For the first time in roughly a year, the Mingus baseball and softball teams were back on the diamond last week. Things got started in a slightly bumpy fashion for the baseball team but the Marauders finished on a high note. The softball team, meanwhile, showed why it’s expected to contend for a state championship.
The Mingus softball team took on Lee Williams in a pair of games. Mingus was home for the season opener on March 15 while Lee Williams hosted the game on Thursday, March 18.
In the first game, the Marauders staked junior pitcher Alexis Ayersman to a big lead early when they scored eight runs in the second inning. That was all that Ayersman would need, just not all she’d get. Mingus added three runs in the third to go up 11-0. The Volunteers got two runs off of Ayersman in the top of the fourth but the Marauders responded with two of their own in the bottom of the inning to go up 13-2.
The game was called when Lee Williams was held scoreless in the top of the fifth and couldn’t get to within 10 runs.
Ayersman finished the game allowing only the two earned runs on four hits with no walks. Additionally, of the 15 hitters she retired, all but two came by way of the strikeout. Pretty much everyone contributed to the Mingus offensive cause, with Ella Behlow, Mallorie Copeland, Sydnee Stapleton and Marissa Vocca all recording two hits.
The rematch three days later was a similar story. The Marauders scored in all but one inning and the game was called after five with Mingus up 11-0.
While the Volunteers got the bat on the ball more against Vocca than they did Ayersman, it didn’t amount to much, as she allowed only two hits in the shutout, while walking three and striking out seven. Behlow added three more hits. Ayersman added three of her own, two of which were doubles. Mackenzie Figy also notched two hits, one of which was a double. Mingus also got its first home run of the season, which came off of the bat of McKell Gordon.
The baseball team, meanwhile, had to overcome some early struggles before finally getting things going.
The Marauders were shut out in the opener against Shadow Mountain on March 12. Mingus pitchers Trey Peters and Jan Alvarez combined to allow only three runs on three hits, but that was all the support Matadors pitcher Boston McGarrahan needed, as he went the full seven innings, allowing only three hits while striking out seven in a complete game shutout, handing the Marauders a 3-0 loss.
Mingus then traveled to Kingman to take on Lee Williams on March 15. The Marauders fell behind early, trailing 4-0 after the first inning and 6-0 after the second. The Volunteers cruised to an 11-1 victory. The rematch at Mingus three days later went differently.
Lee Williams again led early and took a 3-1 lead into the fifth inning. That’s when things finally came alive for the Marauders, though, as they rallied to score six runs in the bottom of the fifth to go up 7-3. The Volunteers wouldanswer with two in the top of the sixth but that was as close as they’d get as Mingus posted a 7-5 win.
Jan Alvarez was the star of that game. Offensively, he went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI. He also pitched, spreading out eight hits and three walks over the full seven innings and allowing five runs [three earned] to pick up the win.
After rain delays, both the Mingus baseball and softball teams were in action against Mohave on Thursday, March 25 with doubleheaders. The Marauders baseball team hosted the Thunderbirds and split the two games, taking the first 11-4 and dropping the second 12-9. Mingus went on the road to play Greenway on Friday, March 26 and won big, 11-1.
The softball team, meanwhile cruised on the road in Mohave. The Marauders opened the doubleheader with a 15-0 win. While the second game was the closest game of Mingus’ season, the Marauders still won 7-2 to move to 4-0 on the season.
