Arvada West and Golden softball combine for 46 runs in 5-inning game

ARVADA — Sometimes the numbers tell the story.

Golden and Arvada West softball teams combined for 46 runs, 30 hits and 26 walks over the five-inning game Tuesday afternoon at Arvada West High School. When the dust settled in the non-league contest, A-West scored a 28-18 victory.

“We started off slow and rough, but I’m proud of how we chipped away each inning and fought,” A-West senior Macie Ferguson said of the victory that ended a 4-game losing streak for the Wildcats (2-7 record). “Overall we got the ‘W’ and that is all that matters.”

Golden (2-1) actually took an 11-0 lead in the top of the first inning taking advantage of seven walks and cranking out five hits as the Demons sent 15 batters to the plate.

Senior Reagan Smith was 2-for-2 with a triple and double in the top of the first inning alone for the Demons. She drove in three runs in the first inning and scored both at-bats in the inning.

“Our hitting has improved a lot,” Smith said. “I’m really proud of my team for putting up 11 runs in the first inning. That was impressive.”

However, A-West answered in the bottom half of the first inning scoring eight runs on four hits and taking advantage of four walks. Junior Isabella MacNeil and senior Skarlette Arenas both had 3-run triples to lead the way for the Wildcats as they quickly closed the gap to 11-8 at end the first inning that took 52 minutes to play.

“I feel like we pass our sticks really well,” Ferguson said of the 28-run output which is the most runs scored for A-West since at least 2008 when MaxPreps began posting scores online. “Once one girl gets a single it’s contagious.”

Ferguson finished the game with absolute silly numbers at the plate. The multiple-sport athlete who helped A-West to a win the night before on the flag football field against rival Ralston Valley was 5-for-5 from the plate while reaching base and scoring on all six plate appearances. Ferguson had a pair of triples, a double and two singles while driving in five runs.

“I haven’t had a solid hitting game like that before,” Ferguson said of her remarkable output at the plate.

Arenas drove in six runs for A-West. MacNeil was 4-for-4 from the plate with four runs driven in.

The game ended in the bottom of the fifth inning when junior Kate Sanders singled to right to drive in junior Lena Guyer to induce the 10-run mercy rule after five innings.

“It’s good to get a win like this before league to get some confidence,” Ferguson said. “We’ll build on this energy for league.”

A-West has a few more non-league games against Northfield and Monarch before 5A Jeffco League play begins on the road for the Wildcats at Columbine on Sept. 15.

On the other hand, Golden jumps into 4A/3A Jeffco League play when the Demons host Conifer on Friday, Sept. 4. Golden is coming off back-to-back 19-win seasons, but have been hit hard by graduation over the past two years.

Coach Steph Martinez started four freshmen against A-West. Seniors Daely Peterson, Madalyn McGraw and Smith will be key for the Demons to help lead the young squad and keep them in contention for a league title.

“I’ve learned to have a lot of patience and just be happy for all of our small wins,” Smith said.

Smith already has 13 RBIs and a pair of home runs in the Demons’ first three games. She launched a home run over the fence in left-center field in the top of the fifth inning.

“That is what happens when you pitch it in the middle,” Smith said of her solo home run. “It was cool.”