Softball head coach Kevin Chapin says that he has a group of gritty seniors. These six seniors who are ready for a thriller season include Laynee Gomez, Sabrina Nieto, Alyssa Barlow, Monica Marrufo, Lindsay Heffron, and Brittany Hopper. “The [seniors] are non complainers,” Chapin said.

The captain this season is Gomez, who has been on the varsity team since her freshman year.“[Gomez] plays like it doesn’t matter if she gets hurt or not,” Chapin said.

Showing grit like this demonstrates that Gomez will be a tremendous verbal and on the field leader this season.

Another determined and gritty player is Nieto. She has been playing for the varsity softball team since her freshman year as well. Nieto has been playing since she was little. “[Softball] is my passion,” Nieto said.

Barlow pitches for PHS and has been on varsity since sophomore year. During her freshman year, Barlow went 14-2 on the mound. “I am driven and determined to get better each time I step on the field,” Barlow said.

Marrufo started her softball career at PHS on the JV team, then moved to varsity her sophomore year. Marrufo says she has many memorable moments while playing for Perry, but one stands out the most. “My favorite moment was when we played extra innings against Corona on the day of prom which we won,” Marrufo said.

Outfielder, Heffron, has been on the varsity team since sophomore year, but has been playing softball since she was ten. “I love the thrill and competitiveness of [softball],” Heffron said.

Heffron will use her “give it all” attitude to her advantage this season which plays right into the grittiness of the entire team.

Hopper, who plays whatever position Chapin needs her to play, has been on the varsity team for three years. Hopper believes that the chemistry between the six seniors is very strong. “Together we are all leaders and we all have a good time together,” Hopper said.

The one thing that Chapin is most intrigued by his seniors are their attitudes. “They are every coach’s dream in terms of their attitude,” Chapin said.

Chapin also said that the girls are willing to work hard and get dirty. “They aren’t going to stand around and make the freshman, sophomores or juniors clean up the field. They are not that kind of kids,” Chapin said.

The Pumas opened the 2014 season playing in the Red Mountain Tournament. The girls lost the first game to Verrado 11-0, but won their next two game against Tucson High and Ironwood Ridge. The next day, the team lost to Campo Verde 6-3 and Desert Ridge 9-6. Up next for the girls is the Marcos/ McClintock Tournament on Mar.8-Mar.12. After that, the girls play a handful of home and away games en route to a hopeful playoff- birth later on in the season.