Douglas High pitcher Talia Tretton winds up to throw against Carson High Thursday afternoon. Tretton allowed three hits and one earned run while striking out 10 in a season-opening win over Carson.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
The spring coaches are in a similar spot to the fall coaches, in that most of them haven’t had much time to see what their teams’ looks like playing together.
With little preseason and six weeks to make the most of a spring schedule, Douglas High softball has 16 games to strive forward this season.
“We’ve got things to work on, no doubt,” said head coach John Glover. “It’s just the first day. I haven’t seen them in a year. They play summer ball, but in terms of high school softball we haven’t seen them.”
Setting the stage with a season-opening win
Thursday afternoon the Tigers were able to open up the season with a 6-1 win over rival Carson in Minden.
Talia Tretton, a freshman who is expected to split time with Makenzie Willis in the circle this season, put together a dominant performance allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out 10 Senator hitters.
“For a freshman to step up and do what she did was impressive,” said Glover. “I thought she located well today, too.”
While having efficient outings in the circle from the Tigers’ two pitchers will go a long way this season, Douglas showed the middle of its lineup has some pop.
In the first inning, Ryleigh Blaire launched a three-run homer out to center field before Crystal Bennett piped a two-run homer to center field in the bottom of the sixth.
Bennett was the only Tiger to record multiple hits Thursday, but Ava McNinch, Anna Northcutt and Alyonna Pretty On Top were also able to put together base knocks.
All lineups will shuffle over the season, but Emma Stagliano served as Douglas’ leadoff hitter against Carson.
McNinch and Tretton hit second and third before the big bats hit the lineup between Ashley Delaney, Blaire, Bennett and Mehaila Pete.
Emma Glover was positioned in the eight spot in the batting order while holding down third base.
Most of all, the head man is happy that the athletes he’s spent the last several years with have a chance to find some escapism on the field.
“For the girls, it’s been a really hard thing,” said Glover. “The whole environment of school has been awful. For them to come out here and get some normalcy back, I hope people understand what the kids have gone through with COVID and with life.”
Glancing around the region
With so much to figure out about his own team, Glover isn’t real certain about how Class 5A will play out in Northern Nevada.
A win over Carson is a great litmus test in the season opener, but the Tigers know every day is a different story.
“That’s the hardest question of all,” said Glover. “It’s just everybody. They’re all good. There is not a day off in this league. … I wouldn’t dare to pick a team.”
Spanish Springs, Reed, Damonte Ranch and Bishop Manogue are always highly competitive.
An early season win over the Senators is no reason to discount the royal blue and white the rest of the season either as Carson boasts several talented players, eager for a long regional tournament run.
Generally speaking, Douglas will play four games each week with contests Tuesday and Thursday before a Saturday doubleheader.
The Tigers’ final regular season contest will come against the Senators May 15.
Tigers move to 3-0 with sweep of Bishop Manogue
Douglas is rolling after a two-game sweep over the Miners Saturday, putting the Tigers 3-0 early on in the campaign.
The Tigers posted results of 17-1 and 6-2 over Bishop Manogue.
