Payson Rouncup's Softball Championship Run Edition

ROUNDUP’S CHAMPIONSHIP RUN EDITION

Best Ever!

Lady Longhorns softball team wants to win it all, starting today in playoffs

INSIDE: How did these girls become the top ranked team in Division III? Reflections on how the team gave the whole town a badly needed lift.

Matchup: Study the brackets that will determine who the Longhorns must beat to win the championship.

Player profiles: Heroes, dreams, lessons of a perfect season.

These Girls are Loud: Seeking the key to a winning team in the din of the dugout.

Girls on the Bus: A ride on the team bus answers the age-old question: What do girls talk about?

2 | LADY LONGHORNS SOFTBALL • MAY 4, 2012

Congratulations on your undefeated season!

GO LADY HORNS! Charlene Hunt photo

Lady Longhorns ranked No. 1 heading into state

BY MAX FOSTER

ROUNDUP STAFF REPORTER

A

THE HITTERS

To go along with the stellar pitching and catching, the Lady Horn cause has also received offensive contributions from a bevy of standout hitters led by Kaitlyn Wessel, Megan Wessel, Natalie Black, Devann Runzo, Paulson and Petersen.

Paulson led all hitters with an incredible .648 average that included 22 doubles, seven triples, five home runs, 64 RBIs and 36 runs scored. She also struck out only three times and drew eight walks.

Unofficially, she has the best overall hitting statistics in Division III. Moreover, she, Black and Megan Wessel were the only Lady Horns to play in all 29 games the past season.

But perhaps the most amazing and encouraging statistic about Paulson is her age: She’s only a sophomore with two more years of play ahead of her.

The thought of her playing in the future with even more experience and maturity must shrivel the very fiber of opposing coaches.

Megan Wessel — one of the school’s best all around athletes — takes to state a hefty .437 batting average with five doubles, four triples, a home run, 26 RBIs and 41 runs scored, the most on the team.

Her twin sister Kaitlyn, a contact hitter with good plate discipline, hit at a .392 clip, with many of her hits coming in crucial situations.

Most impressive about Kaitlyn is she drew 17 bases on

L

combination of pitching, hitting and good attitudes propelled the Lady Longhorn softball team to the best regular season in the program’s 25year history.

Now it’s time to see if those ingredients can carry the team to the school’s first-ever state championship.

The quest begins at 6 p.m. today, May 4, against Fountain Hills, who beat Monument Valley in a first-round game played on May 2.

While coach Will Dunman has not officially announced his starting pitcher, it’s virtually a sure bet he will go with sophomore Arianna Paulson, the team’s ace all season long and arguably the best hurler in D-III. Her pitching credentials are nothing short of amazing — of the about 158 innings the Lady Horns played during a 26-3 season, Paulson was a workhorse pitching 134.1 of the frames.

In compiling a 22-3 won-loss record — including two nohitters — she struck out 279, walked just 30, allowed 53 hits and saw only 19 runs scored.

Her miniscule ERA of .47 is one of the best in the state, if not the country.

One of her finest performances might have been in mid April during a 7-1 win over Show Low in which she struck out 17 of the 21 batters she faced.

Having Paulson’s family move to Payson last summer from their former home in Ohio is akin to the outrageous luck of finding the winning lottery ticket.

Lady Horn Assistant Coach Kadi Tenney calls Paulson “a fantastic pitcher,” but also credits catcher Taylor Petersen for being able to handle the ace’s assortment of high-speed, high-movement offerings.

“That’s not easy,” said Tenney.

It takes moxie, skills and leadership to catch a pitcher as talented as Paulson and Petersen has proven all season long she possess those qualities.

She also has gained enough trust from the staff to allow Dunman and Tenney to turn over to her the responsibilities of calling all the pitches, of which Paulson has five.

See Lady Horns, page 3

MAY 4, 2012 • LADY LONGHORNS SOFTBALL | 3

Lady Horns on deck for state FROM PAGE 1

balls, second on the team, but went down swinging only eight times.

Although Runzo would probably have liked to push her .274 average over the coveted .300 mark, her average isn’t a valid indication of her true value.

