Mullen pitcher Stacy Ortiz has been called “Ace” as long as she can remember, but maybe a new nickname is in order.
Like “The Lawnmower” for the way she mowed down Pueblo South batters Saturday. Or “The Terminator,” or, simply and aptly, “The Finisher.”
Ortiz stepped into a one-run game in the fourth inning of the Class 4A District 7 softball tournament final and struck out 10 of 12 batters she faced, securing a 5-1 victory for undefeated Mullen over the Colts at All-City Field.
“It’s nice to come in and finish for great pitchers like Bianca (Holley) and Nicole (Haberkorn). I get into the game by watching it and I don’t have to worry about opening-game jitters,” said Ortiz, who only closes games.
Mullen (22-0), 4A’s top-ranked team all season in The Denver Post/9News poll, went 3-0 on the day but needed a four-run seventh inning against Pine Creek to advance to the final.
Pueblo South (13-7) still qualified for the regional tournament next weekend, but the Colts needed a three-run triple by Molly Thiebaut in the seventh inning against Thomas Jefferson to get there.
For three innings in the finale, Pueblo South hung with the Mustangs.
Haberkorn, Mullen’s starting pitcher, crushed a triple to the fence in her first at-bat, and Abby Keese drove in the run with a single to start the scoring.
Pueblo South matched the effort with Marilyn Montoya’s RBI double to the left-field gap. Mullen took back the lead for good in the top of the fourth when Jordan Gonzales (2-for-4, two doubles) led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a bunt and then scored from there on a passed ball.
And then Ortiz walked into the game.
“She is an excellent pitcher. Whenever we ask her to come in, she does the job,” Mullen coach Tony Lopez said.
Pueblo South coach Rick Reyes called Ortiz a “good, tough chucker.”
She was. The senior did not give up a hit and forced two easy plays in the field when she was not striking out batters.
Though Ortiz dished out the compliments to her teammates, Haberkorn offered one in return.
“Stacy is amazing. We are lucky to have her come in and finish games,” said the sophomore, who went 2-for-2 with a double and a triple.
Mullen 100 121 0 – 5 10 1
Pueblo South 010 000 0 – 1 2 2
Mullen – Olson 3b 3-0-0-0, Haberkorn p 2-2-2-0, Keese ss 3-1-1-1, Larson 1b 3-0-0-0, Gonzales 2b 4-1-2-1, Kelly c 4-0-1-0, L. Martinez lf 3-1-1-0, Roberts cf 3-0-2-1, Rauzi rf 1-0-1-0, Perea 3b 1-0-0-0, Taylor cf 1-0-0-0, Duran ss 1-0-0-0, McMorris lf 1-0-0-0, Johnston cf 1-0-0-0, Stacy Ortiz p 1-0-0-0. Totals 32-5-10-3.
Pueblo South – A. Martinez ss 3-0-1-0, Chapman 3b 3-0-0-0, James cf 3-0-0-0, Knapp 1b 3-0-0-0, Hockett c 3-0-0-0, Thiebaut 2b 3-0-0-0, Montoya dp 2-0-1-1, Bailey rf 2-0-0-0, Stacey Ortiz p 2-0-0-0, Dome cr 0-1-0-0. Totals 24-1-2-1.
E – Gonzales; A. Martinez, Stacey Ortiz. LOB – Mullen 9; Pueblo South 2. 2B – Gonzales 2, Haberkorn, L. Martinez; Montoya. 3B – Haberkorn. SB – Dome; L. Martinez. WP – Stacey Ortiz. PB – Hockett.
Batteries – Haberkorn, Stacy Ortiz (4) and Kelly; Stacey Ortiz, Trujillo (4), Montoya (5) and Hockett. W – Stacy Ortiz. L – Trujillo. Time – 1:47.
