The Douglas Lady Bulldog softball team edged the Benson Lady Bobcats 9-7 at the DHS softball field March 13.

Douglas' Karina Avechuco gives her coach Abe Grijalva a high-five as she rounds third and heads for home after hitting a grand slam March 13. Douglas won the game 9-7. Bruce Whetten/Douglas Dispatch

Sydnee Estrella was the winning pitcher. She went the distance, gave up seven runs off 10 hits, fanned four and walked one.

Benson tagged Estrella for a run in the top of the first taking a 1-0 lead.

The Lady Bulldogs took the lead in the bottom of the third when Victoria Mariscal belted a three run homer giving Douglas a 3-1 edge.

Karina Avechuco’s grand slam in the fourth highlighted a six run, four hit inning that increased Douglas’ lead to 9-1./

Benson came back with four runs in the fourth and two more in the sixth pulling within two.

Mariscal hit 2 for 3 with a double and a home run; Avechuco 2 for 4 with a grand slam, Mishell Quinonez 2 for 4, Brianna Salcido 3 for 4, Andrea Lugo 2 for 5 and Nythzia Machado 1 for 5.

Douglas’ softball coach Abe Grijalva said as soon as his team starts making the routine plays they’re going to be a very good softball team.

“It’s part of the game,” he said. “Of the nine players we have on the field for five of them its their first year playing varsity.”

The coach said his players are gradually adjusting and he knows they’ll make the plays later in the year.

Douglas, 14-3, hosted Desert View last night and is at home against Tombstone tonight.

Junior Varsity

The Douglas JV’s are 3-2 on the season.

Douglas lost to Buena’s JV’s 3-2 in the season opener March 2.

Samantha Gonzalez was the losing pitcher. She fanned nine, walked seven and gave up four hits.

Jessica Quinonez hit 1-4; Aileen Lares 1-4 and Maricela Holguin 2-4.

On March 7 the Lady Bulldogs thumped Nogales 12-4.

Gonzalez was the winning pitcher. She gave up four runs off six hits, fanned 12 and walked eight.

Holguin hit 4-4 this game. Quinonez was 1-2 with a double; Jocelyn Vasquez 2-2 with a triple; Luz Campas 2-2 with two doubles; Vanessa Saucedo 1-2; Larez 1-3; Suarez 2-2 with a doube and Stephanie Palmer 2-2 with a double.

On March 8 the Lady Bulldogs then spanked Pueblo 15-3.

Gonzalez was the winning pitcher. She fanned six, walked five and failed to allow a hit.

Holguin threw in relief and fanned three, walked none and allowed just two hits.

Holguin hit 2-3 this game. Courtney Acosta, Larez, Elizabeth Aguilar and

Gonzalez all were 1-3.

On March 9 the Lady Bulldogs beat Willcox 6-4.

Gonzalez was the winning pitcher, fanning seven while walking five and allowing four hits.

Aguilar, Suarez and Campas each hit 1-3 this game. Quinonez 1-3 with a home run Home run; Larez and Vasquez each hit 2-3 with a double and Victoria Sandoval 1-2.

Last Tuesday Douglas fell to Benson 11-3.

Gonzalez was the losing pitcher. She gave up three hits fanned two and walked eight.

Holguin threw in relief and fanned three, walked two and gave up four hits.

Holguin had Douglas’ lone hit this game going 1-3.

“It's been a good start for the girls,” Douglas’ JV Coach Lorena Tapia said. “We've seen better competition and better pitching. The girls have adjusted to the games but we still need work offensively.”