She scored 40 runs, second on the team only to Megan Wessel, and drew a teamhigh 18 walks. All season long, she battled opposing pitchers deep in ball and strike counts.

Runzo, who has suffered some arm problems in the past, also drew some pitching duties.

In an 8-1 win over Fountain Hills, a team Payson might open today against, Runzo received the starting pitching nod from coach Will Dunman and went the distance. She gave up just four hits, walked two batters and struck out six.

Throughout the game, Runzo was in top hurling form, inducing FH hitters to hit into 12 easy groundouts.

Taylor Petersen holds the school home run record, a mark she set two years ago as a freshman. This year, she hit .345 with seven doubles and two home runs. She also scored 14 runs and had 18 RBIs. Black, an acknowledged team leader, as a senior hit .329, with 10 extra base hits.

Defensively, the Lady Horns were solid all season long, committing just 35 errors and compiling a very respectable .943 fielding average.

While the Lady Horns left little doubt this season they have the hitting, pitching and defense to advance to the state finals, the intangibles also buoyed them just as they do for all good teams.

Just ask the assistant coach. “All the girls have really strong personalities, but they are great about leaving the drama off

PAYSON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 10 April 29, 2012 Dear Lady Longhorns, I would like to congratulate you for an amazing softball season as you enter the State Tournament as the number one, undefeated seed. An undefeated regular season is an astounding feat, rarely accomplished.

This truly has been an incredible run and the entire community is caught up in the magic.

Players and coaches have been working for this moment for years, with the support of our parents and fans, and to earn the number one seed is a testament to all of the effort that has gone into this quest.

Hard work on the softball field is coming to fruition in front of our eyes.

the field,” Tenney said. “They have good attitudes, a strong work ethic and come to practice to get it done.”

Dunman agrees, saying the team is a special group of girls who work well together and are fun to coach.

Now that the Lady Longhorns are knocking on state’s door, there’s only one thing left to do — kick it in.

THE UNDEFEATED SEASON March 6 @ Salt River, 15-0 March 7 @ Fountain Hills, 14-2 March 8 vs Miami, 10-0 March 13 vs Snowflake, 14-2 March 20 @ Snowflake, 5-0 March 22 vs Fountain Hills, 8-1 March 29 vs Mingus, 4-2 March 30 @ Camp Verde, 14-0 April 3 vs Mogollon, 10-0

April 4 vs Bradshaw Mountain, 5-1 April 5 @ Mogollon, 21-0 April 9 @ Show Low, 7-1 April 12 @ Miami, 2-0 April 17 vs Salt River, 12-2 April 20 vs Show Low, 7-1 April 23 @ Page, 2-0 April 24 vs Camp Verde, 11-8 April 25 @ Blue Ridge, 9-1

This is a special time in your lives, one that you’ll cherish forever.

Live in this moment. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the ball park, the smell of the grass, the sound of the ball upon the bat. You’ve earned this day, as you’ve proudly represented our community and school all year, and you’ll continue to do so. Thanks for the memories and victories already won, and those yet to come.

Good luck the rest of the way throughout the tournament. We’ll all be pulling for you as you seek to claim Payson High School’s first Softball State Championship.

GO HORNS! Sincerely, Gary W. Fishel PHS Athletic Director

s n o i t a l u t a r g Con

s n r o h g n o Lady L on an awesome season!

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4 | LADY LONGHORNS SOFTBALL • MAY 4, 2012

Lady Horns lift up our hearts

BY PETE ALESHIRE ROUNDUP EDITOR

Kaitlyn Wessel stepped up to the plate and settled into an odd little crouch, feet wide spread, bat cocked over her shoulder, hair spilling out from beneath her seemingly oversized helmet.

At the last moment, she performed some weird little ritual maneuver — pointing the bat at the pitcher, doing some sort of complicated waggle, resetting her feet, then bringing the bat back into hitting position at the last possible moment.

Strike.

I groaned, sitting in the stands as the Lady Longhorns softball team faced off against arch-foe Show Low, with an undefeated season and the sweet savor of revenge all on the line.

“Was that supposed to be a bunt?” I asked of no one in particular, although the stands brimmed with fans on a perfect Rim Country spring afternoon.

The light stretched long across the grass, the kids running up and down the sidelines, the volunteers cleaning up after the fund-raising barbecue, the little sisters and big brothers, the mayor and the pleading parents all riveted on poor Kaitlyn.

We all leaned into the moment, into the breeze, into the best season ever — into the intensity of 17 girls trying to win it all.

The Show Low pitcher started her windup, Kaitlyn went into her unnerving waggle, the ball sped plateward. I shouted feeble encouragement, convinced the poor girl had no chance of hitting the ball — but figuring maybe she’d freak out the pitcher.

Instead, Kaitlyn whipped the bat around, connected solidly and scampered happily to first base.

We all jumped to our feet. We cheered, hooped and hollered.

What a great day. What a great town.

What a great team.

Now, I don’t know why I feel better about everything, now that these teenage girls have worked so hard and so long and with such pure intent that they have a shot at the state championship. I don’t know why I should feel this gush of affection for Payson, this connection to all those cheering fools in the metal bleachers, this absurd and unreasonable lilt of hope.

After all, these remarkable girls did it all by themselves. Most have been playing for years, putting in the hours, ignoring the sore muscles, overcoming the doubts and the frustrations and the setbacks.

Down there on the field, the team members in the dugout are going crazy — cheering harder than all 200 folks in the bleachers for their grinning teammate, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet, proud as sunlight.

They do that, these girls. They chant in unison, they create little purple victory scrums, they high-five after hits, they hug after strikeouts. They fool around in warmups, they gossip on the bus, they cajole and comfort — and then they get their business done.

So why do I feel like they’re my kids?

Why do I feel so proud — as though I had anything at all to do with how well they turned out?

Maybe it’s because all kids do that to me, now that I’ve raised my three boys and attended the births of four grandchildren.

Andy Towle photo

Kaitlyn Wessel and her teammates on the Lady Longhorns softball team put together a spectacular undefeated regular season and will start their bid for the state championship today at Rose Mofford Complex at 9833 North 25th Ave. in Phoenix.

After all my triumphs and blunders and unexpected setbacks and straggling comebacks, it seems to me that nothing much matters in this beat-up and unpredictable world except the kids. And the remarkable performance of this team this year offers precious proof that the kids are all right after all — joyful, skilled, disciplined, talented and so exuberantly alive.

Moreover, I really like it that this year it’s the girls who have made us so proud.

For a long time, we didn’t really give our daughters and granddaughters the chance for such a sun-dappled triumph.

Fortunately, in 1972 the federal government enacted Title IX, which required high schools and colleges to give girls the same chance to participate in sports as boys.

As a result, within six years, the percentage of high school girls participating in team sports in increased exponentially.

Recently, some intriguing studies documented the surprising benefits of that dramatic rise in participation.

For instance, girls who participated in high school sports had a 20 percent increase in total schooling and a 40 percent rise in employment between the ages of 25 and 34, according to one long-term study by University of Pennsylvania economist Betsey Stevenson. The research corrected for lots of variables in order to make sure they were studying the impact of sports participation, rather than some other factor that just happened to coincide.

By the by, that study also revealed that Arizona ranks amongst the five worst

states in the country when it comes to the percentage of high school girls who participate in sports. In Iowa about 80 percent of girls and virtually all the boys play sports.

In Arizona, only about 40 percent of the boys and 25 percent of the girls participate.

A second study demonstrated a surprising, long-term impact on a woman’s health, based on whether she participated in high school sports. Turns out, girls who played sports in high school had a 7 percent lower obesity rate in their late 30s and 40s, according to a study by University of Illinois at Chicago economics professor Robert Kaestner, whose study controlled for all kinds of confounding variables.

Now, 7 percent doesn’t sound like a big decrease — but it dwarfs the effects of any other form of public health education or intervention.

Sitting there in the stands cheering myself hoarse, I had to shake my head.

Here in Payson, the district has nearly given up supporting its sports program in response to years of state budget cutbacks that have forced cruel choices on a befuddled school board. Parents, fans and Credit for Kids donors foot almost the entire bill for the sports program — including even the inadequate stipends for the coaches who lavish such time and care on our kids.

