BHS Eagle softball season ends in state consolation

ALBUQUERQUE — For the second straight year, Belen reached the final six of the 4A State Softball Championship, ultimately losing in the consolation second round at Cleveland High School.

The Eagles, seeded 10th, made a statement last Thursday in their first consolation bracket game, defeating No. 7 Los Alamos 16-0.

“No,” BHS pitcher Lorissa Scott quickly responded when asked if she was expecting a more competitive game. “I just knew I could go out there and dominate in the circle and my team would have my back hitting.”

Scott, who has signed to play for Eastern New Mexico University, gave up just three hits and struck out nine in the mercy-rule game shortened to five innings.

“My speed and my spin (screwball) threw them off a lot,” Scott said. “They had a hard time hitting it.”

“When you’re hot, you’re hot,” Belen coach Oscar Medrano added, referring to the Eagles’ pitching and hitting combination.

That included Araceli Franco, senior third baseman, who had four hits and five runs batted in.

“I wasn’t nervous at all,” Franco said. “We just kept hitting. We were really keeping up the pressure.”

Helping the cause was Shyla Rocha, sophomore, who contributed three hits and four RBI.

The victory sent BHS into an early Friday loser-out game, first pitch at 9 a.m. against fourth-seeded Aztec.

“We just couldn’t get a break,” said Medrano. “We made some mental mistakes, took ourselves out of a couple rallies.”

A home run by the Tigers in the fifth inning helped to extend the lead to 4-0, the final score.

BHS was competitive throughout.

“We had our chances. We just couldn’t get them across,” Medrano said. “A break here, a break there and it’s a different ballgame.”

The Eagles end the season 16-14, with Scott, Franco and Jaylyn Boozer, “pretty much the core of the team,” graduating. However, the BHS cupboard is not bare.

“We have a good sophomore class. They’re probably some of the better players,” said Medrano. “If we can develop some pitching, I think we’ll be alright.”