Friday doubleheader key for PV, Lady Scorps

FARMINGTON

The best the Piedra Vista softball team can do is finish as the reserve champions in District 2-5A.

The Lady Panthers swept Sandia in a pair of five-inning games on Saturday and improved to 16-8 overall and 6-2 in district play.

PV will close out the regular season with city rival Farmington in a doubleheader on Friday, as the Lady Scorps also own a 6-2 record in league play.

On Saturday, the Panthers won the opening game by a 10-0 count against Sandia. In the second game, they finished off the Lady Matadors by scoring seven runs in the fifth for a 15-5 win.

PV pounded out a combined 24 hits for both contests, including five home runs.

“We had five on the day and we’ll take that,” longtime PV coach Kevin Werth said.

PV senior shortstop Lanae Billy belted out three of those homers while senior first baseman Liberty Sheek and senior outfielder Akaysia Grogan had one each.

Billy had one in the opening game and two in the second as she brought in nine runs.

“I wasn’t trying to hit home runs, but I just tried to hit the ball hard,” she said.

Billy said they get a ton of energy on the offensive end from the pitching staff of junior Emma Lovato and Grogan. When they get ready to bat, the team is looking to manufacture runs to get them ahead.

“We really want to help our pitchers out by scoring runs, so it’s easier for them,” she said. “We just want to hit the ball hard and help the team win.”

Werth said Class 5A has a boatload of quality pitchers, including his staff.

“I feel we have two of the best arms in the state,” he said. “I mean, when they’re on they’re definitely hard to beat. KK (Grogan) was phenomenal today.

“Emma was struggling with some finger stuff that was bothering her today,” he added. “And usually she’s a lot better than what she was, but KK stepped up and took care of the business.”

The Panthers only two blemishes in district play were to La Cueva earlier this season. They came up short 3-2 and 10-5 to the Lady Bears.

“We didn’t hit that well in that game,” Werth said. “We couldn’t get any timely hits, we couldn’t put any pressure on them. It was just, overall, not a good day of softball for us and they took advantage of that.

“And they’re a good team,” he said. “You have to come in with your ‘A-game’ to play somebody like that. They took advantage and beat us twice and we have to bounce back.”

Nonetheless, Werth said his team is every bit as good as La Cueva.

“They know that and we know that,” he said.

Incidentally, the two Farmington squads have come up short to the district leading Bears. La Cueva enters Saturday’s game with Eldorado with a 16-6 record, including an 8-0 mark in district.

“This whole district is tough and, you know, Farmington is going to be very, very good,” Werth said.

The PV coach said Farmington has made some vast improvements from last year with Aztec transfer Rikki Wilkie inside the circle.

“She’s their ace and she’s freaking good,” the PV coach said. “She’s one of the best in the state. We have to be very disciplined and smart against her and, you know, try to manufacture some runs against them.

“They’re well coached and coach (Tim) Trotter does a great job with those girls and it should be fun,” he said. “It’s always a fun rivalry.”

Billy said she’s also looking forward to the rivalry with Farmington on Friday.

“I feel like winning these two games will give us some momentum for the next game,” she said. “And it’s going to be an exciting game with our crosstown rivals. We’re really excited and we’re going to treat it like any other game.”

The outcome of Friday’s doubleheader will most likely influence the state seedings, as this year’s tournament will return to a 16-team field.

Due to COVID-19, last year’s state playoffs invited only eight teams.

“To us it really doesn’t matter if we’re the one seed or 16,” Werth said. “Obviously, we’re not going to be No. 1 seed, but as long as we’re one of the 16 teams in the playoffs, we’re gonna give ourselves a chance. There are a lot of teams out there that have a chance because there’s a lot of parity.”

With a 22-0 overall record, Carlsbad is expected to earn the No. 1 seed for the state playoffs. The Cavegirls play Hobbs on Friday to close out the regular season.

“They got two arms,” Werth said of Carlsbad. “They throw hard and they’re good, but I noticed lately that people are starting to put runs on them, so people are figuring them out.

“Like I said, we just got to get in,” Werth added. “Once you get in, you have to win that first round and get yourself to (Rio Rancho) and give yourself a chance. I think this group can do it.”

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