By Greg Perkins Catching up with Snowflake’s Lady Lobo softball team finds Head Coach Aaron Huish’s unit off to a 5-1 start to the 2021 season. Snowflake began their season back on March 12th while the basketball teams were just entering the second round of the state tournament. In their first outing, they defeated visiting Coolidge 13-2. As a team, Snowflake collected nine hits led by a trio of seniors including Anna Berger, Taylee Craner and Zoie Pearce, who hit two each. One of Craner’s was a home run with the other a double and both of Berger’s were doubles. Sophomore LillieAnn Hollom also had a home run. Berger pitched five innings in the circle allowing just two runs on one hit, with four walks and struck out 10 Lady Bears. Eight days later on the 20th, the Lobos lost their first game of the season with an 11-6 road set back to Northwest Christian. Snowflake scored once in the top of the seventh to tie the game but gave up five runs in the bottom of the seventh to lose by five. Anna Berger led at the plate going three for four, with a pair of doubles. Maren Berger and Taylee Craner each homered. Anna and Maren Berger collectively worked all seven innings allowing 11 runs on seven hits with 10 strikeouts and walked none. Facing Valley Christian later that same afternoon the Lobos quickly got back on the winning track with a 21-4 decision over the Trojans. Snowflake hammered out 23 hits in the win led again by Anna Berger who went four for five, with two doubles and a triple. The standout senior was also the winning pitcher giving up just three runs on four hits with nine strikeouts. Snowflake dominated their past three games. March 23 they defeated Alchesay 20-1, then two days later shut out Safford 18-0. In the Thatcher win, Anna Berger allowed just three hits. On Friday the Lobos had their second match up with the Falcons, this time in Whiteriver with a similar outcome. The Lobos won the game 33-3 in five innings. After playing in Winslow on Tuesday, Snowflake will host the Lady Bulldogs on Thursday. Friday they make a return trip to the Valley to face Gilbert Christian. Next Tuesday and Wednesday they will face Holbrook twice with Tuesday’s game played at home.
