Loving Lady Falcons softball prepares defense for 2022 district and state titles
Loving High School head softball coach Apolonio Cordova and some players are not resting on past state championships as the Lady Falcons move toward another state title in 2023.
Loving won state titles in 2022 and 2019 with wins over Tularosa and Eunice. The Lady Falcons have won nine state trophies.
Last year Loving finished the season with a 23-5 record. The Lady Falcons were 15-0 in District 2-4A.
This year Loving is 2-3 with losses to larger schools, including the Carlsbad High School junior varsity and the Portales Lady Rams.
More:Lady Falcons overcome early deficit to defeat Raton at Dexter softball tournament
Cordova said repeating as district champions was one goal this year along with securing a spot in the state tournament.
Saturday in Loving the Lady Falcons host Dexter and Monday Loving heads to Carlsbad for a doubleheader with the Carlsbad junior varsity.
Loving starts league play April 8 at home against Eunice.
More:Lady Falcons overcome early deficit to defeat Raton at Dexter softball tournament
“The ultimate goal is to win state,” Cordova said as he enters his eighth year of coaching.
Loving starters excited for return to state
Lady Falcon junior third basemen Brooklyn Rodriguez expressed enthusiasm of a potential repeat as district and state champions in 2023.
As a sophomore she was a member of the Lady Falcons squad that defeated Tularosa 8-6 last year.
“That whole season’s work just paid off. I was so happy to celebrate with my teammates,” she said.
Rodriguez said working on the mental aspect of the softball game was one of many stages for Loving going back to the state playoffs May 11 through May 13 in Rio Rancho and Albuquerque.
Another phase for the Lady Falcons in 2023 was working on baserunning, according to Rodriguez.
“(Along with) just being able to know more plays than (to) wait for our coaches having to tell us,” she said.
Elisha Martinez, one of Rodriguez’s teammates, also played on last year’s championship team as a sophomore. She said Loving softball players have a special fellowship and experience to make another run at state.
“I feel we’re really close. We do come from a small school. A lot of us have been friends. We have a good bonding situation going for our team,” said the Lady Falcon first baseman and pitcher.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Loving Lady Falcons ready to defend 2022 state title
