St. Michael softball team playing with more confidence

FORT DEFIANCE – The St. Michael softball team struggled at the start of the 2024 season.

The Lady Cardinals (11-7) faced a pair of highly ranked teams in early March and were run-ruled both by Joseph City and St. Johns.

St. Michael then opened the 1A North Region with a pair of losses to Williams that set the Cardinals back at 1-5 overall.

Since that doubleheader loss to Williams, though, St. Michael has won 10 of its last 12 games heading into Friday’s opening round of the 1A state playoffs.

“We were still trying to find our groove,” first-year St. Michael coach Julianne Billison said of her team’s early season woes.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Cardinals finished out the regular season with a sweep over Red Mesa. St. Michael won 13-3 and 11-5 as both games went five innings. (The second game was called early due to darkness)

Earlier this spring Billison had the arduous task of meshing six seniors with seven underclassmen as the Cardinals sought to find a flow on offense and defense.

“At the beginning of the season we had trouble hitting the ball,” Billison said. “It was kind of like our weakness early on, but in the last two, three weeks the girls have been hitting a lot more.

“They’re getting very confident, especially my freshmen players,” she added. “They’re coming around with their bats and they’re bunting. I just think that the freshmen are getting more confident being out there with the seniors.”

St. Michael veteran utility player Aaliyah Bob remembers that terrible start, especially the doubleheader loss to Joseph City. The Cardinals were annihilated by scores of 24-0 and 17-2.

“I wish we didn’t play a hard team like Joseph City at the beginning of the season because when we played them we (the seniors) got frustrated with the younger ones,” Bob said. “We started to get more upset. You could tell we were ticked off with the little things they weren’t doing, like making the routine plays.”

Lately, the Cardinals have been playing much better and Bob credits that to the atmosphere Billison has created.

“The new girls and our coach have really impressed me,” the St. Michael infielder said. “It took a lot of adjusting, but through our coach we’ve developed a bond. She’s really worked with us, and we’ve really improved.”

With its state playoff bid, the senior class – which consists of Cheyenne Waseta-Jake, Autumn Shirley, Shaya Meyers, Cameron Hanley, Sierra Manuelito and Bob – will be making its fourth consecutive playoff appearance.

As of Wednesday’s deadline the Arizona Interscholastic Association had not released the 1A bracket. In the final AIA ranking, St. Michael held onto the No. 10 spot.

“I think it’s great that we’re back in the playoffs,” Bob said. “It shows that we took the coach’s teaching to heart. To make the playoffs every year is a huge milestone for us seniors.”

“I think it’s good that we made the playoffs,” Billiman said. “I have a great group of girls and they have really helped the situation. My seniors have been very helpful. They’ve played for a long time, and they really know how to play. They’re really competitive so they come out every day wanting to play.”

For the playoffs, the St. Michael coach is looking to start sophomore Denea Livingston in the circle.

“Denea is my go-to pitcher,” Billiman said. “She is wheeling and dealing. A lot of the teams we’ve played are really impressed with her pitching. All of the other teams like Denea.”

Offensively, Billiman believes her first five batters can place the ball. On Tuesday night, Waseta-Jake had the honors of leading off the Cardinals against Red Mesa. She was then followed by freshman Hayden Roan, then seniors Shirley, Livingston and Meyers.

“Those are my top hitters,” Billiman said. “They’re pretty consistent with getting on base, and they’re consistent in bringing in runs too. Denea and Autumn have hit a couple of home runs this year.”

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