Douglas High’s Cam McClelland smiles before touching home plate after hitting a home run in the fifth inning of the Tigers’ win over Carson on Saturday. McClelland’s home run was the 57th for Douglas this season, the second most in a single season in NIAA history.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
An undefeated league slate leaves Douglas High softball as the regular season champions in the Northern 5A.
It’s not a title they were concerned with.
Going 16-0 in league will get the top seed in the regional tournament, starting Thursday at Carson High, but the Tigers haven’t earned any trophies yet.
“We’ve definitely earned it,” said sophomore Cam McClelland on the unbeaten league season.
Douglas has won 18 consecutive contests.
It’s what’s coming that will have Tiger softball fans on the edge of their seat.
Douglas’ dingers
The long ball has been the Tigers’ biggest weapon.
In 15-2 and 16-0 wins over Carson on Saturday, six players homered for Douglas.
The final home run – a solo shot to right center off the bat of sophomore Cam McClelland – was Douglas’ 57th home run as a team.
That’s the second-most home runs by a team in one in the history of Nevada high school softball.
“A lot of us rebuilt our swings over the winter and we’re just going yard … it just shows how hard we work on and off the field,” McClelland said.
“We’ve put in a ton of work after practice, too,” said Madisyn Gooch.
Four more home runs will notch the Tigers the record as postseason games count toward the season total.
The record is held by the 2017 Palo Verde team that hit 60 home runs in 43 games.
So far this season, Douglas is 26-4.
Haley Wilkinson hit her 12th home run of the season in the second inning of game two against the Senators while Zora Simpson tallied her eighth round-tripper of the spring.
Lilyann Lee and Bre Williams each hit their sixth home run of the season while Dakota Till hit her fourth to dead center.
Seven of the Tigers’ starters are hitting for a .453 average or better so far this season.
The team as a whole has posted a .423 average at the plate, which will likely also make the record books when the season concludes.
“It’s a dogfight when we get up to the plate,” said McClelland. “Every pitch we are competitive and we’re in the box ready to fight.”
Douglas will be back at Carson High for the regional tournament, which will be double elimination.
The Tigers regional opener will be at 12:30 p.m. Thursday as the Tigers await a couple of final tiebreaker games to see whom they match up with.
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