With solid pitching behind Junior Aryn Gryusiewicz, the Spartan Ladies push to extend their winning streak.
by Sam Stavish
photo by Kevin Fleming
Things are looking optimistic for the Thomas Jefferson softball ladies.
As the team enters the second half of the season, and more importantly, inter-league play, it will be important to continue this momentum and win against their difficult, Denver Prep League rivals.
The softball squad has improved in all aspects of their game, and has out shined their opponents in many critical areas of play. In their 13 games this year, the girls have accumulated 103 runs, while their opponents have scored only a meager 58. The ladies also have an impressive 123 hits and 82 RBI. The leading batters for the Spartans are Aryn Gryusiewicz with a batting average of .525, Morgan Bertram is hitting .488, and Sarah Southard is close behind at of .455. “Sarah Southard has definitely been the biggest surprise for me this year,” said Head Coach Kyler Jackson. “The way she drives in runs is just unbelievable.” Jackson is taken aback for good reasons, as Southard has helped knocked in 18 runs.
Perhaps even more impressive than Gryusiewicz’s batting record is the outstanding numbers she puts up when on the pitching mound. Gryusiewicz has recorded 117 strikeouts, and a notable ERA of only 1.30.
In the team’s most recent contests, the ladies have been on a hot streak. After a close 2-1 loss to Falcon, the girls started kicking it into high gear, going on a winning streak that began with a 20-0 blowout over conference rival Montbello Warriors. The team then carried the momentum to their next two games, beating conference team South High School 15-0 and then winning again over Fort Lupton 10-2. Jackson stated, “Team unity can definitely be credited for our success. It is important to be close as a team.” With an impressive 14-2 victory over the North Vikings, the team is now shooting for five straight wins.
Even with a winning record of 9-5, the schedule ahead for the team will certainly not get any easier, but Jackson and the girls are definitely confident. “It is important for us not to play down to our opponents’ levels, especially in inter-league play,” declared Jackson. The last six matches of the season are all with conference teams, so look forward to great upcoming matches against: Lincoln, Denver East, Denver West, George Washington, and Kennedy. With the season starting to wind down, and the playoffs in sight, there is one thing on everyone’s mind: the coveted city title.
9/18 Lincoln @Lincoln 4 p.m.
9/23 Denver East @Denver East 4 p.m.
9/25 Denver West Home 3:30 p.m.
9/27 George Washington Home 1 p.m.
10/3 Kennedy @Kennedy 4 p.m.