Unfortunately, the district continues to view sports and other extracurricular programs as frills, despite the solid evidence that participation can often do more for many students’ academic skills than a tutor.

But forgive me, I didn’t mean to get all political on a perfect spring afternoon when I really should devote myself to identifying each of pitcher Arianna Paulson’s five different pitches — including the 100-mile-anhour fastball. Besides, I want to wallow in the completely irrational but uplifting feeling that if they win again, it reflects well on me and the town I love so dearly.

The inning ends with a strikeout.

Several Longhorn players detour to cheer up the dejected batter before trotting out onto the field, chattering happily. One Longhorn hands a bat to an opposing Show Low player, with a smile and some pleasantry.

All the bonded strangers in the stand with me call out encouragement — including three folks sitting two rows in front of me offering fervent support to the Show Low batter just stepping into the box.

My heart lifts, long as the last light that casts shadows behind each blade of grass. I am innocent, newborn. I’m drunk on baseball, as though I’d never heard of steroids, spoiled superstars, lockouts and betting scandals.

I’m here to cheer on my team, these joyful teenagers, playing for the love of the game and of one another.

I’m so proud of you girls — and your school and our town.

Heck, I’m feeling unreasonably good about myself just sitting here watching you.

So tear it up: I hope you win it all.

But no matter what you do next, you’re champions to me.

MAY 4, 2012 • LADY LONGHORNS SOFTBALL | 5

Wednesday 05/02/12

Friday 05/04/12

Saturday 05/05/12

Friday 05/11/12

Saturday 05/12/12

Updated: 05/02/12: bb Prior Update: 04/26/12: bb Original Post: 03/05/12: bb

#1 Payson #16 Monument Valley

Rose Mofford Complex Field #1: 6:00 p.m.

Rose Mofford Complex Field #1; 6:00 p.m.

#17 Fountain Hills

#17 Fountain Hills

2012 AIA Division III State Softball

(6-0) Rose Mofford Complex Field #1; 9:00 a.m. #8 Mingus

#9 Window Rock Rose Mofford Complex Field #2; 6:00 p.m. #24 Coolidge

Rose Mofford Complex Field #2: 6:00 p.m. #24 Coolidge (6-3) Rose Mofford Complex Field # 4; 5:30 p.m. #5 Bourgade Catholic

#12 Page Coconino High School 4:00 p.m. #21 Tuba City

Rose Mofford Complex Field #3: 6:00 p.m. #21 Tuba City (11-4) Rose Mofford Complex Field #2; 9:00 a.m. #4 Benson

#13 Willcox Rose Mofford Complex Field #4; 6:00 p.m. #20 Horizon Honors

Rose Mofford Complex Field #4: 6:00 p.m. #13 Willcox (11-1, 5 in.)

Rose Mofford Complex Field #1; 8:00 p.m. www.aia365.com #3 Winslow

#14 Chino Valley Rose Mofford Complex Field TBD; 7:30 p.m. #19 Florence

Rose Mofford Complex Field #1: 8:00 p.m.

State Champion

#19 Florence (4-1) Rose Mofford Complex Field #3; 11:00 a.m. #6 Blue Ridge

#11 River Valley Rose Mofford Complex Field TBD; 7:30 p.m. #22 Morenci

Rose Mofford Complex Field #2: 8:00 p.m. #11 River Valley (6-2) Rose Mofford Complex Field #4; 7:30 p.m. #7 Empire

#10 Safford Rose Mofford Complex Field TBD; 7:30 p.m. #23 Show Low

Rose Mofford Complex Field #3: 8:00 p.m. #10 Safford (5-4) Rose Mofford Complex Field #4; 11:00 a.m. #2 Estrella Foothills

#15 Snowflake Rose Mofford Complex Field TBD; 7:30 p.m. #18 Cortez

Rose Mofford Complex Field #4: 8:00 p.m. #15 Snowflake (16-6, 6 in.)

May 2,4,5,11 & 12 2012 Rose Mofford Complex 9833 North 25th Ave. Phoenix, Az 85083 AIA Site Directors: Jay Kopas, James Driggers & Brian Duguid AIA Tournament Coordinator: Dean Visser; 602-385-3821

6 | LADY LONGHORNS SOFTBALL • MAY 4, 2012

KARESSA ARMSTRONG

CORI BARNETT

NATALIE BLACK

Junior Karessa Armstrong wears No. 13 and plays center field and catcher for the varsity Lady Longhorns. She has been playing softball since the sixth grade.

Her favorite athlete is Elizabeth Caporuscio, a softball player for Arizona State University.

Armstrong says she admires Caporuscio because she is an amazing player and “one day I hope to be as good as her.”

She also claims ASU as her favorite college because it is where she eventually wants to go.

Her favorite food is gluten-free pizza and her favorite class is geometry.

Armstrong says she believes the Lady Horns have been successful this season because “we play to win, when we want something we get it, and if we don’t, we won’t stop until we do. I’d like to say it’s all thanks to our amazing pitcher, but you can’t score from the pitcher’s mound.

She is a huge inspiration though and an amazing softball player.

“I couldn’t ask for a more amazing team. They have everything: attitude, talent, sportsmanship, personality and most of all, heart.”

While freshman Cori Barnett, No. 6, cannot decide on a favorite sports team she is confident who her favorite player is, New York Jets Tim Tebow.

“He plays his heart out and gives 100 percent each and every game,” she said.

Barnett says the Lady Horns have Tebow’s same winning attitude.

“We trust each other and this has made us the most successful softball team in school history.”

On the field, Barnett’s favorite field positions are third base and left field.

In the classroom, her favorite subject is animal sciences. And her favorite foods are apples and strawberries.

Natalie Black lists Arizona State University softball players Taylor Haro and Annie Lockwood as her favorite collegiate athletes because, “they are both amazing athletes and have been role models in my life.”

She calls the Pittsburgh Steelers her favorite team and enjoys eating sushi delights.

Natalie is convinced the Lady Horns are the best in school history because “we are more than a team, these girls have been my family.

“They are my sisters so it’s more than just softball.”

Natalie has played organized softball since she was 5 years old and is now a senior shortstop who wears No. 4.

She also says, “Thanks to all of our community for always being such great supporters.”

MAY 4, 2012 • LADY LONGHORNS SOFTBALL | 7

SADIE DUNMAN

SAVANNAH GRASSEL

KAITLYN JONES

Even as a freshman, Sadie Dunman can play just about any position, covering the pitcher’s mound, second base, third base and left infield for both the varsity and junior varsity Longhorn teams.

With the Lady Horns doing better than ever this year, Dunman credits the team’s “amazing” ability to work together and strong desire to win.

That is also what Dunman loves about her favorite professional and college players, including former USA Women’s Softball Team pitcher Cat Osterman and Arizona State University shortstop Katelyn Boyd.

The Sun Devils are also Dunman’s favorite softball team.

“I grew up watching them,” she said.

Dunman started playing softball at 8 years old and currently wears No. 15.

Her favorite food is fruit and her favorite class is English.

Just like a family, Savannah Grassel, No. 2, knows she can rely on her teammates.

“We depend on each other in tough situations,” she said.

This attitude has also helped the team remain undefeated in regular season play.

“I am so proud of everything our girls have achieved this year,” Grassel said, who plays first base and outfield for both the varsity and junior varsity.

And a winning attitude is also what Grassel likes most about her favorite player, former American soccer player Mia Hamm.

“Her strive to win and her effort to be the best at what she does — she has accomplished so much in her soccer career.”

Grassel hopes to attend Arizona State University.

Her favorite school subject is math and her favorite food, Mexican.

Kaitlyn Jones picks Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson as her favorite pro athlete because “he is a hard working stud muffin.”

The Vikings are also her favorite sports team and she loves to eat salads and enjoys studying math at PHS. The key to the Lady Longhorns’ success this season, she believes “is the unity and work ethic of all the players.”

Kaitlyn wears No. 14, is a junior and can play in the infield at first or third base and in either right or left field.

8 | LADY LONGHORNS SOFTBALL • MAY 4, 2012

ARIANNA PAULSON

PAYTON PETERSEN

TAYLOR PETERSEN

Like her favorite All-American pitcher, Payson’s Arianna Paulson wears the No. 1 jersey with pride.

