Karen Boehler
CCSR writer/editor
Shortstop Tanya Smith makes an on-target throw to first in the third inning of Game 1 vs. the Artesia JV. The senior shortstop got back-to-back 6-3 outs in the inning.
(CCSR photo by Karen Boehler)
ARTESIA — Playing their season-opening doubleheader with only a few days on-field practice and missing five starters because of disciplinary problems, the Dexter softball team had a tough time vs. the Artesia junior varsity Tuesday, falling 14-6 in the opener and 11-2 in the nightcap.
Still, Dexter coach Heather Amaro wasn’t displeased.
“I saw a lot of good things. Saw a lot of bad things,” she said. “I’m not really disappointed with how they played tonight, just because I know we haven’t had time on the field.”
That showed especially in the pitching.
Both Demon pitchers — Game 1 starter Jenna Garcia and Game 2 starter Taylor Miles — had just wrapped up basketball and weren’t completely in shape.
While the Artesia JV didn’t manage any blowout innings — the most runs the Bulldogs scored in one inning was four — they took advantage of numerous Demon walks, wild pitches and hit batsmen.
And with a junior varsity catcher playing in place of a suspended varsity player, there were also a fair share of passed balls. But the Artesia defense managed to get the pitchers out of some jams, and until the batting shut down in Game 2, hits kept Dexter coming back.
The Demons led 1-0 in Game 1 after Tamara Salas singled and scored on a Tanya Smith triple.
But Artesia came back with three runs in the bottom of the first and made it 7-1 after three.
Dexter added a pair in the fifth on a single by Smith, back-to-back doubles by Alexandra Villa and Silvia Mediano and a scoring bunt by Jeanette Ruiz.
The ’Dogs added three in the bottom of the fourth then the Demons added another in the fifth on a two-base error that put Jessica Lodoza on base, and a scoring double by Krystal Paez.
Artesia made it 12-4 after five, but Dexter again cut the gap when Villa singled, Mediano was hit by a pitch and Ruiz reached on a error that scored both Villa and Mediano.
Jenna Garcia started in Game 1 and closed in Game 2 Tuesday.
(CCSR photo by Karen Boehler)
Dexter also led early in Game 2, putting up two runs in the bottom of the first on a walk to Paez, triple by Smith and single by Villa.
But then the Demon bats went silent, missing their best chance in the third on three singles and two fielder’s choices that cut Dexter runners down at home.
“And that’s part of just not being able to be in that cage and swinging those bats and getting those reps that we need,” Amaro said. “I think a lot of it, too, is just that whole confidence thing because they haven’t been out here. But I still think we’re going to see some good things from this team.”
Artesia, meanwhile, tallied solo runs in the first, second and fifth innings; two in the third; and three in the fourth and sixth.
Bulldog coach Scott Simer was pleased with the opening-day effort.
“We’ve got a really young team this year, both varsity and JV, so I was pleasantly surprised with them,” he said. “They did well. Kind of came out with some first-game jitters. You could tell they were kind of nervous and uptight, then, midway through the first game, they started doing a lot better, then that second game, they got a lot more relaxed. And I was pleased with it.”
He was especially pleased with freshmen pitchers Savannah Boone and Kendra Tinker, who each went the distance.
“The pitchers did really well tonight,” Simer said. “I was real pleased with their performance. They definitely surprised me and I’m real happy with the way they did tonight.”
Amaro had high praise for shortstop Tanya Smith, who was 3-for-6 with two triples, a single and two runs scored, as well as solid play in the field.
“My shortstop is stout,” the coach said. “She’s one of my seniors. She’s going to be a good leader for me and I’m real proud of her. She had an awesome two games tonight. I’m looking to her to help lead our team.”
Villa was 4-for-6 with three singles, a double and three runs scored.
The Demons will get more time on the practice field the next week, before hosting Loving in a JV/varsity doubleheader March 12.
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