Paige Cook is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Campo Verde High School for AZPreps365.com

Team success can be achieved many ways: skill level, communication, and talent. However, one characteristic of a successful team is often overlooked: a bond.

Bonds make or break a team.

Softball coach Rick Gutierrez said he is “excited to see how [this year’s team] will mesh.” Last season, COVID-19 ended Campo Verde’s season abruptly, causing what was becoming a strong team-bond to fall apart.

“COVID put a damper on the connections the girls were developing,” he said.

“This year, success all depends on how the girls interact with each other.”

Senior Adyson Sater said this season the team should have “no doubts plaguing our minds.”

“The more we are together and trust each other, the better we play. Bonding together is the difference between failure and success,” she said.

Senior Jadyn Warren believes a successful team works together.

“We have to grow together as a team and trust each other. This is how we will turn losses into wins,” she said.

Although bonding is vital, Gutierrez, Sater, and Warren all agree that pitching is also needed.

“You need a good core pitching rotation,” Gutierrez said.

And a reliable defense.

Warren, who is a pitcher, said, “It is a lot easier on me because I can trust my defense will make a play, so I don’t have all of this responsibility on me.”

Warren said the team has struggled with communication in the past.

“We have struggled keeping others aware of what’s going on in the game. If we keep each other alert and communicate, we can turn this weakness into a strength.”

Gutierrez agreed. “We won’t be good [this season] if we don’t have a good dynamic. These girls need to interact with each other.”

Gutierrez said some schools are “struggling to build teams” which affects team structure and talent level. “We are lucky enough to have these girls.”

Gutierrez’s main goal this year: develop player skill sets and work with the talent they have. “The talent we will have this year gives us the opportunity to make some noise and try to get into the playoffs.”

The Coyotes will play their first game on March 16 against Mesquite.