The Fossil Ridge softball team beat the Poudre Impalas 7-0 on Saturday, September 18. 

The Sabercats have now improved their record to 14-0, 3-0 in league play. This continues Fossil’s 21 game winning streak, stretching all the way to last season. 

Fossil played to their strengths, with the pitching game strong as ever. In addition to the shutout, pitcher Nikki McGaffin only allowed one baserunner in scoring position the entire game.

Offensively the runs would come early and often, as Fossil scored all 7 of their runs during the first three innings. The runs came in methodical, long rallies.

The most impressive hit came from freshman third baseman Brooklyn Cardenas. With bases loaded, Cardenas would drill into the grass, allowing two runs to score.

Brooklyn Cardenas spoke after the game about her mindset coming into this cross-town rivalry.

“…I just had to calm down, trust my senior out there pitching, trust my team. I knew that this was a big game and I couldn’t let it get to me,” Cardenas said.

After the early explosion of runs, Fossil’s offensive production dried up, as they were held scoreless for the rest of the game. Despite the drought, there was never any panic in the dugout.

“I believe in the fact my team knows how good we are, and I just keep that mindset…we’re a solid team, I just need to do my job to make sure they succeed,” Cardenas said.

Brooklyn Cardenas is in an impressive position as a freshman, being a full-time freshman starter and the number two pitcher on this extremely talented roster. Cardenas owes her early success to her older teammates.

“It’s really all up to my senior leadership. I really look up to Nikki [McGaffin] and Lizzy [Elizabeth Browning] and Georgia [Laplante]. They’ve helped guide me through what this program expects, and it’s really helped me impact this team in a bigger, better way than I thought I was capable of,” Cardenas said.

The Sabercats will finish the regular season playing nine games in eighteen days, including three in a row. Between the frequent workload and long season, Cardenas explained how she stays fresh for every game.

“…I give myself a day to just make sure that I have no practice, I ice, I just have that mental day to rest, recuperate and then get ready for next week’s work,” Cardenas said.

Fossil will continue their season at Broomfield on Tuesday, September 21.

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