Emphasis on team

Nick Christensen

Tuesday, May 17, 2005 | 9:31 a.m.

Las Vegas High's softball team this year did what it's supposed to do - won the Northeast Division handily, going 12-0 in league play to earn a top seed in the Sunrise playoffs.

But then, the Wildcats pulled the unexpected, beating Silverado twice and claming the Sunrise Region title. Unexpected to everybody but themselves.

"Hardly anybody thought we could do it," catcher Caroline Fernandez said. "We proved what we had to show and we're still going to play hard."

"I guess I never really considered us underdogs," Vegas coach Kevin Jones said. "We made it to the championships last year, we beat the same teams this year that we beat last year. I knew we could make it to the tournament. I wouldn't say we're a favorite by any means, but ... I think it's wide open."

If the Wildcats aren't the underdogs when the state tournament begins Friday at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park, they're certainly the wild card. Everyone's familiar with Silverado ace Kelly Griego, Sierra Vista star Kylee Kissane and at a minimum the reputation of McQueen pitcher Katie Eshelman.

But Giovanna Guzman?

"Some teams overlook it," Jones said. "They haven't heard Giovanna's name mentioned all that many times. She played four games in the playoffs against very, very good teams, and she gave up four runs combined."

Part of that success, Guzman said, is because of a new camaraderie on the team.

"I had more fun this year, I got along more with the girls," she said. "We had more pitchers this year. Last year I had to pitch almost every game. It was more stress on me."

The fun, Fernandez said, is because this year's team is, well, a team.

"It feels so much better, there's just so much excitement, just having fun," she said. "We're motivated. We didn't have half the distractions we had last year. People stayed eligible, made good choices basically. Staying together has brought us together as a team and as friends."

The team's bonding continued with a March trip to Walt Disney World, where the Wildcats picked up seven wins behind four home runs by Alyssia Delatorre and three more by Fernandez.

"We've spent a lot of time together," Jones said. "It develops into a unique relationship. I've never had a problem where someone makes a mistake and somebody's getting on them. There's never been any shouting matches."

Jones credits captains Fernandez, Re'Sean Britt and Marcy Rollins for setting the example to help the team.

Now, the captains will have to keep the team from what might seem like a setup for an emotional let-down after getting over the regional title hump. While Jones keeps searching for the perfect movie to provide inspiration - and relaxation - to his team later this week, Fernandez said there shouldn't be a problem getting ready for Friday's opener against McQueen.

"We're more inspired now. We're hyped now," she said. "Now that we know what we can do, we're just real excited for it now. Our expectations are higher."

At a minimum, Jones hopes for a repeat of last week, when Vegas had to beat three teams that had defeated the Wildcats during the regular season. If the Wildcats can get by McQueen, they hope to do the same against a Sierra Vista team that beat them at the end of March.

First-round games are at 5 p.m. Friday. Stephanie Lynn Craig Park is located at the corner of Russell and Galleria, just west of the Russell exit on U.S. 95, in Henderson.