The Williams Field softball team started off strong but tired out in an 8-4 loss to McClintock on Wednesday night.

Freshman Lauren Webb completed five innings but threw a few wild pitches that McClintock took advantage of.

"We have all freshmen pitchers this year,” said Williams Field coach Emily Johnson. “Out of that, only one of them has ever pitched before, so we're a young squad, but we're working on it, we're learning.”

The Black Hawks also had some miscommunication between players, making it difficult to get easy outs. In the sixth inning, McClintock hit a ball out to centerfield and the Williams Field players could not decide who was taking control of it.

The Black Hawks could not get any momentum going when at bat. With two pop-fly outs to start the bottom of the sixth inning, center fielder Jayden John misheard her tipped ball to be a foul instead of fair and doesn’t run to first. McClintock gots the easy out on the mistake, ending the inning.

“They weren't aware of the situation and listening for an umpire,” Johnson said. “She thought it was a foul ball and saw the second base runner heading back to first so she headed back to home."

"Communication is real key in this game," said John. “But also backing up each other and keeping your head up, especially after an error, because chances are you are going to get the same play the next at-bat and you need to be focused and ready to play for what comes next."

McClintock suffered two injuries during the fourth inning. Sophomore pitcher Jordan Ayala went down with an ankle injury and was helped off the field. Third baseman Layla Eads injured her knee after trying to catch an infield ground ball.

"I think our third baseman will miss a little bit of the games this weekend,” McClintock coach Charles Marshall said. “The pitcher will be back this weekend. She wanted to go back in but I told her I needed her later into the season, just not tonight and that we'll be OK. She has the most power in our pitching lineup.”

Although this is a disappointing start to the season, the Black Hawks are staying positive.

“We are upset that we lost but everyone had their head up at the end,” Williams Field freshman pitcher Lauren Webb said. “I think moving forward the rest of the season we are going to be really good.”

Williams Field will compete in the Westwood-Dobson 30th Annual Invitational starting Thursday when they face the Westwood Warriors and the Highland Hawks. They will compete against the Desert Mountain Wolves and Apache Junction Prospectors on Friday.

"Westwood and Apache Junction usually put together some good clubs so we'll have to see who we will face tomorrow," said Johnson. "There are a couple of teams that I've never seen and Saturday will be up to seedings so we won't know who we face then."