Jaime Lain is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Heritage Academy for AZPreps365.com.

The bus ride back felt long for Heritage Academy after a 6-2 loss to Round Valley on April 11. Playing away from home, the Heroes never fully found their rhythm and struggled to keep up after falling behind early.

Round Valley didn’t waste time getting on the board. It took advantage of a few early mistakes and turned limited hits into runs. Even though it only had five hits as a team, it stayed aggressive and made every opportunity count. Senior Ruth Wiltbank led the way with two RBIs..

Heritage Academy had a tough time at the plate. The Heroes managed just two hits in five innings and struck out seven times against freshman pitcher Ryan Jaramillo, who kept them off balance all game. Jaramillo allowed only two runs and showed confidence on the mound, throwing 74 pitches in a complete performance.

Despite the loss, there were still moments of fight from the Heroes. They scored two runs and showed some energy late, but by then the gap was too big to close.

Head coach Steve Ladrigue said the Heroes didn’t execute the way they normally do. 

“We didn’t play our best softball today,” he said. “Give credit to them, they made the plays and got the big hits when they needed them. For us, it’s about cleaning up the little mistakes and being more consistent.”

In the circle, pitcher Sienna Sotello battled through the game but faced constant pressure. 

“I feel like I could’ve done a better job getting ahead in counts,” Sotello said. “They were ready to hit, and I left a few pitches over the plate. I just have to learn from it and move on.”

Defensively, Heritage Academy had a few tough breaks that helped Round Valley extend innings. Some plays that usually get made didn’t go their way, and Round Valley took full advantage.

For the Heroes, this game was a reminder of how small mistakes can turn into big problems, especially against a team that plays clean and smart. Still, the season isn’t over, and there’s time to respond.

Looking ahead, the focus is simple. “We’re going to bounce back,” Ladrigue said. “This group works hard, and I trust them. We’ll fix what needs to be fixed and be ready for the next one.”