New-look pitching staff keeps Skyhawks atop Sunrise Region

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, April 26, 2001 | 10:19 a.m.

They say a high school softball team is only as good as its pitching staff, so it's little wonder the Silverado Skyhawks entered the 2001 season as something of a question mark.

Winner of seven consecutive zone/region titles, the east side's softball powerhouse expected to have back all three varsity pitchers from its 2000 model, only to take a hit when two chose not to play.

Suddenly, with veterans Keely Commerford and Jackie Kinsey -- who combined to throw 259 of 276 innings last season -- out of the picture, Silverado returned only left-hander Melissa Lundwall, who pitched just nine innings as a sophomore last year.

To boot, the Skyhawks had just one senior on their roster, with three freshmen and seven sophomores being counted on to play vital roles, most in their first varsity season.

Yet with the playoffs fast approaching, the Skyhawks stand in their familiar position: unbeaten atop the Southeast Division (4-0), the odds-on Sunrise Region champion and a possible threat to end Southern Nevada's seven-year large-school state title drought in the sport.

Beyond all that, however, what looked to some like a "rebuilding" year has the potential to be the best in the program's storied history. Silverado is 28-2 -- a cinch to extend the school's streak of 30-win seasons to seven and in sight of the all-time Skyhawk mark of 36-4.

"I think people were ready to write Silverado off, but I knew we'd be OK," Skyhawks coach Chuck Pope said. "I just didn't know we'd be like this."

Fittingly, Silverado's perceived Achilles' heel has proven to be its primary asset. Newcomers Morgan Miller and Krystal Harmon have teamed with Lundwall to form a superb pitching trio, helping the team to a perfect record against in-state foes (both losses came to Arizona schools in last month's Tournament of Champions).

"At first I was worried," junior Emilee Moores said, describing her initial reaction to the news that the team would be without two of last season's pitchers. "But after I saw Krystal and Morgan in intramurals, I was pretty sure that we'd be all right. And if our pitchers had any problems, our defense could back them up."

Allowing just 12 earned runs in 179 innings, the Skyhawk pitchers have been dominant, striking out 179 batters and walking just 19. Behind them, the team's defense has been solid, committing only 31 errors despite losing catcher Cassie Koenig and infielder Lindsey Pridgen for portions of the season.

Miller, who sat out last year after choosing to attend Silverado on a zone-variance, has led the charge, going 13-1 with three saves, a 0.41 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 innings.

"I feel like when we face hitters, (Pope) is so good at calling pitches that if I put the ball where he calls for it we'll be successful," Miller said.

Pope's lineup has also made life difficult for opposing pitchers all year, posting a .440 on-base percentage and striking out only 72 times in 686 at-bats. The Skyhawks are adept at drawing walks, stealing bases and laying down bunts -- keys to victory come playoff time.

Lone senior Sonia Randolph (.444, 12 RBIs), junior Julie Brand (.349, 19 RBIs), sophomore Megan McPherson (.352, 18 stolen bases) and Moores (.425, three homers, 17 RBIs) have been among the offensive leaders, with new stars emerging every day.

So how does Silverado keep doing it, staying in the hunt year upon year? Pope, for one, attributes the success to the skills his players have gained through their play on Amateur Softball Association (ASA) club teams.

"We've been fortunate to have some good kids, and the biggest thing is the ASA stuff," Pope said. "All these kids are ASA veterans. They've started when they were 12 or earlier."

And once they reach high school, the chance to be part of a Silverado varsity team provides all the motivation they need to keep improving. Just ask Moores, whose older sister, Christie, spent four years in the Silverado program before her.

"We want to keep the Silverado tradition going," she said. "(Early in the season) I felt we weren't getting the recognition we deserved and the respect we should have. We lost some great players, but our younger players have stepped it up. And we have a lot more heart than people thought we did."