In the first at-bat for McClintock in the bottom of the third inning Tuesday, senior pitcher Christian Smith launched a ball into the outside right field for a triple. As soon as her foot hit the third-base bag, the play was called into question.

Marcos de Niza head coach Rick Doran was concerned that the bat Smith was using was illegal. After conferring with both umpires and McClintock head coach Charlie Marshall, the play stood.

But it wouldn’t be the last time Doran left the dugout.

Doran attributed Tuesday’s 7-3 loss at McClintock in part to the umpires. When it comes to sticking up for his athletes, Doran would rather go down swinging.

“These girls just need someone to believe in them,” Doran said.

Marshall, on the other hand, was impressed with his team’s play after facing the loss of multiple days of practice and tournament play due to rain.

“You do what you can do,” Marshall said. “You get on the field when you can, and you get done what you can get done. For what we missed in the last few days, we did pretty good today.”

After a slow start, the Chargers responded to giving up two runs in the top of the fourth inning by shutting out the Padres in the top of the fifth, while scoring three of their own runs to extend their lead to 6-3.

Communication errors early in the game led to Christian “Cookie” Smith colliding with teammates twice while going for pop flies. The first was recovered by the catcher, but the second collision with the third baseman led to a single and an RBI for the Padres.

“I just try to let it go and try to encourage people to just go after the next one,” Smith said.

The senior captain was also hit in the back of the head with a throw by the catcher intended for the Marcos de Niza second baseman while at bat, and played through a foot cramp in the final two innings.

When it rains, it pours. But according to Marshall, it’s all about how you respond.

Despite what seemed to be constant adversity, Smith battled throughout the game. She went on to hit two triples and score two runs.

“I talk to the girls all the time and I tell them it’s not about what happens to you, but how you respond to what happens to you,” said Marshall, who explained this mindset applies to adversity within a game, but also to the entirety of the season.

“We’re going to run into stuff,” Marshall said. “We’re going to run into good teams. But it’s all about how we finish this thing.”

The Chargers finished with just four strikeouts in their 31 at bats, with five different players contributing to RBIs in the six-run game.

Myranda Sandifer earned two RBIs, while Jianna Martinez, Alissa Flores, Jordan Ayala, and Gabriella Arriaga each had one apiece.

The past five seasons, the Chargers have averaged just well below a .500 record. A change of leadership and realignment in the 5A conference have given McClintock the chance at a new era.

In his second season as head coach, and first season in the 5A Northeast Valley region, Marshall is looking to improve past last year’s 9-9 record.

“We have a really good mix of kids this season and we have a lot of them,” Marshall said. “Last year was my first year here and just watching these girls blossom from the beginning of last year to now… these girls have bought in. They believe in themselves. They know that when they step on the field every game, they have a chance to win.”

McClintock will host Williams Field on Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. before beginning a home-and-home series with the Paradise Valley Trojans on Thursday and Friday.