Ralston Valley softball strings together win over Green Mountain

ARVADA — Timing is everything on the softball field. 

Ralston Valley had four straight batters reach base in the bottom of the fifth inning Tuesday to mount a successful 2-run inning, eventually resulting in a 3-2 home victory against Green Mountain.

“It was great. We’ve talked about that,” Ralston Valley coach Wendy Davies said of the Mustangs stringing together three straight hits after a fielding error to go ahead 3-2. “We have some hitters who have been trying to do too much I think. We have preaching about stringing together hard hits.”

Ralston Valley junior Nina Renk began the rally when she reached base on a fielding error by the Rams. Junior Stella Emnott then roped a double in the gap.

“I felt like it got us going and got our energy back,” Emnott said of her double that started three consecutive hits for Ralston Valley. “We got that more hits after that to really spark us.”

Sophomore Caley Pfeifer and junior Amelia Buyrn had back-to-back RBI singles to give the Mustangs the lead.

Green Mountain (3-4 record) had a good chance to answer thanks to a single by senior Jenna Neuenschwander and double by sophomore Ashlyn Wise in the top of the sixth inning. However, Ralston Valley third baseman Harley Maday made a great play on a ground ball by Green Mountain junior Haylee Yutzy to end the inning with the pair of Rams in scoring position.

“We just didn’t execute today,” Green Mountain coach Cory Miller said of the Rams’ third loss to a 5A Jeffco team during their non-league schedule. “Give credit to them (Ralston Valley). They came through and played well. They didn’t give us anything and that was the difference in the game.”

Renk retired the Rams in order in the top of the seventh inning to preserve the 1-run victory for Ralston Valley.

“Nina is doing good pitching,” Davies said of her junior pitcher. “She was hitting her spots today and had good movement.”

Ralston Valley has a couple of non-league games against D’Evelyn and Rock Canyon this week before diving into the double-round of the Class 5A Jeffco League play starting Tuesday, Sept. 9, against Lakewood.

Davies hopes her Mustangs will be able to battle with the top-tier teams in 5A Jeffco this year. Ralston Valley hasn’t won the 5A Jeffco League title since back-to-back conference championships in 2015 and 2016. 

“I definitely think we have a chance,’ Emnott said of Ralston Valley being in the mix for a conference title. “Especially since we are a young and scrappy team. We can sneak up on some people.”

The Mustangs are definitely young. Davies believes this is her first year of her over two decades at the helm of Ralston Valley’s softball program that she hasn’t had any seniors. 

“It will be good,” Davies said of having a young squad. “Our juniors are good. I think getting this year under their belt and then being seniors and leaders next year I think we be a good deal for them.”

Miller — in his second year at the helm of Green Mountain’s softball program — was encouraged with the Rams’ 8-4 road victory against Mead on Saturday. The Mavericks hammered Green Mountain 15-0 last season.

“For the most part there was a change against Mead and we felt it a little bit today with our attitude and energy,” Miller said. “I think it will be good going forward. Now that we have figured out the attitude and energy we just have to execute.”

Green Mountain is scheduled to play three games in three days with contests against Forge Christian (Wednesday) and Heritage (Thursday) this week before getting into 4A Jeffco League play next week. 

The Rams open up conference play against defending league champion Golden at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, at Green Mountain High School. 

“I would put our one through nine (line-up) against anybody,” Miller said of the Rams heading into 4A Jeffco League play next week. “We do have to go out and play the game at the end of the day.”