DENVER — D’Evelyn is a little more than halfway to winning back-to-back Class 4A/3A Jeffco League softball titles.
The Jaguars (14-3 record, 8-0 in league) have outscored their conference opponents 102-12 in their first eight league games. The latest was a dominating 14-2 victory in four innings over Bear Creek on Saturday on Senior Day for the Jaguars.
“We are just really hungry. We are never satisfied,” D’Evelyn coach Kate Courtney said of the Jaguars undefeated in conference play. “We are always going to go right after teams. We are flirting with that line of confident and cocky. We just want to keep pressing and keep going.”
The way things are going for the Jaguars, they won’t have to sweat out the league title last year where D’Evelyn edged out Golden. The Jaguars won the tiebreaker against the Demons to win the league title.
“We have worked hard for it,” D’Evelyn senior Lyla Nagy said of the league dominance. “We work hard in practice and have worked together for it.”
The Jaguars worked together to crank out 10 hits in the first two innings to take a 10-0 lead over Bear Creek. Nagy led off the game with a single, stole of pair of bases and scored on a throwing error. Fellow senior Myla Seda ripped an RBI double to put the Jaguars up 2-0.
Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools
The hit parade continued in the second inning with D’Evelyn scoring eight runs, all with two outs to push the lead to 10-0.
“We had a conversation about a week ago or so that we didn’t like how we were coming out with that first inning,” Courtney said. “We set a goal this game to come out hot and not wait until the seventh inning to do something. It was nice to see them learn from that.”
Nagy had an RBI triple. Seda, along with juniors Calista Hinestroza and Aubrey Giddens all had 2-run doubles in the 8-run inning.
“I’m so glad our team is so put together,” Seda said of the 8-run second inning. “We all hit for each other. We are all there for each other.”
Seda took care of business in the pitching department. The senior picked up her eighth victory in the circle giving up just two runs on four hits over four innings of work.
“What I really like about Seda is her mindset on the mound,” Courtney said. “She is hungry, confident and that type of approach by a pitcher is intimidating for a batter. I love having that attitude from a pitcher on the mound.”
Bear Creek ended the shutout bid in the top of the fourth inning with a 2-run double by senior Chianna Morris.
D’Evelyn responded right away with a 4-run bottom of the fourth inning that ended the game with a 12-run mercy rule through four innings. Appropriately, the Jaguar’s senior centerfielder — Nagy — ended the game with a walk-off, 2-run single on Senior Day.
“It’s very special, but it’s weird,” Nagy said about the realization that her prep softball career is coming to a close. “It goes quick.”
D’Evelyn held a pre-game ceremony honoring its seniors.
“It was really special. The whole team supporting us seniors is really amazing,” Seda said. “Our family speeches, Senior Day is always super fun.”
The Jaguars hope to continue their fun when they face rival Green Mountain at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, on the Rams’ home field. Bear Creek (9-8, 3-5) will continue league play at Golden (6-9, 2-6) on Monday.
Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools
