Prince James Story is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Desert Edge High School for AZPreps365.com

Oryanna Lugo has been put through the wringer during her softball career at Desert Edge.  

Lugo is a senior pitcher for the Scorpions. She is the team captain. 

Lugo has had to battle a string of injuries throughout her career. From ankle sprains to being hit in the head twice, and then this year as a senior, she tore her ACL.

Although Lugo has only completed two full seasons in her high school career, she has committed to play softball at Arizona Christian University next year.

She is very strong-minded; Lugo’s mother, Vanessa, said.

“We knew that even with a little setback, where she had to sit, we always knew that she was going to come out on top," she said. "She just has that thrive, that energy, that passion for the game.”

Lugo has been playing varsity for the Scorpions since she was a freshman.

During her freshman season, Lugo played first base. The Scorpions had a senior pitcher, so Lugo didn’t pitch much. 

According to head coach Rob Iler, Lugo was one of the team’s leading hitters, and she hit just under .500. 

During her sophomore year, Lugo became a starting pitcher for the Scorpions. 

Iler and assistant coach Donald Staflin both said Lugo was “the workhorse” for the team, her sophomore season. 

Staflin works mainly with the pitchers and catchers on the team, so he has gotten to know Lugo pretty well over the past few years.

“She never wanted to get off the mound,” Staflin said. “She would pitch every game if you asked her to.”

In her sophomore year, Lugo pitched 161 innings and had 161 Strikeouts with an ERA of 3.17. 

Lugo earned first-team all-region recognitions for the 4A West Valley region. She also made the 4A All-Conference second-team. 

As a junior, Lugo only played seven games before the season was canceled due to COVID-19. 

This year as a senior, Lugo tore her ACL in practice, after the first game of the season.  

“We were running a drill, and then all of a sudden my knee just pops and then gave out on me,” Lugo said. “It was a pretty bad pop.”

 

                                                Oryanna Lugo (Photo courtesy of Oryanna Lugo) 
 

At first, she didn’t know how detrimental the injury would be for her softball career. 

 “When I found out that I had a torn ACL,  I did break down a lot,” Lugo said.

Lugo said she fainted after the doctor told her that some colleges would pull athletic scholarships after an injury like hers and that her career might be over. 

It has been an emotional journey for her, and Lugo said she is grateful to have her parents with her, and their encouragement and support have helped her move forward after the injury. 

Another thing that has helped Lugo to move forward are the conversations she has had with coaches at Arizona Christian University letting her know that her scholarship is still intact and that she has their support. 

Although Lugo will not pitch again this season, she has embraced a new role on the team. 

“She has just been that voice for the girls,” Iler said. “She has really taken a lot of the girls under her wing, helping them keep their emotions in line and staying positive.” 

Lugo said she knows how it feels to be a pitcher and one of the team’s youngest players. She draws from her own experiences to help the other girls get through their rough patches. 

“Sophomore year was hard,” Lugo said. “I really got into my mind, and I got down on myself, and my emotions got to me.” 

As a pitcher, she said it could be challenging when your team is down, and you know you’re not pitching as well as you can.

Freshman pitcher Ariana Morales is one of the players Lugo has mentored this season, and Morales has carried most of the pitching load since Lugo’s injury.

“They have always called me ‘Little Ory, ’ and they have always put me under her,” Morales said. “I just want to follow in her path and try to become something a little bit more.” 

Morales said Lugo has been giving tips to help guide her on being a leader on the team, even though she is one of the youngest players, and how to stay positive on the mound when things are not going your way.

Lugo’s mother said it is a very remarkable and also humbling experience to witness her in this role as a “mini-coach.” 

“You hear other parents talk about how great of a leader she is and how great of an impact she has on the underclassmen, and how positive and encouraging she is to other teammates as well,” Lugo’s mother said. “Her bringing that positive energy to the team and, seeing it, you know it's very humbling as parents.” 

The Scorpions are currently 9-3 and are ranked second in the 4A West Valley division. With seven games left in the regular season, the Scorpions are still on pace to make the state playoffs. 

“I think we can go farther than we ever have before,” Lugo said. “I think that there's a possibility that we could make it to the state championship.”

The impact Lugo has had on this team has been unparalleled to anyone else, and Staflin said the Scorpions will miss Lugo a lot next season when she is at ACU. 

“She's just an awesome young lady,” Staflin said. “She's going to have success at the next level. She’ll do all the right things that are needed.”

Even though injuries and a global pandemic have cut Lugo’s high school career short, her leadership style, hard work, and positive attitude will never be forgotten. 

Her legacy will live through the next generation of players coming up behind her.