Yuma Catholic softball is looking to continue last season’s winning ways as they open up play in the newly formed 3A Metro region.
During the 2016 season the Shamrocks finished with a 19-2 record but were bounced from the playoffs in the quarterfinals. Finishing two wins away from playing for a state championship is what fuels the Shamrocks this year.
“Last year people didn’t expect us to go as far as we did and we shocked the community," second-year head coach Madison Tracy said. “This year we plan to take it even further.”
The Shamrocks are returning a core group of players from last year’s team including Jessica Padilla, Natalie Hernandez and Kayla Browning. These three will anchor the lineup and provide stability up the middle.
Padilla and Hernandez both put up video game like numbers while playing Division IV opponents a year ago. Hernandez hit an outlandish .702 with 30 RBIs while Padilla batted .587 with three home runs.
“We are not as young as we were last year,” Tracy said. “A lot of my girls play travel ball and have either played with or against each other throughout the years.”
The new Metro Region will have the Shamrocks facing off against Casteel, ASU Prep, Fountain Hills, North Pointe Prep and Valley Christian. Yuma Catholic’s first game is March 3 in the Shamrock Classic as they host Yuma High.
Of those teams, North Pointe Prep looks to give the Shamrocks their biggest challenge, as they finished last season 24-5. Region games for YC will begin March 28 when they travel to face Casteel in Chandler.
Key Returners
Jessica Padilla, Sr., SS
Natalie Hernandez, So., P
Kayla Browning, So., C
Key Newcomers
Jocelyn Hernandez, Fr., Utility
Faith Sandoval, Fr., IF
Itziry Felix, Sr., 1B/3B
2016 Results
ASU Prep 5-10
Casteel (First-year varsity program)
Fountain Hills 8-18
North Pointe Prep 24-5, Lost in second round of Division IV playoffs
Valley Christian 19-7, Lost in first round of Division IV playoffs
Yuma Catholic 19-2, Division IV Quarterfinals
