Getting that right combination of players is crucial in the beginning of the season and Trojans Coach Elias Armendariz is all too well aware of this. The Lady Trojans softball team (9-6 overall, 2-3 Sunset League) suffered a terrible loss to Cheyenne (10-3, 4-1) on Friday, 15-2.
The Trojans were pummeled by Cheyenne hitters early on in the first inning. Freshman pitcher Amaya Mendoza lasted 3.2 innings. She was relieved by Senior Amanda Pryor in the fourth. Mendoza gave up 15 runs.
The game ended in the fifth because of the 10-point mercy rule. The Desert Shields had 10 hits and 3 errors.
Trojans Coach Elias Armendariz will use spring break to regroup.
“We will be having problems with our defense,” he said. “We had a couple of bobbled balls and made some throwing errors.
The coach said some major changes will be coming.
“We are going to have to try other things and see what works,” Armendariz said. “We are going to have to move people around and find a different combination and chemistry and see if something else will work. Can’t keep on doing the same thing.”
This may mean a new pitcher may be in the works.
“I am still debating that,” he said. “I might go with Pryor.”
The problem with using Pryor as a pitcher is you then lose a good second baseman and since the defense has been struggling that might be a bad idea. On the other hand, the team can’t expect to win if they give up 10 runs in the first.
He does have other pitching options other than Pryor; however Pryor may be the fastest pitcher on the staff. The team has been using Pryor as a stopper in relief.
The next game for the Trojans will be on April 8 against Mojave (3-5, 2-3).