By Don Ketchum

The girls from Goodyear Estrella Foothills wanted to finish their softball regular season on a high note on Tuesday night (April 24).

The Wolves did so by slipping past visiting Goodyear Desert Edge 2-1 to put their record at 31-0.

“The girls were looking to this game for so long, but as I told them, “Even if we would have lost it, it is the next four games that are the most important,’ ’’ said Estrella Foothills coach Rick Brungardt.

Those four games would be in the Division III state tournament, and Estrella Foothills would like nothing better than to win it all again after capturing the old Class 3A crown in 2011.

“We have created our opportunities through hard work,’’ Brungardt said.

Most of the players were here to hoist the title trophy a year ago, but they are a bit more experienced now.

“Up and down the lineup, we have nine players who can really put the bat on the ball,’’ Brungardt said.

The primary player who put the bat on the ball against Division II Desert Edge (25-7) was Kasia Smith, one of three seniors honored in a pregame ceremony.

She connected for a run-scoring single off Desert Edge ace Cyra Wentz in the first inning, then came back in the third with an even bigger hit, a two-out home run that increased the lead to 2-0.

Oh, yes, Smith pitches, too. And she does it quite well.

She gave up two hits and struck out six, but the shutout eluded her grasp in the seventh inning when Kaitlin Rainey hit an opposite-double just inside the line in left and later scored on a groundout by Nancy Figueroa.

Brungardt was asked what Smith does to boost the team.

“The question should be, “What doesn’t she do?’’ We’re going to miss her just a little bit,’’ he said with a tone of understatement.

Smith also excels in the classroom, and is headed to Philadelphia University to attend medical school on academic and athletic scholarships.

Brungardt also praised senior catcher Tatum Reedy for her leadership skills. Reedy doubled off the left-field fence and scored on Smith’s hit in the first inning. Reedy is moving on to play softball at New Mexico State.