Douglas High School softball holds up the Class 5A North regional title trophy after besting Spanish Springs, 7-0, Saturday. It marks the third consecutive regional title for the Tigers.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
For the third year in a row, the Douglas High School softball team was crowned as the top squad in the Class 5A North.
Saturday, the Tigers shutout Spanish Springs, 7-0, again to become the three-time champs.
The accomplishments of the program over the years have been historic and the Tigers still have goals left to conquer this season.
Saturday night, the Tigers will be reveling in another campaign where they went unbeaten.
“It’s really hard to put into words. We’ve seen it in high school in different sports, but to be a part of it is really special,” said Douglas head coach John Glover. “To watch these groups come through and have the success they’ve had is just a lot of fun to watch.”
SHUTOUT AFTER SHUTOUT
The Tigers cruised through league play this season, as well as regionals.
In Douglas’ last 12 games, opponents have scored two total runs – one of which was unearned.
Senior pitcher Talia Tretton has been nearly unhittable since the beginning of the season.
In 20 games against league foes this season (16 regular season, four postseason), no one has managed more than one run against the Tiger hurler.
The Iowa signee didn’t necessarily anticipate having three regional crowns in her award closet when her high school career began.
“A little bit. My freshman year we were up and down and didn’t get that regional title. It’s what I’ve been working for since my freshman year,” said Tretton. “To get it three years in a row is super nice.”
Her 347 strikeouts this season rank as the fourth most in a season in Nevada high school history. Centennial’s Shannon Crisp set the single-season strikeout record with 403 in 2004.
Tretton is now fifth in the national in punch outs this spring.
(Talia Tretton delivers a pitch Saturday, during the Class 5A north regional title game ta Bishop Manogue. Tretton struck out 15 hitters as the Tigers defeated Spanish Springs for their third straight regional title. / Ron Harpin)
CONTRIBUTIONS UP AND DOWN THE LINEUP
Saturday’s seven runs came on 11 Tiger hits as nearly every starter in the lineup recorded a base hit en route the regional title.
Marissa McLelland and Tretton each tallied two hits apiece at the top of the order while Maddie Gooch was a perfect 3-for-3 in the eight spot.
In the fifth, Gooch launched her second home run in as many days over the left field wall.
“I’m in a groove, but it’s the energy, I think. It just brings everyone up,” said Gooch.
Tiger senior Zora Simpson also launched a solo home run in the victory.
Lilyann Lee, who leads the team with 11 home runs, knew the Tigers had the talent to put up this kind of success. Closing out her senior season with a third straight regional title brings a different level of gratification.
“It feels so much better than the other two. Being a senior, this is the way I can go out and leave my legacy for some of the other little ones who are looking up to me,” said Lee. “It’s amazing.”
The state tournament looms next week, beginning Thursday, May 16.
In game one, Douglas (30-4) will tangle with Coronado (18-6), who finished as the No. 2 seed out of the Southern 5A. That game will be played at 11:30 a.m. at Bishop Gorman High School.
With goals to check off, Douglas won’t spend long reminiscing on another regional crown, but they’ll enjoy it for at least one night.
“That is all tonight. We are having a barbecue tonight and we are going to enjoy our glory for the last four years,” Lee said.
(Douglas' Marissa McLelland connects with one of her two hits Saturday in the Class 5A North regional title game. / Ron Harpin)