Cactus softball coach Bartt Underwood’s orders to his veterans this season were simple.

They can’t have a bad game. If they do, it’ll likely spell trouble, he told them.

“I put it on their shoulders,” the 29-year coach said.

On Tuesday, his captains were leading the charge against the only other softball team that was undefeated in West Valley Region play, Desert Edge. But Underwood’s “rookies” also played a key role in Cactus’ 10-2 road victory against a team that was just atop Cactus in the 4A power rankings.

“My veterans are doing what we expect them to do,” Underwood said. “But tonight some of my, I call them newbies, came through with good defensive plays. If we don’t make them, they (Desert Edge) score.”

Cactus played error-free softball while its No. 1 (Tanya Windle), 2 (McKenna “Bub” Feringa) and 3 (Hannah Difabio) hitters finished 9-for-15.

Not surprisingly, the top of the order is where Cactus’ leaders are posted. Those three are each batting .541 or better.

The top of the order also boasts one of 4A’s best pitchers, Feringa. The senior’s Tuesday line: 4-for-5, 3 RBIs, 6th complete game, 8 strikeouts.

Feringa also slugged a two-run homer over the batter’s eye screen that left some fans saying, “Wow.”

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“I think it was pretty good,” said Feringa about her performance. “I just went out there and trusted my defense. They made a lot of great plays.”

Feringa and her teammates jumped out to a 6-0 lead by the fourth inning against a team that struggled at the plate and on the field early.

But once Desert Edge settled down, it gave a glimpse of what Cactus (8-2 overall, 6-0 region) might see more of on Friday when the teams meet again. In the fifth inning, Desert Edge tallied four of its nine unofficial hits against Feringa while scoring two runs.

Four of the hits Feringa allowed didn’t leave the infield. Unlike previous seasons, Desert Edge (9-3 overall, 6-1 region) isn’t relying on the long ball to help it win.

“We put ourselves in too big of a hole, a 6-0 hole,” Desert Edge coach Bob Iler said. “That’s a good hitting team, especially that top part of its lineup. We can’t afford to fall behind like that to them.”

Two freshmen and two sophomores as well as four seniors regularly start for Iler. 

“Today was probably our slopiest defensive game,” Iler said. “We are looking forward to Friday’s game. Hopefully we are ready.”

Alyssa Garcia, Catalina Sanchez, Ariana Morales, and Sareenah Castillo each had two hits for Desert Edge.  

Cactus’ No. 6 hitter, Angelica Tello (2-for-4, 3 RBIs), also had a good game. Tello, the team’s backup pitcher, is battling an injury, but it didn’t appear so when she hit a solo shot over right-center field to start the second inning.

Tuesday was bittersweet for Underwood. The coach started his softball day at Centennial, where he coached for 19 years.

Centennial honored Ashlie Rosenberg, a former three time all-state player under Underwood who died in October from stomach cancer, during a pregame ceremony. Rosenberg graduated in 2007 and played in three state championship games.

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“Ashlie never quit,” Underwood said. “But the biggest thing was she was a compitetor. She hated to lose. She wouldn’t be afraid to get on a teammate.

“She would fight until the end. That exemplified her, and in her life.”