The Yellow Jacket softball team is looking for a big comeback this year.
Last season the Yellow Jackets finished 6-20, losing their last three games against Benson, St. David and Valley Union High School.
This season is off to a rough start after the team went winless in the Safford tournament last weekend, but quickly made up for it with an 18-8 win against Pima High School.
Coach Eddie Valenzuela said he believes the team’s biggest challenge is with their pitching. With only one strong pitcher, senior Gabby Chavez, Valenzuela said he would have to develop more pitchers behind her. Chavez threw the whole game against Pima, earning nine strikeouts.
“We are working harder in practice and have more hustle,” Chavez said. “We want to make it to state and go further than we did last year for sure.”
Despite the disappointing start, Valenzuela is staying optimistic.
“I think we’ll surprise a lot of teams this year,” he said. “We’re still getting better. They’re coming along quick.”
The coach said the team is faster and more powerful compared to last year’s team, especially when you consider it has four freshmen.
“One thing I like about the freshman group is they’re real competitive, they want to play,” Valenzuela said.
Freshman Tammy Darlington went 2-3 in Tuesday’s game against Pima and hit a monstrous three-run homer.
The team plays at Bisbee at 4 p.m. March 11.