Pomona senior pitcher Makaila Chadwick helped the No. 7 ranked Panthers to a 14-1 victory Tuesday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
ARVADA — Pomona softball coach Jim Biddle says his team doesn’t have a chip on its shoulder after a remarkable run to the Class 5A state championship game last season.
“Honestly, I don’t sense that,” Biddle said Tuesday after the CHSAANow.com preseason No. 7-ranked Panthers improved to 3-1 on the season. “We have nine new girls straight up from JV. We don’t have a chip on our shoulder. Last year was last year. This year is this year. We have a new set of kids and I’m excited.”
Pomona finished in a three-way tie for third in the 5A Jeffco League and was the No. 14 seed in last year’s 16-team state tournament. That didn’t matter after the Panthers defeated Broomfield, Grandview and Fossil Ridge to reach the state championship. Mountain Range ended the Cinderella story defeating the Panthers 12-2.
“It’s a little different. We have to work a lot harder,” Pomona junior Jessica Espinoza said. “Last year we had a lot of talent, but this year I think we have a lot of heart too.”
Pomona junior Jessica Espinoza lays off a high pitch against Standley Lake. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
With last year in the rearview mirror, Pomona’s focus is now on the present and future. The Panthers took care of business Tuesday in the non-league game against 4A Jeffco’s Standley Lake with a 14-1 victory.
Pomona used an 11-run first inning which included taking advantage of eight walks and four hit batters. Espinoza had a two-run double for the Panthers in the inning that saw the first nine batters reach base. Seniors Gracie Cordova and Abriana Ramirez both had run-scoring singles as the Panthers quickly erased a 1-0 lead for the Gators (0-7 record).
“I knew we could come back right away with some strong hits and get right back at them,” said Espinoza, who doubled in the bottom of the third inning and walked her other two plate appearances.
Biddle admits his offense will look a little different this season.
“We are going to have to manufacture a lot more runs and play more small ball,” Biddle said. “We don’t have the big bangers we’ve had the last couple of years.”
Pomona does have a wealth of choices when it comes to pitching. Senior Makaila Chadwick got the start against Standley Lake. She gave up a run on three hits through two innings. Senior Allie Hufford pitched the final three innings before the 10-run mercy rule ended the game after the top of the fifth inning. Huffed gave up just one hit that was erased with a game-ending double play.
“We’ve got four quality pitchers right now,” Biddle said. “We have a lot of options in the circle.”
Pomona gears up for the always competitive Erie Festival Tournament on Thursday and Saturday, Sept. 1 and 3. The Panthers will face a team from Oklahoma, Legacy, Pine Creek, Loveland and Heritage during the two-day tournament.
Standley Lake sophomore Brianna Ynostroza (38) slides under the tag to score the Gators’ lone run Tuesday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“We’ve been doing it every year during my 12 years here. It’s absolutely the best thing,” Biddle said of the Erie Festival. “We get five quality opponents that lead us right into our league play. It’s very important for us to go and play top-quality competition.”
Pomona opens 5A Jeffco League play Sept. 20 at home against Bear Creek.
Standley Lake closed out its 2016 season with a three-game winning streak. However, wins have been hard to come by this season so far for the Gators.
“We are in a building stage,” Standley Lake coach Al Valdez said. “We are working with our pitchers and working on doing the essential things — hitting and scoring runs. The girls are starting to play like a team. We have a great group of girls. They don’t give up.”
Valdez gave a lot of credit to his freshman pitcher Danessa O’Blia that pitched against Pomona. Despite her struggles, O’Blia hung in after the 11-run first inning to allow just three runs on four hits in the final three innings.
“Some kids don’t want to come out and (O’Blia) never looks at me wanting to come out of a game,” Valdez said. “She just battles in there. She is going to be good.”
Standley Lake’s next game will be at home Saturday, Sept. 3, against Mesa Ridge. The Gators open 4A Jeffco League play Sept. 22 against Evergreen.
Pomona junior Alexus Spinks and the Panthers will play in the Erie Festival Tournament later this week. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)