Hopi Lady Bruins win softball opener at home

POLACCA -- Terra Morgan provided the spark with a grand slam in the first game and Marlinda Dewakuku stroked a home run in the second game as Hopi took a doubleheader from Rough Rock in the season opener.

Hopi High School's softball team won the opener 16-6 and took the nightcap 14-10 March 2.

Terra Morgan walloped a grand slam and Hopi took advantage of walks and errors to score runs in the opener. Holly Jim LaRance was the winning pitcher with relief help from Rachelle Jim.

Hopi High Coach Dirk Wirth said LaRance did a good solid job on the mound.

"She threw the ball hard," he said. "It was nice to get the wins today and everybody played except one."

That was no small feat as Hopi had 38 players.

In the second game, Marlinda Dewakuku was the star as she was the winning pitcher and also smacked a home run. Hopi built a 9-0 lead in this game before holding off a Rough Rock rally to hold onto the victory.

Kristy Timms picked up the save with two innings of relief work.

Dewakuku's home run and a RBI single by Cassandra Nash helped the Lady Bruins take their large lead. In the fourth inning, Rough Rock attempted the comeback when Urshla Wilson smacked a grand slam for Rough Rock.

Micheryl Yazzie kept the comeback going with a two-RBI triple to pull Rough Rock within 14-10, but that was as close as they would get.

Allayna Koruh helped Hopi defensively as she pulled off a double play as the second basemen tagged a runner out and made a quick throw to first. Briann Laban also helped with some nice plays in centerfield. Coach Wirth was happy with the outcome.

"The girls gave a good effort. We have a long ways to go, but we did some good stuff out there today," he said. "We're young in some areas, but we'll be competitive."

(Stan Bindell, former Observer editor, is journalism and radio teacher at Hopi High School.)

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