Cougars flaunt offseason improvements in opening week

The fall sports season has officially arrived with Niwot softball kicking off its slate of non-league games. After dropping its home opener to George Washington 8-6 on Aug. 18, Niwot split a two-game round-robin tournament at Lyons High on Aug. 21.

The round-robin tournament began with Niwot facing the Lyons Lions in game one. Despite a three-run homer by sophomore Anne Booth and a two-run bomb by junior Zoie Chociej, the Cougars couldn't maintain a four-run lead and lost another close battle, 7-6.

Without a win in its first two games of the season, Niwot finally turned things around against Peak to Peak in game two of the round-robin. Eight Cougars had multiple hits in a 17-7 mercy-rule rout of the Pumas. Booth hit another first inning home run while sophomore Autumn Rutherford raked in three hits and Chociej had four RBIs. After Booth pitched three innings, senior Jasmine Aldama and sophomore Maddie Stimack helped close out the game.

Rewinding to Niwot's home opener three days prior, the Cougars fell behind 3-0 early to the George Washington Patriots. Booth started in the circle and navigated plenty of Patriot traffic throughout her seven innings pitched.

Two freshmen made their debuts in key positions as senior Ayva McComas was absent from the season opener. Saleen Amaya, a distant cousin of last year's senior starting catcher Dulce Amaya, got the start behind the plate and threw out a Patriot runner attempting to steal second base in the first inning.

"She did an amazing job," head coach Bobby Matthews said of his young backstop. "She kept the ball in front. I don't think she had a passed ball, maybe one that a girl advanced, but nobody scored on those. She had big blocks and she built confidence with Anne, who's a down-ball pitcher."

Freshman Julia Philofsky also got the start in centerfield and batted fifth. She ended the third inning with a putout in center and Matthews said he was impressed with her effort leading the outfield. Sophomore Jenna Hobson made her varsity debut next to her in left field and scored a run in the fifth inning.

Offensively, the Cougars' bats appeared rusty their first time through the order before Rutherford reached third base on a bunt and a throwing error in the third inning. Chociej followed with a successful safety squeeze to bring in Niwot's first run of the season.

George Washington held a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth when Niwot's offense finally came alive. Rutherford and Hobson stood on second and third base, respectively, when Booth lined a two-run single to center. Aldama followed with a deep RBI triple and later scored on a wild pitch to give Niwot a 5-4 edge.

Matthews said the offensive outbreak could be attributed to a simpler approach.

"We had a lot of kids trying to take big, giant cuts that weren't singularly focused," Matthews said. "I just told them to get their hands to the ball, stop worrying about results, and that's what they did."

Aldama, who walloped another run-scoring extra-base hit in the seventh inning, had a promising beginning to her senior campaign. Matthews said that her focus on hitting line drives during batting practice translated well in the first game. "If she keeps this up, she's going to have a heck of a year," Matthews said.

Niwot's momentum didn't last long. The Patriots loaded the bases to begin the seventh and proceeded to score four runs to snag the eventual lead. Keeping in mind that Niwot had multiple players with limited experience at their positions defensively, Matthews noted that cleaner defensive play will be an ongoing focus.

More home games are on the horizon for Niwot, which will host Riverdale Ridge on Aug. 24 and Roosevelt on Aug. 26.