Softball heads to Castle Rock to take on Black Hills State for season opener

Las Vegas, NM --- The long wait for the softball season is finally over as the Cowgirls will travel to Castle Rock, CO to take on Black Hills State in their first series in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.
 
The double header on Sunday is scheduled to start at 1 pm, while the games on Monday will start at 12 pm. All games will be played at Metzler Ranch Community Park in Castle Rock, CO
 
First year head coach Kevin Jannusch and the gang have been anticipating this day for a long while. "This has been one of the most challenging stretches of my career" stated Jannusch. "I must give props to our players. They've stayed patient, worked hard and not worried about things they have no control over."
 
The Cowgirls ended last season with a 2-22 overall record and 1-11 through 12 games of conference play. Camrynn Ziegler, a returning junior out of El Paso, TX will look to lead the Cowgirls throughout the season as she led the team last year hitting .300 with 24 hits, 10 RBIs, and 2 homeruns. Ziegler also led the team in slugging percentage at .528. You can also expect to see Megan Gutierrez step up her play as she went 9 for 35 last season with 1 RBI and 2 doubles. Carlee Gonzalez, as a freshman, hit .192 (10-52) with one double and two RBI and two stolen bases in 23 games (20 starts) for the Cowgirls.
 
Jannusch has added a total of 5 new faces to this seasons roster and has brought his total count in his first recruiting class to 7. Nathalie Blattmann, the sophomore transfer from West Texas College, led the WTC pitching staff in virtually every statistical category including appearances (10), wins, earned run average (2.52) complete games (9), innings pitched (61.0) and strikeouts (29). The Westerners played 20 games with 13 wins in 2020.
 
"Our opening series against Black Hills State couldn't get here quick enough" Jannusch stated. "It was a long fall and a long spring pre-season. I think we just need to see other faces on the other side of the field. Different uniforms and a different field."
 
Black Hills State finished the 2020 season with a 4-15 overall record and 3-9 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. The Cowgirls will host Regis University in Las Vegas, NM on March 6^th and 7^th at the HU Softball field.

"We would like to thank Coach Ehling, his staff, head athletic trainer Yvette Pomponi and her staff and everyone else involved in getting us back on the field" stated Jannusch. "We knew there might be a chance this day wouldn't come, and with a whole lot of people working for us, it's almost here."