The Douglas Lady Bulldogs softball team kicked off their season last week playing eight games in three days at the Ninth Annual Fox County Fast pitch Softball Tournament which was played in El Paso, Tex.

Twenty-four teams, including four from Arizona, competed in the tournament. In addition to Douglas there was Desert View High School out of Tucson, Desert Edge out of Phoenix and Coconino who traveled 10 hours from Flagstaff for the tournament.

The tournament was broken up into three pools of eight and each game had a two hour time limit or 10 run mercy rule.

The Lady Bulldogs opened up the tournament Thursday morning beating Parkland High 7-1.

Sydnea Estrella was the winning pitcher. She went all five innings, gave up one run off three hits, fanned one and failed to allow a walk.

Andrea Lugo hit 2 for 3 this game. Marisella Holguin was 1 for 3 and Jocelyn Vasquez 1 for 1.

Douglas then came back and lost 10-0 to Andress High School.

Brianna Salcido was the losing pitcher. She went five innings, was tagged for 10 runs off eight hits, fanned five and walked five.

Victoria Mariscal and Mishell Quinonez each hit 1 for 2 for Douglas this game.

Later on Thursday Douglas disposed of Coronado High 17-2.

Estrella was the winning pitcher here going five innings and giving up two runs off one hit while fanning two and walking one.

Vasquez hit 3 for 3 this game, Lugo 3 for 4, Danae Meza 3 for 4, Karina Avechuco 2 for 2, Estrella 1 for 3 and Marissa Morales 1 for 2.

On Friday morning Douglas faced the host school, Jefferson High and fell 12-10.

Douglas’ softball coach Abe Grijalva said seven of Jefferson’s 12 runs were unearned.

Estrella and Jennifer Montoya each pitched this game for Douglas.

Lugo hit 3 for 5 with a home run; Mariscal was 2 for 5 with two doubles, Salcido 1 for 3 and Holguin 1 for 4.

Douglas then came back and beat Fabens 9-1 behind Montoya who threw five innings and gave up one run off one hit while fanning two and not allowing a walk.

Mariscal hit 4 for 4 this game. Avechuco and Liz Rodriguez each were 2 for 2 and Salcido was 2 for 4.

In the final game on Friday Douglas faced an undefeated Montwood team that was ranked No. 5 in their poll in Texas.

Coach Grijalva said his team played its best game of the season this game and pulled out an 8-5 win.

Estrella was the winning pitcher going six innings and giving up five runs off seven its while fanning one and walking one.

Mariscal hit 3 for 4 this game while Avechuco was 2 for 3, Salcido 2 for 4 and Lugo 1 for 4.

On Saturday the Lady Bulldogs fell to Manahan High 12-4. Coach Grijalva said Manahan had one player who hit a grand slam and a three run home run this game accounting for seven of Manahan’s runs.

Estrella was the losing pitcher this game. Mariscal hit 1 for 3, Quinonez 1 for 2 and Salcido 1 for 2 with a home run.

The Lady Bulldogs closed out the tournament beating Irvin High 13-3.

Samantha Gonzales was the winning pitcher this game. Lugo hit 1 for 3 with a double, Mariscal 1 for 2 with a double, Meza 2 for 2 and Avechuco 3 for 4.

After the tournament Coach Grijalva said his team showed its youth and inexperience at times not making the routine plays he’d like to see them make on a more regular basis.

“This is a young team,” he said. “We’re going to have to be patient as we go through some growing pains.”

The coach said overall it was a good tournament and a good experience for everyone.

“The people were great,” he said. “They treated us well. It was well run … something new for us.”

Douglas, 4-4, kicks off its regular season today with a 4 p.m. game at Buena.