Much like many of the high school sports programs around, the Juan Diego Catholic High School softball team dealt with plenty of weather delays in trying to get their season started. The Soaring Eagle squad finally got on the field April 12, much later than scheduled and began the year with a 15-0 win over Judge Memorial and went on to produce a seven-game winning streak early on.

“Despite the crazy weather and late start to the season, we managed to play five games a week on top of exams with positivity,” said senior infielder Lilli Cruz said. “We were always there for each other.” 

Four key freshmen—catcher Sarah Fiore, second baseman/center fielder Liv Sedillo, third baseman/pitcher Ellie Palmer and center fielder/first baseman Olivia Jewkes—joined the program with built-in chemistry from the years of travel ball they have already played together. They led a talented group of underclassmen that filled seven of the nine starting spots for the team this year.

“Thanks to the new players and coach Andrew Sedillo, we had higher energy this year,” said senior shortstop Shay Johnson, who will play collegiately at Peru State College in Nebraska in the fall. “We were motivated and played with heart.”

Juan Diego ended the regular season with a 14-9 record and entered the 3A state tournament as the No. 11 seed. In its first game May 6 against Union, the team lost 10-0 and fell to the losers bracket. They bounced back later that day with a 14-12 win over Richfield and then lost to Manti 16-5 May 11 ending its season.

“We are improving,” said Juan Diego head coach David Montoya. “The girls are playing good ball and with a lot of heart. I admire their grit. We made it further in the tournament than we have in years. We didn’t make it as far as we hoped, but the journey was amazing.”

Jewkes led the team with 31 RBIs and was also tops in hits and runs scored in her first year of high school softball.

Also on the JDCHS team that finished second in Region 15 this year were seniors Kate Griffis; junior Alliya Mier; sophomores Mads Cruz, Abby Harbison, Avie Hernandez, Gigi Trujillo and Sienna Wood; and freshmen Sophia Lentz, Sara Mauro and Malena Modtland.

“I’m super proud of these girls, and I know they will do great things in years to come,” Montoya said. “They love the game and it shows.” λ