The bar is now set even higher for the Discovery Canyon softball team. That’s because the Thunder won its first-ever state softball playoff game.
The monumental victory came on Oct. 19 in the first-round of the Class 4A championship tournament at the Aurora Sports Complex. The 8th-seeded Thunder defeated No. 9 Silver Creek, 6-4, as it scored three runs in the first and two in the second to take control of the game.
Discovery Canyon’s post-season run ended with a quarterfinals loss to No. 1 seed Pueblo East, 4-0.
“We have nothing to hang our heads about,” said Discovery Canyon coach Tanya Ramsay. “We were run-ruled by Pueblo East early in the year. This is a great improvement for us.”
Discovery Canyon (19-5) has advanced to the state tournament three of the last four seasons since becoming a varsity program. Not bad for a school that started its program just six years ago.
“Our end of the year home is the Aurora Sports Complex,” Ramsay said with a smile. “I think this will become a tradition.”
The Thunder came out roaring against Silver Creek, rapping five hits against right-hander McKenna Kostelecky. Discovery Canyon sophomore McKenzie Surface and sophomore Destiny lackey had RBI singles during the barrage.
The Thunder added two more runs in the second inning RBI singles by Surface and senior Taryn Arcarese to build a 5-1 lead.
Silver Creek made the game interesting in the top of the third when Kostelecky belted a two-run homer.
Thunder senior right-hander Kacee Schroeder was lifted after walking the leadoff batter in the top of the fourth and replaced by Surface. Surface retired 12 of the next 13 Silver Creek hitters before allowing a pair of two-out hits in the seventh.
Discovery Canyon scored its final run on an RBI single by Kaydee Valliere in the bottom of the sixth.
“Silver Creek is a scrappy team; a comeback team,” Ramsay said.
The Thunder had its hands full with Pueblo East junior right-hander Katie Orona, who entered the game with a 0.54 ERA. She allowed just three hits and walked none while striking out 10.
Senior McKenzie Peters had a double for the Thunder, while seniors Shelby Hetzel and Shyloh Grover had back-to-back singles to begin the sixth, but were stranded when Orona set down the next three Thunder hitters.
“(Orona) is one of the top pitchers in the state,” Ramsay said.
Surface started and went the distance against Pueblo East. She struck out five and walked three while allowing nine hits.
“McKenzie Surface hasn’t even come close to reaching her full potential,” Ramsay said. “She’s young. I’m excited to watch her the next two years. We’re glad to have her.”
The Thunder won the Pikes Peak Athletic Conference this season after posting a 7-0 league record. But Ramsay loses six senior starters (seven in all) to graduation.
“Every year you lose great players, but you try to develop good ones to come up behind them,” Ramsay said. “Our younger players had phenomenal role models.”