Herrera, Durango hand Bonanza first softball defeat

Durango’s softball team felt it had something to prove against unbeaten Bonanza on Thursday.

Mission accomplished.

The Trailblazers entered ranked sixth in the Review-Journal’s Class 4A coaches poll, one spot behind the Bengals. But those rankings might soon change in Durango’s favor after its 10-0 home victory over Bonanza.

Led by pitcher Nicole Herrera, Jaexie Balilea and freshman Katie Moore, the Trailblazers (11-4, 6-0 Southwest League) dropped Bonanza to 14-1, 4-1.

Herrera faced only 18 batters over five innings, struck out four and allowed two hits. She also went 3-for-4 with three runs.

“Our girls really wanted this game,” Durango coach Toni Del Toro said. “They’re playing this year for Coach Morgan and they’re playing better than they’ve ever played in the years before.”

Sandy Morgan died Feb. 11. She taught and coached at Bonanza, then moved to Durango, where she coached softball for 13 seasons before Del Toro took her place last season.

“I think (Morgan’s inspiration) has a little bit to do with our success,” Del Toro said. “I think it brings their morale up and they have one goal, one dream as a whole, which is to go to state and they’re going to prove it every day.”

Bonanza coach Dusti Winward said her team won’t be unnerved by its first loss, saying the Bengals would have to face adversity sooner or later.

“(Herrera) kept (her pitches) low and we didn’t,” Winward said. “We can’t be perfect all the way and I didn’t expect that. We’ll get them at our house.”

Herrera was familiar with Bonanza’s lineup, having played summer ball with many of the Bengals.

“I’ve pitched against them before and my team backed me up well,” Herrera said.

Del Toro said, “She knew what to pitch to these girls.”

Durango knew it would have to battle at the plate against the rising pitches of Samantha Snyder, who entered with a 6-0 record, but the Trailblazers took control in the first inning on Balilea’s two-run homer, her fourth of the season.

The Trailblazers scored three more in the second on Balilea’s RBI single and Moore’s two-run single.

Balilea finished 3-for-3 with five RBIs and two runs, Moore was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and Samantha Juarez was 2-for 4 with two runs and an RBI.