Tigers will be the No. 2 seed in next week's regional tournament
The Douglas High softball seniors pose for a photo during Senior Night Saturday against Carson High. Pictured from left to right are, Emma Stagliano, Emma Glover, Reagan Brown, Ryleigh Blaire and Eva McNinch.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
Both Douglas High and Carson softball were just looking to play as clean as possible Saturday and find the best note to enter Thursday’s regional tournament. With a 4-1 and an 8-2 win over the Senators, the Tigers continued to prove why they feel they are capable to winning Class 5A North regional crown. “The goal is to win it,” said Douglas head coach John Glover. “We have a tall task in front of us, there are a lot of good teams in the tournament.” Douglas (14-2) will open up regional play against No. 7 Reno (6-10) at Bishop Manogue Thursday at 2:30 p.m. on field one. The Miners will host the entirety of the softball regional tournament this year. The winner of that game will get the winner of No. 3 McQueen (10-5) and No. 6 Damonte Ranch (6-10) Friday at 12:30 p.m. on field two. For the Douglas seniors, the mindset going into regional play is the same. “Take the bus to Vegas,” said senior Eva McNinch. “Win regionals and go to Vegas,” echoed senior Emma Stagliano. It’s a mentality that has certainly been built on the Tigers’ success this season as Douglas ended the year winning 14 of its final 15 games and finishing the season with a 24-6-1 overall record.
(Douglas High's Eva McNinch backhands a grounder during the Tigers' doubleheader sweep of the Carson Senators Friday. McNinch tallied three hits and two doubles in the two games for the Tigers. / Ron Harpin)
Sweeping Carson Talia Tretton continued to cruise both at the plate and in the circle. Tretton homered in both games against the Senators, putting one over the fence in center. Her second homer carried over the left field fence and gave the Tigers an 8-2 lead in game two. In the second game, Tretton fanned 10 Senator hitters and allowed one earned run on five hits. Game one was all Mackenzie Willis’ as she went all seven innings without allowing an earned run. Willis struck out six batters and surrendered just four hits. McNinch drove in a pair of runs in game two on a single up the middle while Ryleigh Blaire also garnered two RBIs with one coming on a line drive home run to center field in the bottom of the third. In game one McNinch had two doubles at the dish as well. Ava Delaney also tallied an RBI in game one on a single. “I would say we’ve just focused on the team success over individual success,” said Stagliano. “We know its going to be hard work and there’s other great teams out there.” “I don’t think we’re at the peak. I think the peak will be in Vegas, but I think we have a lot to achieve,” added McNinch. The Tiger senior class has dealt with a lot of ups and downs with the pandemic and then a shortened spring season as juniors. “They’ve been through a lot. That’s the class that lost their sophomore year. Last year was shortened, too,” said Glover. “They mean a lot to this program in upholding our standards and working hard. They are great athletes, great students and just great people.” UP NEXT: Douglas will hit the field at Bishop Manogue Thursday for a 2:30 start against Reno.