HOT START

By Brandon Petersen

Now that's how you start a season.

Westcliff Softball got off to an incredible start to the 2025 campaign Wednesday in Arizona, where the Dubs took out the brooms and swept away previously unbeaten BenU in heart-pounding fashion, 3-2 in Game 1, and 6-5 in the nightcap.

Iyari Ramirez played the role of superhero in Game 1, a pitcher's duel throughout.

BenU's Paige Salazar had a heck of a game through six innings of shut-out ball.

But in the seventh, the Warriors rose up and took over.

Rachel Varela, Lauren Coppla and Leah Estrada all worked on to load the bases, then Ramirez stepped to the plate and turned a 2-0 loss into a 3-2 win with one swing of the bat, a bases-clearing double.

"Going into the top of the 7^th, I told our offense that their pitcher was slowing down, and we needed to execute," Westcliff head coach Brandon Wallace said. "Overall, it was a team effort, defensively and offensively.

"Our dugout was also very key for us in both games. With loud cheers and rattling our opponents we were able to Warrior softball."

Wallace said Estrada was absolutely on fire in both contests, and the numbers back it up.

Estrada was a combined 3-for-4 on the day with three hits, four walks, three runs scored and a swiped bag.

Madison Mendez, meanwhile, was incredibly solid in the circle, tossing seven full of five-hit ball, striking out three and allowing two earned for the complete-game win.

"Maddie Mendez did an amazing job in the circle," Wallace said. "And Avery Mytnik killed it in the circle in Game 2."

Indeed.

Mytnik threw six innings of shutout softball before Wallace sent in the relief in the home half of the seventh.

Up 6-0 when she left, Mytnik was called upon to save her own win with two outs in the seventh up 6-5, when she returned to rack up the final out and send the Warriors home happy.

Although not credited with a save statistically, Mytnik did record the win while finishing with six strikeouts.

"Avery Mytnik was in the zone," Wallace said.

Wallace was pleased with the sweep, saying the Warriors played great, especially coming off a season-opening rain-out that was a bit deflating.

"To take two wins right away is huge," Wallace said.

DH Sara Ellerton came up large in Game 2, going 3-for-3 with a double, a run scored and two batted in, meanwhile Varela went 2-for-4 with a double.

Siana San Vicente picked up a clutch, pinch-hit knock for an RBI, and Alyssa Vigil (2B, RBI), Iyari Ramirez (2B, RBI), and Alyssa Patlan all had hits.

Skyler Kestly picked up a run batted in with a sac-fly in the fifth that plated Sydney Rucshner.

The Arizona triple-step continues this afternoon when the Dubs head to OUAZ for a double-dip that starts at 3pm.