Golden softball opens 4A Jeffco with road win at D’Evelyn
DENVER — On Monday, Golden vanquished any lingering ghosts from the end of Class 4A Jeffco League play from last season.
“We treated it as a must-win honestly,” Golden softball coach Steph Martinez said after the Demons’ big 6-3 conference victory at D’Evelyn. “Last year we had a chance to win league and they beat us in our house. It was embarrassing honestly. We remember that feeling from last year.”
Golden lost to D’Evelyn 12-2 in its league finale last season. That was the end of a 0-3 record in the Demons’ final three league games. Going into the final stretch Golden was in position to capture the conference title.
In the league opener for both the Demons (8-6, 1-0 in league) and Jaguars (5-8, 0-1) got off to an offense start. Golden got an RBI single by junior Tayler Riddle in the top of the first inning. D’Evelyn answered with a 2-run bottom of the first with the Jaguars’ first four batters reaching base.
“I was nervous all day,” Golden senior pitcher Mia Rauzi said. “I was just ready to come out and see the competition.”
Rauzi settled in on the mound after giving up a pair of runs. The Demons’ ace scattered just four hits for the next five innings without give up a run. She ended the game with eight strikeouts.
“That was our conversation after that first inning was to get dialed back in,” Martinez said about what she told Rauzi. “She did a great job and kept us in the game when our offense wasn’t scoring.”
Golden’s offense gave the lead back to the Demons with a 3-run top of the second inning. Junior Hollis Geeslin, sophomore Madeline Stubenrauch and Rauzi all had RBI hits in the inning.
Stubenrauch went 3-for-5 from the plate with an RBI and two runs scored.
“It’s really good to come out here during league and show that we are here for each other. We are here to win together,” Stubenrauch said. “We went through some rough spots as a team early, but I really feel us coming together at the exact moment.”
Junior Lyla Wilde had an RBI single in the third inning to push the Demons’ lead to 5-2. Golden picked up another insurance run in the top of the seventh when senior Carlie Fajardo scored. Fajardo had a great game at the plate going 3-for-3 with three runs scored.
“It was big that last inning to get one more run,” Martinez said.
D’Evelyn did mount a comeback attempt in the bottom of the seventh inning. Junior Peyton Marvel tripled with two outs and scored on an RBI single by Rachel Perlman. However, Rauzi got Ingrid Dalla to ground out to end the game.
Golden had won 5-of-7 games now as it heads full steam into conference play.
“This last weekend was big us,” Martinez said of the Demons going 3-2 at the Dave Sanders Memorial Tournament, which included double-digit wins over Mountain Vista and Grandview. “We knew it would be a tough weekend before league. They just came out and played awesome this weekend. It’s a good time to be on fire.”
Golden has another big road league game against defending conference champion Wheat Ridge (6-7, 1-0) on Wednesday.
“Next challenge is Wheat Ridge and we hope to come out strong,” Stubenrauch said.
D’Evelyn will try to get back on track when it hosts Standley Lake on Wednesday.
