For the past four years, the Reds have continued to dominate the postseason. Many nouns and adjectives pair with what the Reds softball team has become in the past decade, but maybe no better words fit with the Reds than postseason dominators. Postseason softball has arrived again and it’s no surprise the Reds have won their region and qualified for their 12th consecutive trip to the 3A State Softball tournament.
The journey since the 2014 season has been notable. Through heartbreaking losses and intense playoff games, the Reds have found themselves on the victory side in games. In 2020, the Reds won their first state championship, in 2021, the Reds couldn’t sway a victory in the final four but still made an appearance, in 2022, the Reds won their second state championship, and in 2023, they went back-to-back. It’s no secret that Reds softball has evolved into a 3A softball dynasty.
Following the regional championship and victory, Eaton Athletic Director, Zac Lemon, and Head Coach, Chad Shaw, remarked to each other, “We are running out of room for these [trophies].”
The Reds have been dominant once again this year, despite concerns about the loss of seniors and the head coach change. The Reds have only stumbled three times this year in losses to the Southeast Angels and 4A teams, Riverdale Ridge and Holy Family.
The Reds concluded the regular season 20-3 in overall play and 9-0 in league play. The Reds were crowned as Patriot League champions and slated as the #1 seed in 3A region 1, according to Max Preps and CHSAA.
On Oct. 19, the Reds hosted John F. Kennedy High School in the semi-final of the region. The Reds tossed aside Kennedy after four innings and finished 12-0. Pitcher Bria Foster (27) held the Commanders to zero runs and nearly zero hits. The Reds’ offense started off hot with home-runs from Kianua Smith (25) and Johanna Galvan (26), and the Commanders had no answer for the Reds’ high profile offense and lock-down defense.
Next up for the Reds was the regional championship against an unfamiliar opponent, Montezuma-Cortez. This time, Galvan took the mound and provided much of the same performance as Foster. The Reds’ defense held strong against Montezuma-Cortez and held them to zero runs.
The Reds continued the onslaught, scoring 15 runs and crowning themselves as Regional champions for the ninth consecutive year. Galvan said, “The end of the game was the most exciting, and just knowing we finished the game strong and became champions. Our “OLOO”(out-loving our opponents) and taking every game and every pitch, just playing our game will be important. The goal is to win state, so again it is just one game at a time.”
The Reds’ latest successes fall back on the consistency and discipline that former head coach, Dale Hughes, and now head coach, Shaw, have built. This drive and commitment now gets to grab center-spotlight and has for the past decade. Shaw said, “The feeling is good; the ladies came ready to play and took care of business, and executed in every phase of the game.
The consistency and the effort that the players put in at practice every single day gets us ready to play with a certain amount of intensity and ability with every single pitch and every single inning.”The Reds were completely dominant this season; they’ve scored 261 runs and have been scored on 177 times. Although the target on their back continues to grow as a #1 seed in 3A, they continue to be consistent in every facet of the game. Shaw said, “Every year we have success, the target grows larger and larger, and for many teams defeating us is a huge win. This adds additional pressure, but we continue to do the things we do well and remain committed to always having a good performance.”
For the seniors of the team, the realization has begun to set in that their final games are being played as a Red. Regionals marked their final game on their home field, and most couldn’t be happier with the dominant performance. “It feels great to win this game, and it’s one of the things we have worked towards this season. As a senior, it’s great to win regionals, and obviously everyone is super hype and excited for state, and the goal is to win. It’s really sad because I love this program, the school, the girls, and everything, but I am really glad my last game was a win,” said senior Zoe Hamilton.
Reds softball continues to dominate 3A softball and will for the foreseeable future, but for now, the Reds are able to advance and look forward to the final games of the 2024 season in Aurora, Colorado, on Saturday, Oct. 26, and to defend their state championship title.
