Injuries hurting Capital’s softball team for Wednesday’s first place clash

Injuries hurting Capital’s softball team for Wednesday’s first place clash with visiting Los Alamos in a District 2-5A test. Hilltoppers at 4-1 and holds a one-game lead over the 3-2 Jaguars, with the game scheduled for a 4 p.m. start

By Arnie Leshin 

Leading hitter, JoJo Bowannie, starting catcher, Emma George, and outfielder-infielder Adaline Carrasso are hopeful of playing in Wednesday’s key District 2-5A softball contest against visiting Los Alamos.

 

All three went on the injury list recently, Bowannie with an injured wrist, George with ankle problems, and Carrasso, still hurting from a collision with a teammate.

 

Head coach Sig Rivera is crossing his fingers, but he’s not sure who can play and who can not.

 

“JoJo can’t even grip the bat, Emma is still slowed down, and Adaline still feels the pain after colliding with Emma,” he said.

 

The Jaguars need all three. Bowannie, a senior, is hitting .523, had scored 28 times, has 23 hits that include two home runs, two doubles, and five triples, and has batted in 26 runs.

 

George is outstanding behind the plate, has a strong arm and is hitting .543, has scored 12 runs to go with 19 hits, 13 RBI, and six doubles. Carrasco is batting .423, is a solid fielder, and has tripled twice.

 

The Jags are a game behind Los Alamos at 3-2. This is a single game scheduled for a 4 p.m. start, and on April 28, they will play two up in Los Alamos. Currently, the Hilltoppers have won four in a row and are 11-7 overall and 4-1 in district. The Jaguars own a 10-4 overall mark and had won

eight straight earlier in the season.  

 

Senior Alex Mares is also one of Capital’s leading hitter. She’s batting at a .474 clip, has seven doubles, has scored 13 times, and has 18 hits and 14 RBI. Except for one player, the team on a whole has everyone at .300 or better.

 

The Hilltoppers, too, have a lineup of fearsome bats. Junior Alica Gonzales is at .585, has 31 hits, 17 RBI, and adds 11 doubles. Then there’s junior Megan Romero hitting at a .465 clip, has scored 10 runs to go with 20 hits that include eight doubles, and has15 RBI.

 

Senior Jayde Tucker is at .588 with 17 runs, 20 hits and 13 RBI. She has eight doubles. And then there’s senior Kate Wimer with a .447 batting average, 19 runs, 21 hits, and 20 RBI. Senior Lauren Harris is hitting .450, has scored 25 times, has come up with 27 hits, and has batted in 24 runs that include eight doubles

 

Up and down the balanced lineup, there’s strength. As for Wednesday’s starter pitcher, it could be Wimer, senior Rayna Lucero, or Savana Luster.

 

Harris is another pitcher, but has been playing shortstop. Her sister on the roster is freshman Jenna, a pitcher who is getting into games and is an upcoming Hilltopper. Their dad, Robbie, is an assistant coach, and the head coach is Randy Burditt. Lauren Harris and senior Jayda Tucker are co captains.

 

Rivera can start either freshmen Marley Cardenas or Alex Hernandez or turn to the senior, Arianna Almedia. But he’s hoping that his injured players can heal by game time. It’s a long shot, but he’s checking with them each day.