Only spiders have slowed down Spring Valley’s march to softball title

When Spring Valley’s softball players arrived for practice Monday, they were greeted by a black widow spider in the team’s dugout.

The players nervously laughed and huddled together several yards away until the school’s trainer removed the spider, then hosed down the entire dugout, delaying practice for a few minutes.

It’s been about the only thing to slow down the Grizzlies, but was just another example of the closeness and fun the team has been having all season.

The tight-knit Grizzlies (25-3) will play in the program’s first state tournament game when they face Churchill County (25-4) in the Division I-A tournament at 5 p.m. Thursday at Shadow Mountain in Sparks. Boulder City (29-9) faces Fernley (25-6-1) at 7 p.m. Thursday in the other first-round game. The championship of the double-elimination tournament is at 9 a.m. Saturday at UNR’s Hixson Field.

“We’ve been successful because we are really close,” senior shortstop Madison Macove said. “We have such a great bond with our coaches and our players inside and outside of school.”

It’s far from the only reason.

Spring Valley, which has won 20 straight games, is averaging 8.9 runs per game and hitting nearly .400.

“We have a great offense,” said senior pitcher Michaela Hood, who leads the team with 38 runs and 30 RBIs. “Everyone in our lineup can hit, and our defense is usually spot on every game.”

The Grizzlies also don’t allow many runs, thanks in large part to Hood.

She is 13-0 with a 0.25 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 85 1/3 innings. She has walked only seven batters and allowed just 37 hits and three earned runs.

“She’s been really good,” Spring Valley assistant coach Kelsey McCoy said. “She’s really deflected the praise off of herself. I’ve really seen her grow in the last three years. She’s really been a team player. She’s there to push other people. She’s done her job in the circle, and that’s exactly what we have needed. She’s been a great asset.”

McCoy and head coach Caroline Saenz are in their third season. Saenz recently had a baby, but will join the team in Sparks. Six of the team’s seniors, including Hood and Macove, have been on varsity all three years with their coaches.

“We definitely had a feeling that this team could go to state even last year,” McCoy said. “For us, it was about getting them to learn each other and learn that they have the ability to win state.”

The Grizzlies probably will get some of their toughest tests this week. Churchill County and Fernley have combined to win the past three Division I-A titles and five of the six Class 3A titles before that. Churchill County is the two-time defending champion, beating Fernley in the final both times. Boulder City has won eight state titles, the most recent in 2010.

“We just need to keep hitting like we have been, and our defense needs to be spectacular,” Hood said.

Contact reporter Bartt Davis at bdavis@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5230.