Ace Kianna Butler leads Niwot softball past Erie and Legacy

Behind the right arm of ace pitcher Kianna Butler, the Niwot High School varsity softball team is off to an encouraging start in the newly formed Granite Peaks League.

The Class 4A Cougars kicked off their league slate on Tuesday, Aug. 27, by hosting Erie High School, which reached the Class 5A state championship game last season. Unfazed, Butler struck out 15 Tigers and didn't walk anyone en route to a 1-0 victory.

"I was really focused and took my time," Butler said following her complete-game shutout. "I tried to go at my pace and not the whole game's pace, and hit my spots, basically, and hit that zone area and get them out."

Butler, a senior who spent her first two high school seasons in Flagstaff, Arizona, allowed only two hits and escaped a pair of jams in the later innings. It may not have been the most dominant pitching performance of her entire career, but it certainly cracked the top five, she admitted afterward.

Niwot head coach Bobby Matthews was particularly impressed by Butler's consistency and ability to lock in under pressure.

"She was on today," Matthews said. "She came up big in some pretty clutch situations. I think she ended the game with three straight K's right there. She put the team on her back today, so that was good."

Offensively, Niwot's lone run came in the fifth inning when senior Madison Dodge brought home sophomore May Herrera, who had doubled. Dodge (single) and Herrera (two doubles) accounted for Niwot's only three hits in the afternoon.

While Butler didn't require much help beyond senior catcher Saleen Amaya, the Cougars' defense was significantly better compared to their seven-error performance at Golden High School in the season opener.

"We still have a long way to go, obviously, it's only our second game," Matthews said. "But for us to clean it up from what we did the very first game till now, it's huge. Beating a perennial powerhouse in Erie..., this was a big win."

On Thursday, Aug. 29, Niwot traveled to Legacy High School in Broomfield for its second league game. Aided by a four-run third inning and another strong outing from Butler, the visiting Cougars escaped Legacy with a 4-3 win. Herrera enjoyed her second straight two-hit performance while Dodge, Butler, junior Payton Johnson, and freshman Payton Stokes each recorded one knock.

"We're really connecting," Dodge said. "Our infield has really pulled together, and I feel like we're gonna do good this year."

Niwot, which has struggled to hit for power thus far, embraced its small-ball approach by swiping seven bags against Legacy. Dodge, Herrera, Johnson, freshman Mandy Roth, and senior Evelyn Majika each stole one base while sophomore Anna Halverson recorded two thefts.

Through Sunday, Sept. 1, the Cougars are 2-1 (2-0 Granite Peaks) on the young season. They'll host league foe Holy Family High School on Tuesday, Sept. 3, before competing in a four-game tournament at Barnes Softball Complex in Loveland on Sept. 6-7.