A sophomore, Paulson has followed Angela Tincher, her favorite player’s example, by serving her team from the pitching mound. Paulson also plays third base for the varsity team.

But unlike Tincher, who went to Virginia Tech College, Paulson has plans to become a Brigham Young University Cougar.

“I am going to college there because I have always loved this school,” she said.

At Payson High School, Paulson’s favorite class is Spanish and her favorite foods are Chinese and Hawaiian.

Paulson believes this year’s softball team is the most successful yet because the team knows how to pull through when needed.

“It has been a great year and I would like to continue it,” she said. “I am really thankful for all of the opportunities I have had.”

Varsity and junior varsity catcher and utility player Payton Petersen is bananas for softball, football, English class and well, bananas.

Petersen listed the fruit as her favorite food and the Dallas Cowboys, her favorite all-time sports team in a Roundup player profile questionnaire.

Her favorite player? New England Patriots Chad Ochocinco because “he is funny and works hard at what he does,” she writes.

What makes this year’s Horns the best? “Our support, confidence and trust in each other,” Petersen said.

Catch Peterson on the field wearing No. 8.

Catcher Taylor Peterson, a junior, wears jersey No. 12. Her favorite athlete is Justin Upton of the Arizona Diamondbacks because he “has a good attitude.”

To play catcher, you’ve got to have a good attitude, too. Balls thrown at you, runners stealing home, and split-second decisions make the difference in winning or losing a game.

Having a catcher who keeps their cool and a positive attitude makes all the difference.

Yet she gives credit to Payson’s pitcher and her teammates for their success.

“I’m proud of us for playing so well this year!”

MAY 4, 2012 • LADY LONGHORNS SOFTBALL | 9

DEVANN RUNZO

MARLEY SPECKLES

KAITLYN WESSEL

Devann Runzo likes red.

Her favorite food: strawberries.

Her favorite team: the Boston Rex Socks And her favorite player: Ryan Roberts, who wears the red uniform of the Arizona Diamondbacks. “He’s a beast,” she says of why she admires him.

Could be Arizona’s red soil influenced her favorites, or maybe it’s all the sun.

She’s a sophomore playing third base and wears jersey No. 3.

Marley Speckles, a 17-year-old junior, wears No. 9 and plays both left and right field for the Lady Horns.

She says her favorite athlete is Larry Fitzgerald because, “he is a great all around athlete on and off the field.”

Speckles lists the New York Yankees as her favorite team, says spaghetti is her favorite food and enjoys her “autos” class.

She’s sure the Lady Longhorns have surpassed all expectations because of, “the confidence that we have as a team.

“We have a strong infield and outfield and as an individual, I always know there is a teammate to back me up.”

Kaitlyn Wessel contends the Lady Horns are a state championship threat after “coming together and becoming a family.

“We all love each other and stick up for everyone.”

She enjoys her math classes at Payson High and calls blueberries, “so delicious.”

She began playing softball on a sixth grade town league softball team and says the Arizona State University Sun Devils are her favorite collegiate team.

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is her favorite player because he has a good heart at what he loves to do.

Kaitlyn wears No. 11 and is a junior first baseman.

10 | LADY LONGHORNS SOFTBALL • MAY 4, 2012

MEGAN WESSEL Megan Wessel, a junior second baseman for the Lady Horns, wears No. 5 on her varsity uniform.

She has played softball since sixth grade and her favorite sports person is Danielle Lawrie, a former right-handed pitcher and cleanup hitter for the University of Washington who starred for Canada’s women’s national softball team.

She says the Boston Red Sox are her favorite team and lists oranges as her favorite food.

She enjoys peer counseling at PHS and is sure the softball team is on a roll because, “We treat each other like family and have confidence in one another.”

Also, she added, “We Rock! ’Nuff said.”

LEXI HAGLER Lexi Hagler wears No. 9 for the junior varsity Lady Longhorns and plays second base. A sophomore, she has been playing organized softball since she was in kindergarten.

Her favorite sports person is Jenny Finch because of her desire to win and she hopes to follow her footsteps to the University of Arizona.

Hagler’s favorite food is fettuccini Alfredo and her favorite class is English.

