The Winslow Lady Bulldogs won the Arizona State 3A Conference Championship last season and have a veteran lineup returning to defend their title. Coach Becky Barris offered an interesting analysis of the team and its strength throughout the lineup. The team not only is solid in returning veterans, but has a plethora of talented newcomers with club softball experience.
Barris said in her analysis, “This year’s team returns several key starters from last year’s championship team. Senior Gabby Stacey has signed with the College of Southern Idaho, and will move to shortstop this year. Senior Mireya Ulibarri has signed with South Mountain Community College, and will return at centerfield for us. Junior Arianna Huerta will return her great range and glove at second base. Senior Melissa Jacobs will return to third base, and will be a great leader for our team. Sophomore Becca Perez will move to catcher this year and returns a strong bat for the Bulldogs.
“Pitching staff will include junior Kelley Pugh, who got a lot of experience last year. Senior Mallory Smith has great movement pitches. Freshman Halle Hayes will join our pitching staff this year, bringing a lot of club experience, and freshman Taylor Baca, a lefty, will also see some pitching time on varsity this year. Catching duties will also be shared with junior Karly Gilbert and freshman Jaleisa Hayes.
“New outfielders include freshmen Renee Bollin and Megan Lymer, and junior Jodee Panana. First base is still undecided, but we will look at Mallory Smith, Taylor Baca, Becca Perez and Jaleisa Hayes at that position also. We have lots of very versatile kids who can play literally every position this year.”
“We will have a very fast lineup this year. Gabby, Mireya, Halle, Jodee, Renee, Jamie, Jaleisa, Becca, Megan and Arianna are all very fast. This is probably the fastest team we have ever had.
“We are adding several very talented freshmen this year and though they lack high school experience, they have all been playing club softball for several years. We should have three great slappers, several power hitters and just a very solid overall lineup,” Coach Barris concluded.
Winslow was slated to open its schedule at Tuba City on Thursday, and will play Greyhills at Tuba City on Monday, March 7, and at Payson on Thursday, March 10. The first home game will be against Valley Sanders at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 12. They will then travel to Chinle to play the Lady Wildcats at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15.
The Lady Bulldogs will compete in the Payson Invitational Tournament on Friday and Saturday, March 18 and 19. They will host Blue Ridge at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, March 28, then journey to Show Low on Tuesday, March 20, to meet the Lady Cougars at 3:30 p.m.
Next will come three straight home games against Holbrook at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, Joseph City at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, and Show Low at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 8. A trip to Kayenta to meet Monument Valley will occur at 12 noon on Saturday, April 9. Winslow will then host Tuba City on Tuesday, April 12, and Ganado on Thursday, April 14, with both games set for 3:30 p.m.
Games on the road will follow with Winslow at Polacca to meet the Hopi Lady Bruins at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 15, at Snowflake at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 16, and at Window Rock on Monday, April 18, for a doubleheader, with games slated to start at 3 and 5 p.m. A game at Holbrook at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19, will be the last contest before the Las Vegas Invitational Tournament.
Winslow will play in the Las Vegas Invitational Tournament on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 21, 22 and 23. That will be followed by the regional tournament on Tuesday, April 26, at the home of the higher seed and at Winslow on Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30. The state tournament will be played on the next two weekends.
