‘New’ schools travel different paths

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, April 5, 2001 | 11:16 a.m.

Ask a visiting softball coach to identify Southern Nevada's three newest programs, and he'd be awfully hard pressed to correctly identify Centennial, Foothill and Desert Pines.

Though all three high schools opened in the fall of 1999, the state of their respective softball programs could not be more different as the trio enters conference play in season No. 2.

From day one, Centennial has been the leader of the pack. The Bulldogs served notice they would be a softball power with 28 wins, a Sunset Region title and a state tournament appearance in year one and have shown no signs of slowing down in 2001.

The Bulldogs are 13-2, ranked sixth in the state and have played No. 3 Durango and No. 4 Silverado within one run each.

Foothill's has also been a story of success, though at a far different rate. The Falcons struggled in 2000, winning just seven of 21 games and dropping their final 10 contests of the season.

Now, just one year later, they have turned their fortunes around. A 9-5 record that includes a decisive win over No. 8 Eldorado has the Henderson school brimming with optimism heading into tonight's league opener against Chaparral.

For Desert Pines, meanwhile, the road to victory has been far steeper. After opting not to field a varsity team in 2000, the Jaguars are in the midst of a tough first season that has seen the 0-10 squad on the losing end of 32-0, 28-0 and 27-1 scores.

Nevertheless, the Jags remain upbeat. They are determined to stick together, and to help build what they hope someday will be a winning program.

Instant contenders

Generally, Southern Nevada's first-year athletic programs are expected to be seen but not heard from, particularly in an already extremely competitive team sport such as softball.

Last year, Centennial emerged as the exception to that rule. Playing on the heels of their school's 30-1 Cinderella girls basketball story, the Bulldogs came into their inaugural softball season confident and prepared, which came as no shock to their coach.

"I wasn't that surprised," Centennial coach Cyndi Parus said. "I knew the kids that were coming to Centennial were talented and experienced. We just got lucky, kind of the luck of the draw."

With a solid core of returners -- most notably pitcher Amy Sauer, catcher Maggie Livreri, shortstop Dani Delgado and outfielder Ashlee Dean -- already in the fold, the rich got richer this spring with the addition of freshman Shannon Crisp.

One of the area's top young talents, Crisp is among Southern Nevada's leaders in virtually all hitting and pitching categories, and has teamed up with Sauer to give the Bulldogs a tough 1-2 punch on the mound.

Despite the talent on her roster and last year's success, Parus isn't taking anything for granted. "Our first goal is to finish first in our division. Then we'll focus on regionals and if we make it, then on state. Building a winner

While the Bulldogs celebrated in 2000, the Falcons endured. Hopeful as they entered league play, players' spirits began to sag as losses piled up.

"We weren't having fun by the end," said Roxanne Ritchie, an outfielder and pitcher for Foothill. "It was hard emotionally. Our heads were down when we came off the field."

Coach Tom Freese remained positive heading into year two. He knew his school's new girls strength and conditioning program would help, and an early 1-0 loss to the Bengals -- the same team that trounced the Falcons 13-2 last year -- proved him right.

"After we lost 1-0 to Bonanza, our girls started believing, and after that we just started getting better," Freese said. "It's a habit-forming thing."

Already having surpassed last season's win total, the Falcons enter their eight-game conference slate with a chance to earn a high seed in the upcoming Sunrise Region Tournament.

The addition of freshman shortstop Danielle Martinez -- a .425 hitter with power -- has bolstered a lineup capable of producing from top to bottom. Freese asks the pitching combination of Brittany Brady and Ritchie to get ground balls, and a solid defense usually does the rest.

Most important to Freese, his players have put the negative experience of 2000 behind them, and are thriving in a more team-oriented environment in year two.

"This girls enjoy each other. It's a lot closer group," he said. "This year, they're buying into the softball program at Foothill, and we're starting to establish ourselves."

Taking their lumps

While the Bulldogs and Falcons gear up for a run at the postseason, the Jaguars will take the field this afternoon knowing will likely get hammered. In its 10 games, Desert Pines has been outscored by a whopping 190-20 margin.

Nevertheless, coach Felicia Gonzales said her club remains positive about a season others may be too quick to judge a failure.

"I have the most rewarding group of girls," Gonzales said. "They're eager to learn, a very humble group of kids. From the very beginning I explained to them that they should be out here because they enjoy the sport."

Before last year's junior varsity season, many of the Jaguars had never played organized softball. So while other coaches may cringe at the thought of a 32-0 defeat, Gonzales welcomes the opportunity for her players to see the area's top programs in action.

"We get to see where we want to be in a few years," Gonzales said. "It doesn't hurt anybody's feelings. The parents have been extremely supportive. They understand we're building a program."

Pitcher Serenity Luna and catcher Andrea Shepard -- the team's only two year-round club players -- have provided hope for a bright future. And as the success of the Jaguars' first-year peers has shown, it isn't always long before a new school can find itself in the hunt.

"The way Foothill started last year is similar to the year we're having now," Gonzales said. "And then they were able to turn it around. That's what we're hoping to do later this season and in years to come."