She attributes the Lady Horns’ success to encouragement and motivation.

“I love our softball team this year. It’s so fun! I love my girls!” she says.

ALEXEZ JACQUEZ Alexez Jacquez, No. 3 for the junior varsity Lady Horns, plays right field, DP. She will graduate in 2015 and has been playing ball since she was on a T-ball team.

She believes the team has been successful because of communication, dedication and teamwork.

She likes the teams of Arizona State University, junk food and English class.

MAY 4, 2012 • LADY LONGHORNS SOFTBALL | 11

KAYLA MISHAYLA ALI MAKENNA PERCELL RODGERS TENNEY WELLS Kayla Percell, a sophomore pitcher and left fielder wearing No. 11, has seen mostly junior varsity action this season but also helps out on the varsity team.

She marvels at the way team members, “keep our heads up and get the job done.”

She lists Eli Manning as her sports hero because of the way “he keeps his team up.”

Her favorite food is pizza, she cheers for UCLA and likes her math classes.

Kayla been playing softball since she was 11 years of age.

Mishayla Rodgers wears No. 2 for the junior varsity Lady Horns and plays right field. She will graduate in 2015. She began her athletic career in T-ball.

Her favorite sports personality is James Stuart because even if he crashes, he gets right back up and tries to win.

She says the University of Arizona has her favorite college teams because they’re good at sports.

Mishayla likes Mexican food and her favorite class is science.

She attributes the Lady Horns’ success to support, communication and working together.

Center fielder Ali Tenney, wearing jersey No. 1, has Wildcat blood running through her veins — both her parents went to the University of Arizona.

Lucky for the Longhorns, the freshman has a few more years before she can be a Cat, but don’t look for her at ASU, she’s a Wildcat all the way.

She’s played softball since she was 6 and must have that in her blood, too.

Makenna Wells wears jersey No. 15 and plays shortstop with everything she’s got.

It’s the same reason Tim Tebow is her favorite athlete — “He plays with all of his heart and gives it everything he has,” she says.

She also loves her team and wouldn’t trade them for anything. Good thing the whole team will come back next year, especially since Makenna believes what makes them successful is how well they bond together.

12 | LADY LONGHORNS SOFTBALL • MAY 4, 2012

MAY 4, 2012 • LADY LONGHORNS SOFTBALL | 13

These girls are LOUD! A photographer in the dugout reflects on the spirit that produces a championship team

BY ANDY TOWLE

ROUNDUP PHOTOGRAPHER

I arrive late at the Blue Ridge School complex to find the best Lady Longhorn softball team in school history warming up for their grudge match with Show Low, long Payson’s nemesis. One of the umpires smoking a cigarette in the parking lot, lightens my mood with, “Aren’t you glad I saved this parking spot for you?”

After star pitcher Ari Paulson and gifted catcher Payton Petersen get warmed up, the game gets under way. The Lady Horns get a run right off the bat, pun intended. It’s a good and loud start.

Now here’s a warning if you ever get to spend a game in the dugout with this Lady Longhorn team: Bring earplugs — this crew gets very worked up.

These girls are LOUD, baby. My ears are still ringing. Mind you, I‘m not complaining, I’m explaining.

A few team leaders have emerged; Natalie Black and Taylor Petersen come to mind right away. When they lead off the cheering for the batter, the noise level

Max Foster photo

Lady Longhorn catcher Taylor Petersen is one of the team leaders. When she and teammate Natalie Black lead off cheering for a batter, this photographer discovered they can be louder than sitting in the front row of a rock concert.

sometimes prompts passersby to honk horns, veer off the road, screech to a stop or turn their radios down to listen for a weird noise they can’t explain. They are that loud.

I have been to rock concerts in front-row seats that weren’t that loud. I’m beginning to listen to people with only my right ear, ’cause they blew out the left.

It’s also really cool watching them hone

the rituals and traditions they have developed before each game. It’s called “hockey” and involves hurling a cloth ball at one another at full force. Some of the girls have shown bruises on arms and backs from this ritual. They’re proud of their bruises of passage, into a realm only teammates can know and understand.

