Danny Karmin is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism Student assigned to cover Camelback High School for AZPreps365.com

PHOENIX - The first regional game of the year for the Camelback Spartans softball team did not go as planned but there were some valuable lessons learned first-hand.

Camelback faced off against the defending regional champions, Betty H. Fairfax, Friday afternoon at Camelback Field. This was a measuring stick game to see how well the Spartans could match up against one of the league’s best.

The Spartans lost their fifth straight as the Stampede delivered a commanding 19-3 win.

The Stampede opened the game with five earned runs and four consecutive hits against Spartan junior pitcher Ariana Begay. 

Stampede outfielder and pitcher Taylor Eatherton started the rally off with an infield single. Infielder Illiana Munoz and catcher Isabel Cienfuegos then deposited back-to-back triples to give the Stampede a 2-0 lead. 

The Stampede combined for three more RBI to pad their first inning lead to five and added a sixth run in the second.

Camelback had a hole to climb out of. In the bottom of the third, the Spartans found their offensive rhythm against Stampede pitcher Chloe Saiz. The bases were loaded with zero outs with Begay up next.

On a 1-2 count, Begay blistered a double past the right field line to score third baseman Martha Ramos and catcher Charity Castillo. The score was now 6-3 and the Camelback bats had awakened. 

“It felt great to be able to help the team score some runs and generate some momentum offensively,” Begay said.

Begay, a junior, is in her third season as a pitcher for Camelback and has shown continual growth to Camelback coach Kelly Melrose.

“She pitches for us because we need her to and it's kind of fun for her to be that kind of leader,” Melrose said. “She’s a really good athlete and her teammates look up to her.”

Camelback standing during the National Anthem (Danny Karmin/AZpreps365)

Camelback’s momentum ended quickly as Betty H. Fairfax responded with a four-run third inning, including a two-run home run from Munoz and a two-run double from Eatherton.

The next inning, Munoz posted her second home run of the game, finishing 4-for-4 with five RBI.

The offensive explosion continued for the Stampede in the fifth inning with four more runs, including a home run from infielder Maritza Rodriguez, to make the score 19-3.

Even though the score was lopsided, Melrose believes her team has a lot more to give.

“That third inning showed flashes for what this team can do offensively,” Melrose said. “Begay got a hit, Adryelle Wilfert hit, and Reina Gonzales hit. This team can do damage but we have to make some adjustments.”

The Spartans have been hard at practice the last couple of days in their hitting philosophy.

“Instead of standing up there taking big swings and striking out, we need to create chaos,” Melrose said. “Generate some chaos and get yourself on base, a little more patience and a ‘get on base however you can’ mentality.”

The Spartans don’t have to wait long to see the Stampede again. They are scheduled for a rematch at Betty H. Fairfax's field this Tuesday. Begay is slotted to pitch again against the regional foe.

“We learned a lot from this game and are looking forward to Tuesday,” Begay said.