"Resilient" Cougars fall in softball regionals

Though it was the perfect fall day for outdoor sports, the outcome of a pair of games for Niwot High School's Varsity softball team was less enjoyable.

The team, which had played increasingly well in the second half of their season, dropped a pair of games in regional play at Diamond Valley Community Park in Windsor. Despite the common outcome, each game couldn't have been played more differently.

"I think it was a tale of two games," said Head Coach Bobby Matthews after play had finished. "In the first game, we came out and played amazing defense. The energy was there. For the second game, we, maybe, got in our own way a little bit. We played a little tight. I don't know why they were completely different and it's hard because I know how much they worked in the last month to get to this point. They worked their butts off to get here. But sometimes that's the way it goes."

The players' energy in the first game was clear, despite some initial nerves. Sophomore Autumn Rutherford talked about being the first in the batter's box for post-season play. "I was very excited for the team. That we're all there together. And it's kind of scary starting off the game, not knowing what to expect."

For the first several innings, the Cougars' strong defense held off much of the Windsor Wizards' offense. This included a diving catch by Senior Ava McComas, and a double play started by Rutherford, who caught a fly ball and then threw out a Wizard's player who couldn't get back to first in time. She also turned a would-be grand slam into an out to end the inning.

There was no score in the game until the bottom of the fourth inning, when Wizards' player Katie Perkins was hit by a pitch and sent to first, advancing the next batter who ultimately scored. That was followed by a double by the Wizards' Raegan Johnson which scored two more runs.

By the end of the fifth inning, Windsor's lead had reached 7-0, but a 6th-inning hit by Cougar Senior Ava McComas offered brief hope for a rally. But the Cougars were unable to score, and the Wizards ultimately came out on top with a 10-0 shutout.

At the start of the second game, the Cougars knew that this was their final chance to advance play to a third game. Their opponent, the George Washington Patriots, scored early and often, taking a 4-0 lead by the end of the first inning. Cougar Julia Philofsky scored a run that put the Cougars on the board. But the Patriots answered with a grand slam that barely cleared the outfield fence, boositng the Patriots' lead by another four runs.

Rutherford answered with a home run of her own in the top of the third inning, but that was it for the Cougars' scoring. Ultimately, the Patriots came out on top 17-2.

Although the outcome of the regional tournament was disappointing, Matthews said it ends a season where the girls showed measured improvement and built on their strengths, particularly in their ability to play together as a team. Matthews then talked about what he saw as a turning point in the season.

"All my captains always have a card they can pull for one of the practices," he said. "It's a captains' practice and they can call it one time a year. They can do whatever they want to do during that practice. It doesn't have to be softball-related. Our captains Ava (McComas), Hannah (Bassett, and Autumn (Rutherford) called it. They brought a slip and slide and had activities that had everything to do with team-building. And it really brought the team together. They came together as a team. They really bonded."

Matthews said that following that practice the girls' improved teamwork showed up with better communication in the field and more positive energy in the dugout. "They trust each other," he said. "They're able to talk to each other. Everybody just picked it up. They play for each other and fight for each other. After that, we had some big wins. We started hitting the ball like we knew we could."

In the end, Matthews summed up the season with a word that described their trajectory over the season. "Resilient. I think that they were resilient. All year."

A second word might describe what the girls found in the season. Friendship. They sat together at the end of the pair of games, being together as a team, for what will be nearly the last time. Each seemed aware that this season brought growth and friendships that would last beyond their time on the field.