BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
ROMA — Lightning may have deterred Roma’s first attempt at christening its renovated softball facility earlier this season, but the Gladiators would not be denied a second time.
The grand reopening of Lady Gladiator Field, with its new grandstands and press box, went on with plenty of fanfare Friday night as Roma hosted Sharyland High. But the Rattlers spoiled the ceremonies, defeating the Gladiators 4-1.
“One thing I figured is, with the new facility, is that they (Roma) were going to be really revved up to go ahead and beat us,” Sharyland High coach Paul Cruz said. “But we came out, scored early and dampened their spirits a bit. … Overall, we did really well on defense, and our pitching came on in the end.”
The Rattlers (2-1 in district) were in business with runners on the corners and nobody out in the second inning. One out later, first baseman Arianna Guzman lined a hit into the left-center field gap to drive in both Kayla Monjaras and Melanie Lazos. Guzman hustled into third base for a triple, giving Sharyland High a 2-0 lead.
“One of the things the coaches have told me to do is to stop dropping my shoulder,” Guzman said. “I kept my head down on the ball, find it and drive it. We were really looking forward to winning this game. We brought all we had.”
Sharyland High’s home field is a natural grass and dirt surface, so the team needed to find a way to practice before playing on Roma’s artificial turf.
“We practiced on the football field (at Richard Thompson Stadium), so we were pretty used to it,” Guzman said. “We had a night practice last night to get ready for the surface and the lights tonight.”
Sharyland High pitcher Tristen Maddox started Friday for the first time since competing in the Calallen Softball Tournament two weeks ago. Maddox strained her right arm and received treatment while she was away from the circle.
“It was nerve-wracking, getting back out there again, but I looked to my teammates and coaches to back me up and tell me to relax,” Maddox said.
Maddox went the full seven innings, allowing two hits, four walks and a run while striking out four.
“We went 12 games without her,” Cruz said. “She was a little rusty, but she did fine. For being out 12 games, four walks is pretty good.”
Roma (1-2 in district) coach Joe Henry Doria acknowledged a few costly errors were the difference in the low-scoring game.
“We had an error out in center field and another at second base that cost us some runs,” Doria said. “The pitching has been there. We put plenty of runners on base, but we couldn’t hit the ball and bring them in.”
Now in his third season leading a young Gladiators bunch, Doria was ecstatic to see Friday night finally come to fruition.
“It’s probably one of the best feelings I’ve had in my coaching career,” Doria said.