Niwot softball plays a heartbreaker followed by several tournament wins

Last week's Niwot High softball squad started with a hard-fought loss that served as a warmup for a successful tournament the following Friday and Saturday in Loveland. Ultimately, the team ended the week with a 5-3 record, a 20th-place ranking in Colorado Class 4A and a fifth-place spot solidly in the middle of rankings of the Longs Peak League.

Tuesday's game against the Roosevelt High School Roughriders presented a challenge that the Cougars battled through from the first inning, when Cougar pitcher Kiana Butler allowed only one runner to reach base. Roosevelt scored an unearned run on a Cougar error in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. Niwot's best scoring chance ended when a close tagout of Butler at third base ended a Cougar scoring threat in the 7th inning, and the team ultimately suffered a 1-0 defeat.

The first day of tournament play at the Barnes complex in Loveland had a much different outcome with a pair of solid victories. The first was a 13-4 win against the Mead Mavericks, a game that saw freshman Camryn Legh contributing two RBIs and Butler helping herself with three RBIs and a solid effort in the circle.

The second matchup of the day, against the Prairie View High School Thunderhawks, saw the Cougars prevail by 10 runs, 21-11. Offensive leaders for this game included sophomore Payton Johnson and Legh with four RBIs a piece and senior Zoe Cameron with three RBIs. Senior batting leader Autumn Rutherford contributed to the third win of the week with three stolen bases and three runs scored. Butler was joined in the pitching duties by both Legh and junior Maddie Pearson, with Legh pitching three innings and earning credit for the win.

Saturday's play gave the players more of a challenge. The first of two games came against the Conifer High School Lobos where they came out with a 6-2 win, thanks in part, to three RBIs from Anne Booth and two from junior Simone Paterno. The second Saturday game was the only matchup of the weekend when the team didn't prevail, losing 8-6 to the Berthoud Spartans, who are currently ranked 5th place in Colorado division 4A.

Butler spoke about the team's performance after the final game of the tournament. "I think we did really well this weekend. Sure, I think my pitching could have been better and that I could improve, but I also think I did well."

Roosevelt Roughriders 0 0 0 0 0 - 0

Niwot Cougars 0 1 0 0 0 - 1

Niwot: (AB, R, H, RBI) Z. Cameron; 3 0 1 0; M Dodge 1 0 0 0; C Legh 2 0 0 0 K Butler 3 0 1 0; J. Philofsky 1 0 0 0; A Booth 2 0 1 0; J. Hobson 3 0 0 0; A. Rutherford 3 0 0 0; S. Amaya 1 0 0 0; M. Herrera 2 0 0 0; S. Paterno 2 0 0 0

Butler (W/L) (IP, H, R, ER, BB, K) L (6 4 1 0 1 7)

Niwot Cougars 0 0 1 6 0 6 - 13

Mead Mavericks 1 1 0 2 0 0 - 4

Niwot: (AB, R, H, RBI) E. Majka 0 2 0 0 Z. Cameron 4 0 0 0; C Legh 4 1 2 2; K. Butler 2 1 1 3;

M. Pearson 0 1 0 0; J. Philofsky 3 2 1 1; A Booth 4 1 2 1; Autumn Rutherford 3 2 1 1;

S. Amaya 4 0 1 0; M. Herrera 3 1 0 1; S. Paterno 2 2 1 1.

Butler (W/L) (IP, H, R, ER, BB, K) W (6 3 4 2 5 11)

Niwot Cougars 4 5 3 1 2 6 - 21

Prairie View Thunderhawks 3 2 0 5 0 1 - 11

Niwot: (AB, R, H, RBI) E. Majka 2 1 1 0; Z. Cameron 5 4 3 3; M. Dodge 5 0 1 1; K. Butler 3 3 1 0;

M. Pearson 1 1 1 0; P Johnson 5 2 4 4; A Booth 5 2 3 2; A. Rutherford 4 3 2 1; M. Herrera 4 1 3 2; S. Paterno 5 1 1 0; S. Bitterman 1 1 1 0.

Legh (W/L) (IP, H, R, ER, BB, K) W (3 5 10 5 6 2)

Butler (W/L) (IP, H, R, ER, BB, K) (2 2 0 0 0 6)

Pearson (W/L) (IP, H, R, ER, BB, K) (1 1 1 1 0 0)

Niwot Cougars 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 - 6

Conifer Lobos 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 - 2

Niwot: (AB, R, H, RBI) Z. Cameron 4 0 1 0; M. Dodge 2 0 0 0; C Legh 3 0 1 0; K. Butler 4 0 2 1;

J Philofsky 3 1 1 0; A Booth 4 1 2 3; A. Rutherford 2 1 1 0; S. Amaya 4 0 0 0; M. Herrera 3 1 0 0;

S. Paterno 3 2 1 2.

Butler (W/L) (IP, H, R, ER, BB, K) W (7 9 2 1 1 9)

Berthoud Spartans 5 2 1 0 0 0 - 8

Niwot Cougars 2 0 2 2 0 0 - 6

Niwot: (AB, R, H, RBI) Z. Cameron 2 0 0 0; C Legh 2 0 0 0; K Butler 2 2 1 0; P. Johnson 1 0 0 0;

J. Philofsky 3 0 0 0; A Booth 3 1 2 3; J Hobson 3 1 1 0; A. Rutherford 2 1 2 1; S. Amaya 1 0 0 0; M. Herrera 2 0 0 0; S. Paterno 3 1 1 0.

C Legh (W/L) (IP, H, R, ER, BB, K) L (3 10 8 7 0 0)

Butler (W/L) (IP, H, R, ER, BB, K) (2 1 0 0 6 2 5)