Time spent in that dugout has been a highlight of the spring, not just because

they’re so good — but because they’re so happy. They love the game, the challenge and each other. I see in them, young women on the field to not only play well, but to have fun, no matter what the outcome. It is not winning at all costs, or winning is the only thing, but rather: this is fun, let’s play!

That is true sportsmanship.

The girls pretty much ignore my presence, but respect my space and chat with me when asked. It has allowed me to see the girls as people at their best; they are not “being” on good behavior, it is their natural behavior. They help each other, comfort each other, play jokes on each other, share with each other.

Teams like this don’t happen overnight, all the time, or instantly. It is a magic, it is a circumstance of talent coming together in one place for this season. Can it be repeated? Who knows. It is what coaches, parents, fans, classmates and school districts all hope stays with them.

Fortunately, it’s all happening right now — this year — on our watch. Like these girls of spring, it should be savored — a wonderful time of winning, living in this moment and relishing the activity.

With this team, getting a front page image isn’t that difficult, I probably shouldn’t admit that. Oh, there goes my phone, ringing again and here comes a pop fly. It’s time to focus and as another photographer I know always says; “Get the shot Andy!

And don’t get hit in the head this time.”

14 | LADY LONGHORNS SOFTBALL • MAY 4, 2012

What do girls talk about?

Photographer’s ride on team bus reveals secrets to a championship attitude ANDY TOWLE ROUNDUP PHOTOGRAPHER

So what do girls talk about when no one else is around?

Especially the best girls softball team Payson has ever fielded on their way to a game against the Miami Vandals.

When I first boarded the bus, several asked why I was there. What’s a photo essay? A picture story with notes. With their curiosity satisfied, they settled back into their usual behavior. As the bus left around noon, almost everyone was eating.

So, their talk turned to what I imagine to be normal conversation when no one else is around. And what do they talk about? No big surprise; boys, clothes, makeup, the prom, parents, teachers, and other girls, of course.

No doubt none of what they say on the bus is repeated outside the team. After most covered all the topics listed above, they looked for something else to do.

Taking pictures of each other with their phones was popular; for about 10 minutes, tops. Listening to music, taking a nap and fixing their hair, replaced the chatter.

As we passed over the Roosevelt Dam Bridge, someone actually asked, “Are we there yet?”

As the ride rumbled on, I noticed something about this team I haven’t seen for a long time; these girls like each other, relate well to each other and are comfort-

able in their skin with their teammates. They like their coaches, they listen to their coaches and follow tips and coaching advice doled out to them from experienced hands, which adds another aspect to their excellent play on the field.

Getting along well with your teammates may not seem like much to some people, but for teenagers who are in the process of exploring life, pushing boundaries, finding ways to express themselves and relating to others in meaningful ways, it is a major accomplishment to cooperate as a team.

We arrived at the school complex and everyone proceeded to the school, changed clothes, went to the field and acclimated themselves to this new environment.

These girls have game, not just softball. They know how to enjoy the moment and have fun with each other.

They play around even during their warm-up routine.

It is an asset for these Lady Longhorns. They are always exchanging chatter on the field, joking around, and placing their trust in each other.

The game went well, they won 2-0, but it was kind of anti-climactic. The Vandals had a pretty good pitcher and held the Lady Horns to two runs, otherwise it wasn’t much of a game. But then, sometimes Lady Longhorn softball is like a conversation with a stranger; you ask questions, probing areas of familiarity first and then venture further away from your home territory asking deeper questions depending on the answers you receive.

So what do softball girls talk about on the bus on the way back? I don’t know — I took a nap. A foul ball slammed my camera into my forehead early in the game and gave me a terrific headache.

With that said, I guess you could say I’m part of the team now.

BRAVO Lady Longhorns We applaud your winning performance!

Kevin M. Dick, AAMS, CRPS President, Wealth Advisor

Carrie J. Dick Vice President, Financial Planner

Brian Tollefson * Investment Adviser Representative

*Securities and Advisory Services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.

Andy Towle photo

The Lady Longhorns softball team share a special camaraderie on the field and on the bus.

MAY 4, 2012 • LADY LONGHORNS SOFTBALL | 15

Photos by Andy Towle

16 | LADY LONGHORNS SOFTBALL • MAY 4, 2012

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