Katelynn Thun is an NAU School of Communication journalism student assigned to cover softball for AZPreps365.com.

FLAGSTAFF — Riding a three-game losing streak, the Coconino softeball team once again found itself in an early deficit on Monday against Mohave.

The Panthers responded, snapping the skid with a 14-7 win at home over their Grand Canyon Region rivals.

Coconino trailed 2-0 after the top of the first. They would respond in the bottom of the inning, taking a 4-2 lead. 

The lead would grow for the Panthers in the bottom of the third inning with a home run by senior third baseman Katelynn Yazzie to give the Panthers a 6-2 lead at the top of the third inning. 

The score would remain 6-2 heading into the top of the fifth, when Mohave would begin to click offensively. The Thunderbirds would score back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning to tie the game. 

The Panthers were able to respond offensively in the bottom of the inning scoring six runs. The offensive explosion for the Panthers started with a home run by junior outfielder Summer Rhodes to give Coconino the lead back. After Rhodes’ home run the Panthers would score four more runs in the inning taking a convincing 12-6 into the sixth.

“Every time there’s a big hype moment like that, that’s when the whole explosion starts off,” Rhodes said, reflecting on how her home run helped to shift momentum back in the Panthers favor.

Rhodes finished the game with three runs in four plate appearances for a batting average of .667. 

After the Panthers allowed four runs in the top of the fifth, Coconino head coach Kimberly Dennis had a meeting with her team on the mound. Dennis stated the message during the huddle was simple, remain calm.

“I just told them to relax, get this last out and then it’s our turn to have some fun,” Dennis said.

The Panthers finished the game with eight players scoring runs with a total batting average of .419. 

After the win, the Panthers improve to 12-5 on the season and 3-2 in the 4A Grand Canyon Region. The Thunderbirds fall to 1-4 in region play and 5-11 overall after the loss. 

The two teams will face off again on Thursday, April 2 at Mohave. Dennis believes the key to sweeping the season series with Mohave is going to be focusing on their defense. 

“Continue to play for your teammates and defensively continue to sharpen that up is what we’re focusing on right now,” Dennis said on what the Panthers need to do in order to beat Mohave on the road Thursday. 

Coconino currently sits in fourth place in the region and is 6-4 in conference play.