Same program. Different approach. Similar result.

Red Mountain is one win away from a fifth consecutive trip to the Division I softball final, but unlike last year, the “rhinos,” as coach Richard Hamilton likes to call his 2013 team, are stomping their way through the competition this season. There was a lot of speed on last year’s state championship team of Red Mountain, which relied more on bunts and the customary eight to nine hits a game to win.

This season, especially in the past month, Red Mountain has regularly posted double digit figures in hits in each game. On Monday, Red Mountain tallied nine hits, but it only took five innings to reach that total.

Red Mountain couldn’t add to its hits total against Desert Ridge at Rose Mofford Softball Complex, because it was in a hurry to reach the D-I semifinals. It only took five innings to defeat Desert Ridge 11-0.

Only two of Red Mountain’s players failed to tally a hit in the game.

“That’s been the recipe of the way we are winning games this year,” said Hamilton about the contributions he’s getting throughout his lineup.

Red Mountain has outscored its postseason’s opponents 28-4.

The baby rhino

There’s nothing about Alyssa Fernandez that screams out rhinoceros — unless we’re talking about her fierce bat.

The diminutive leadoff hitter helped her team stampede toward a quick victory after Fernandez hit a grand slam in the fifth inning to end the game. Fernandez, a sophomore, now is tied for the team’s lead in home runs with nine.   

“She (Fernandez) does everything on time,” Hamilton said. “If you look at her swing, she’s got a great pretty little swing, and it is powerful and it is on time. She’s done that all year.”

Fernandez and her team have had success swinging to the opposite field, as Red Mountain scored nine of its runs off of opposite field hits Monday.

In the past two games, Red Mountain has seen its share of pitches on the outside part of the plate, Hamilton said.

“We’ve worked on it (opposite field hitting) hard,” Hamilton said. “The hard work is what you (saw Monday).”

More support for Macha

The team’s workhorse in the circle, Breana Macha, talked to her coach a lot recently about how she felt prepared for the playoffs, Hamilton said.

She proved her point Monday, allowing only two hits and no walks. During the two regular season games Red Mountain played against Desert Ridge, Macha was the losing pitcher.

But Macha didn’t get the run support she needed in the first loss, and fielding miscues in the other game led to the second loss, Hamilton said. 

“We didn’t help her in the two losses,” the coach said.

But that certainly wasn’t the case Monday.

Macha has struck out 24 batters and allowed only two earned runs in 19 innings in three postseason outings.

“She (Macha) has been sharp and hitting her spots,” Hamilton said.

Desert Ridge pitcher injured

Freshman standout pitcher Bailey Klitzke’s glove hand was swollen after the game.

After swinging at a pitch in the second inning, the ball glanced off her right hand. But the minor injury affected her pitching motion during the game, and Klitzke also had trouble closing her glove when she was pitching, Desert Ridge coach Jennifer Broderick said.

Klitzke was replaced in the fourth inning, when Red Mountain scored its first four runs. Broderick said Klitzke will be ready to pitch in her team’s elimination game on Tuesday.

Up next

No. 10 seed Desert Ridge (23-9) will face No. 8 seed Horizon Tuesday at Rose Mofford.

Up next for No. 6 seed Red Mountain (31-5) is its Brown Rd. rival, No. 5 seed Mesa Mountain View, on Wednesday at Rose Mofford with a trip to the March 13 state final at stake.