Cougar softball enjoys a three game sweep during homecoming week.

The capabilities of the Niwot Cougar girls softball team were on full display during homecoming week.

The week's schedule kicked off with a win against the Northridge High School team that Niwot hadn't prevailed against since the 2021 season. Their matchup with Northridge earlier in the season resulted in a hard fought 5-4 loss but last Tuesday, the Cougars prevailed 8-4.

Seniors Autumn Rutherford and Anne Booth continued to show their strength at the plate, going 4-4 and 3-4, respectively. The team also stole seven bases, including three by Rutherford, and enjoyed another strong outing by junior pitcher Kiana Butler. Although the Grizzlies hit two home runs against the Cougars, it wasn't enough and Niwot took the win.

The second game of the week saw the Cougars winning in a 16-1 run rule game against Thompson Valley High School. RBI leaders for the game included Booth and senior Zoe Cameron, with five and three RBIs respectively, and junior Madison Dodge with two RBIs. Nine of the team's runs were scored in the sixth inning. Butler only gave up three hits in the game, and struck out ten batters. The Eagles scored once, in the first inning, but ultimately couldn't catch up with the Cougars.

The team faced its biggest challenge during the homecoming game played on Saturday morning, Sept. 23, against Severance High School. The game started as a pitching duel until the bottom half of the second inning when Butler hit a double into left field which landed just inside the fence. Freshman Camryn Legh brought her in with a double giving the Cougars the lead.

The Silver Knights came back at the top of the third with a two-run triple by Taylor Steenburgen but a double by Rutherford followed by a precisely crafted bunt from Mae Herrera evened the score, with Rutherford scoring all the way from second base. The Cougars added another run in the fourth inning, and fully dominated the game when they scored four more runs in the fifth inning.

NHS Assistant Coach Jason Johnson reflected on the team's wins and the prospect of what is likely to be a more competitive week ahead. "That game (against Severance) was huge. A huge win. The girls played well, and we actually bunted the ball a few times, which was nice. Kiana pitched a great game, the zone was tight, but she still pitched well."

The team is ready to move into next week with a second rain-make-up-match against Severance scheduled for Monday, and an away contest against Riverdale Ridge High School, currently ranked first in the 4A Longs Peak standings. Johnson talked about the team's potential against some of its toughest opponents. "If they can just keep moving forward and we can build off of this. As long as they stay together and have energy, that's what they need to do."

Niwot Cougars 3 3 0 0 2 0 / - 8

Northridge Grizzlies 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 - 4

Niwot: (AB, R, H, RBI) Z. Cameron; 4 0 1 0; C Legh 2 0 0 1 K Butler 4 0 2 1; J. Philofsky 3 0 0 0, A Booth 4 2 3 3; J. Hobson 2 1 0 0; A. Rutherford 4 2 4 1; M. Herrera 2 1 0 0; S. Paterno 2 2 0 0

Butler (W/L) (IP, H, R, ER, BB, K) W (7 6 4 3 2 9)

Niwot Cougars 3 4 0 0 0 9 - 15

Thompson Valley Eagles 1 0 0 0 0 0 - 1

Niwot: (AB, R, H, RBI) Z. Cameron 5 1 3 3; M. Dodge 2 1 1 2; C Legh 2 0 0 0; K. Butler 3 0 1 1; J. Philofsky 3 0 0 0; A. Booth 4 3 3 5, J. Hobson 4 2 1 1; Autumn Rutherford 1 1 1 0; S. Amaya 4 1 3 1, M. Herrera 4 4 2 1; S. Paterno 4 3 3 1.

Legh (W/L) (IP, H, R, ER, BB, K) W (7 6 4 3 2 9 )

Niwot Cougars 0 1 1 1 4 0 / - 7

Severance Silver Knights 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 - 2

Niwot: (AB, R, H, RBI) E. Majka 0 0 3 0, Z. Cameron 3 0 0 0; M. Dodge 3 0 2 2; C Legh 1 1 1 0; K. Butler 3 0 2 1; A. Booth 4 1 1 0; Autumn Rutherford 4 2 2 0; S. Amaya 2 0 0 0, M. Herrera 4 0 1 1; S. Paterno 2 0 0 1.

Butler (W/L) (IP, H, R, ER, BB, K) W (7 3 2 2 4 9 )