Spartans hope to be in softball mix

Centennial and Durango highs softball teams advanced to last year's Sunset Region championship game and, along with a strong Bonanza squad, appear armed and ready to make another run for the state tournament this season.

But the girls at Cimarron-Memorial plan to be there, too.

"We've just got to be mentally tough when it comes to the end of the season," Spartans coach Robert Kowalski said. "We want to be in the mix and make a run for the regional title and get to state. There are only two teams going and there are five or six quality teams (in the Sunset Region). It's a matter of who gets it done at the end of the year."

Cimarron-Memorial went 23-11 last season and finished first in its Northwest Division with a 7-1 record before bowing out of the Sunset Region tournament to eventual state runner-up Durango.

The Spartans, who were ranked sixth in Southern Nevada in the inaugural Las Vegas Review-Journal rankings, return five quality starters from that team and feature nine seniors overall.

Victoria Morache is one of the team's top returnees. The senior center fielder hit .435 last season en route to second team all-Sunset Region honors and got off to a sizzling start this year as well, hitting a team-high .611 and leading the team in nearly every offensive category through its first six games (4-2).

Morache, a left-handed power hitter who has signed to play for the University of Southern Colorado next season, also has some wheels. She led the team in stolen bases at press time and made a diving, game-saving catch in a win over Las Vegas.

"She does everything we want her to do," Kowalski said. "You'd have to look long and far to find a better outfielder in town and maybe the state."

Jaime Hughes, a four-year starter, returns to anchor the pitching staff. The senior power pitcher, who also catches and plays first base, is expected to sign with the University of Rhode Island.

Along with senior Kristen Jasper and freshman Kim Adams, a pair of control pitchers, the Spartans sport one of the strongest pitching staffs in town.

"We have one of the best tandems of pitchers on this side of town," Kowalski said of Hughes and Jasper. "Between Hughes, Jasper and Adams, we can throw a lot of looks at you. I think our three (top pitchers) stack up with any others in town."

Jasper, who also plays catcher, started the year in impressive fashion, posting a perfect 3-0 mark with a 1.62 ERA. Jasper was also tied for second on the squad in hitting with a .533 batting average.

Adams, who also plays first base and pitches in relief, started off 1-0 with a 0.81 ERA in her first nine innings.

Krystian James, a returning senior starter in left field, was tied with Jasper with a .533 batting average early in the campaign. James has signed to play soccer for the University of Pittsburgh next year and may also try to walk on to the softball team there.

Courtney Slovak, a senior outfielder/first baseman, also returns to start for the Spartans.

Other starters include senior second baseman Kristen Cole, senior third baseman Devon Baxter and freshman shortstop Lindi Kennedy, who is also a potent power hitter.

Seniors Danielle Oaks and Melonie Macklin also return to the team.

"Our starting nine is solid and we have a pretty strong bench," Kowalski said. "We try to keep our goals simple. We want to be consistent and get better every game. We'd like a 20-win season and the number one spot in our league, but all that stuff comes down the line.

"What really matters is at the end of the season. It's not hard getting into regionals. It's hard getting out of them. It's going to be tough, but I think we'll be right there at the end."