The Camp Verde High School softball team established a No. 6 ranking in Division III and extended its winning streak to eight with a 12-2 win April 1 at Horizon Honors High School.
Juniors Taya Smith and Dusty Dowdle each batted in three runs, with Smith needing just three innings to get her team-leading ninth win on the mound.
“I’m really confident in our team, the way we’re playing right now,” said Smith’s father, head coach Henry Smith. “We’re preparing for the state championship, [and] I feel like [Payson] is a preview of one of the state playoff games, at least.”
Going into a Tuesday, April 7, matchup at Coronado High School, Smith had 89 strikeouts — fifth in Division III.
After spotting the Eagles two first-inning runs on two hits April 1, Smith shut them down the next two innings to bolster her 2.46 earned-run average, which ranks 10th among all Division III pitchers.
Overall, the Cowboys have a record of 17-3 and 8-1 in games that will help out their state tournament seed — which started at sixth in the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s first Division III power rankings.
That ranking would climb into the top five with home wins over rivals Payson and Sedona Red Rock high schools beginning Thursday, April 9.
The Cowboys are searching for their first victory this decade over the Longhorns, who have had CVHS’ number in their past eight games, winning all of them.
For the full story and more photos, please see the Wednesday, April 8, issue of the Camp Verde Journal.
