Arizona Western softball headed back to national stage with tighter bond and bigger goals

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) -  For the second straight season, the Arizona Western Lady Matadors are headed to the NJCAA Division One Softball World Series. This time around though, the feeling is different.

Arizona Western earned the number 18 seed in the national tournament and will open play against number 15 Iowa Western on Monday, May 25th at 11:15 a.m. in Oxford, Alabama.

The Lady Matadors enter the tournament red hot, winning eight of their last nine games and capturing the Region One title along the way. Head coach Joel Prickett believes his team is peaking at the perfect time.

“You know what, there's always some stuff on the inside you don't see,” Prickett said. “But they really came together around sophomore weekend. We always got along, great group, but there was something different about it. I kind of told my coaches then, I said this is about to go. When you get people pulling in the same direction, good things happen.”

Prickett has now guided Arizona Western to back-to-back national tournament appearances in his first two seasons with the program. The Lady Matadors hosted the national tournament in Yuma a season ago, but this year they will finally get the full road-trip experience together in Alabama.

Sophomore standout Analy Trejo says the opportunity means everything to her.

“I’m so grateful to be here,” Trejo said. “It’s such an incredible opportunity and it’s such an incredible school. I love it here so much. I wouldn’t be doing anything else.”

Trejo has been one of the top hitters in the country this season, leading Arizona Western in nearly every major offensive category. Still, her approach at the plate remains simple.

“I like to stick to just see ball, hit ball,” Trejo said. “Hitting can be hard, but it’s not that hard. I think I have a great team supporting me and they’re all I could ask for.”

Now, Trejo is excited for the challenge of competing against some of the nation’s best pitching staffs on the biggest stage of the season.

“Yeah, I’m so excited,” Trejo said. “It’s so awesome to have the opportunity to hit off these amazing pitchers that have all worked hard to be where they’re at. As a hitter, it’s like entering a candy store. It’s awesome.”

Sophomore pitcher Jessica Smith has also played a major role in Arizona Western’s success this season. The Region One and West District MVP says coming to Yuma exceeded every expectation she had entering the year.

“Just being here surrounded by the girls, you get to know each other on a deeper level and continue to play softball,” Smith said. “Winning Region One has just made us closer and I’m just so glad I made this commitment to come here.”

Smith added that the team’s chemistry has been one of the biggest reasons for its late-season surge.

“I think just pushing through,” Smith said. “Everyone’s been learning as they go on the field and they’ve just been doing the same. We play the best when we have fun. If we all keep the excitement going and compete, if we give it all, nothing can go wrong.”

As Arizona Western prepares for Iowa Western in the opening round, Prickett’s message to his team remains simple: focus on one game at a time.

“We stole a lot from Indiana,” Prickett said. “They said just go 1-and-0 every game, every doubleheader. You start looking ahead and you overlook a good Iowa Western team. We think we match up well with them.”

First pitch between Arizona Western and Iowa Western is scheduled for Monday, May 25th at 11:15 a.m. with the game streamed on the NJCAA Network.