals and state we will be set,” Orona said. “There is a little bit more pressure because people have been studying me a little more. The key for me is to add something different to my pitching that they haven’t seen. I have added some different things since Erie and hopefully it will take people by surprise.”
Kelsey Laughlin, Pueblo East’s standout senior shortstop, also believes the Eagles are ready for the challenge ahead of them.
“The experience from last year definitely helps us,” said Laughlin, who is hitting .426 with 16 RBIs. “We didn’t want to have the losses we had at Erie, but they brought us back to reality and they have made us better.”
In addition Laughlin, second baseman Cheyenne Talmadge has sparked the offense from the lead-off position. The speedy Talmadge had a team-best .519 average.
“We just need to motivate ourselves and believe in ourselves, and our coaches,” said the junior Talmadge, who has verbally committed to play at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. “We definitely have more thirst to go out and win state again.”
Pueblo East actually does have a good mix of seniors and underclassmen contributing this season.
In addition to Talmadge, sophomore third baseman Jailen Minnich (.458, 15 RBIs) and the freshmen — center fielder Lauren Renck (.400) and catcher Chayanna Gallardo (.382) — also have been strong contributors.
“The kids who came back from last year, they are the ones who are helping our young ones,” Garcia said. “We have some great young ball players who are doing a super job, but the older players have taken them under their wings and realize that we can all do this together. Now, we just have to put everything together on the field and execute in all situations. If we can do that, I feel pretty good about our chances.”