High school softball teams pack a lot of games int the regular season, but so far, Herriman High School fans can’t complain with the results. 

The Mustangs won nine of their first 10 games, including both of their first two region contests. Most of the games weren’t close either, as Herriman has shown its dominance. Only one of the wins was closer than five runs, and that was in the season opener on March 8 against out-of-state foe Bishop Kelly, Idaho, which the Mustangs won 6-5. The only setback was to Pleasant Grove, a 7-5 loss on March 9. The first five games were held in St. George at the March Warm-Up Elite Tournament. 

“The season is going well,” head coach Heidi McKissick said. “We played well in St. George last weekend and went 4-1. Our team has shown remarkable promise.”

All this from a team that, incredibly, has no seniors on the squad. 

The Mustangs are made up entirely of juniors, sophomores and freshmen, showing that this team should be a force for the next few years at least. 

“We have no seniors, and our young talents have stepped up admirably, bringing energy and fresh skill sets to the field,” McKissick said. 

McKissick has simple goals and has set some interesting metrics to accomplish those objectives. 

“Our primary goal for this team is continuous improvement, to get better every game, every at bat,” she said. “We have set our team goal to score 10 runs in every game. This goal serves as a motivational benchmark, pushing our athletes to sharpen their offensive skills and capitalize on scoring opportunities.”

Herriman has done well in living up to these goals. In only two of the first 10 games did the Mustangs not reach at least 10 runs. The team scored at least 15 runs seven times during this span.

What makes Herriman so dangerous offensively? McKissick said she has some excellent hitting on the team. Of course, the defense is no slouch either. Through the first 10 games, only two teams earned more than five runs on the Mustangs. Herriman also had two shutouts in this span of games. 

“We have powerful hitters 1-9, ensuring that our batting order can consistently apply pressure to opposing teams,” McKissick said. “Our defense is equally formidable, providing the necessary backbone to support our offensive efforts. We have young, but very capable pitchers: one junior, one sophomore and four freshmen. They each bring something different to the game, and we’re happy to have so much depth defensively.”

When your team scores an average of 14 runs a game, it’s hard to find much fault or choose areas that need to get better. McKissick said she would like to see the Mustangs score in each inning. If this can occur more often, it’s not going to be easy for anyone to beat Herriman. 

“This will require a strategic approach to at-bats and a focus on situational hitting,” she said. “By scoring each inning, we can build pressure on our opponents and increase our chances of victory.”

McKissick has several key players she relies on and that drive the team’s success. Some of the top players include junior shortstop Keira Rodriguez, junior designated hitter Tanzie Smith, junior outfielder McKenzie Quintero, junior first baseman Maddy Maxfield and junior second baseman Kinlee McDermaid. 

“[Quintero] is a leader, a solid outfielder, has a great arm, is fast on the bases and her bat is remarkable,” McKissick said. “[Rodriguez] is a leader, good fielder, fast and has a great bat. [Smith] is a leader, was the second-leading hitter last year and will do it again this year. [McDermaid] is a solid defender and a great batter. [Maxfield] leads the team with the most doubles.”

The sophomore class has pitcher and outfielder Sofia Lancaster, whom McKissick said “is a great pitcher and hitter.” A trio of freshman—Sammy Nelson, Ashlyn Beratto and Sierra Prescott—have started to make their mark on the program and have incredible promise for the future. 

“[Nelson] is a smooth fielder and can play anywhere, and her bat is a threat,” McKissick said. “[Beratto] and [Prescott] work hard and hold their own as freshmen.”

The Herriman team is loaded with talent at every position. The hitting, pitching and fielding have been excellent. Still, McKissick knows that winning state, or even region, won’t be easy. Region 2, which consists of opponents Corner Canyon, Mountain Ridge, Copper Hills, Bingham and state power Riverton present formidable obstacles.

“The biggest challenge we face is the competitive nature of our region,” she said. “With some of the top teams in 6A as our adversaries, every region game is expected to be a rigorous contest.”

Herriman will go up against these foes twice apiece, concluding with a game at home against Bingham May 2. Following that contest, Herriman will play two more non-region games, at Pleasant Grove on May 6 and at Westlake on May 8. The Class 6A state tournament starts May 16. 

This young group is one that McKissick loves being around. She enjoys seeing the growth and development in the girls as well as their positive attitudes and work ethics. 

“Coaching this team is a highly rewarding experience, primarily due to the players’ willingness to embrace challenges and their desire for constant improvement,” she said. “Their drive to be pushed and their openness to learning make each coaching session productive and enjoyable.” λ