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WORLAND - The season comes to an end this weekend for the 16U Worland Wildfires as they play in the Wyoming Fastpitch Softball state tournament this Friday through Sunday in Casper.

The season has had its highs and lows for the Wildfires but down the stretch, the team has put together strong outing after strong outing.

Defense and pitching have been the key to the Wildfires better play of late. From the mound, pitchers Zoe Fernandez (four wins on the season), Brooke Hellyer (five wins) and Rylee Wagner (two wins) have given the Wildfires a tough pitching rotation.

"I've been pretty pleased with our defense the last few weeks. The pitching too, our three pitchers are all throwing about the same speed and my catchers are coming along too," said 16U Wildfire coach Dave Coronado.

"Brooke is back and throwing strong. Both Zoe and Riley are doing really well, Riley could have finished off Lander but had a blister and we had to shut her down. But Zoe stepped in and did a fantastic job, and she did a great job against the younger Lander team."

The Wildfire defense has made tremendous strides since the start of the season when errors were happening much too frequently. But as players like first baseman Raychel Duffy have settled into their new positions, those errors have happened less.

During Worland's home tournament on June 30-July 1, in a game against the Casper Voltage Duffy made big plays with her glove, which included fielding a hard hit, line drive and beating the runner to the base.

"This is her first full year playing first base and she's still learning how to not only play the field but how to stretch and reach. We've worked hard this year and she's getting better," said Coronado about Duffy.

Defense does win championships but, obviously, an offense is a must and the bats for the Wildfires have improved but there's still more work to be done. Developing consistency at the plate as well as bettering their bunting skills has been a focus in practice.

"We've hit more consistent during our home tournament than we have the past few weeks. Raychel struggled a bit but she's hit earlier in the year. You're up and down as a young kid and I think that's one of the things we're battling right now, moving up to that next level this is where the big girls play right now. But I've been really pleased with the bunting we've done. Raelynn [Fronk] has gotten it down and that gives us a little more as we're working toward state," said Coronado.

Of the improved bats for the Wildfires, Callista Day has been among the top. Last season Day only had three hits. This season she's at 10, so far, and has gone from being a .142 hitter to a .375 hitter. She even knocked in the winning game-winning runs against the 18U Lander team during Worland's home tournament.

To Coronado the biggest key to Day's turnaround is confidence.

"Last year she had about three hits for the season and this year she's already at 10. Her confidence has been the biggest factor, she's stepping to the plate with more confidence and it has shown.

"That turned it around for us," said Coronado about Day's hit against Lander. "That's an 18U team and we've played them close every time. We've played them four times and each game has been decided by two runs or less, and the girls came up big against them during the tournament."

Another Wildfire who has had a breakout season is Fronk. The center fielder has been a rock in the outfield for Worland all summer long.

"Raelynn in center field is our best fielder right now and she can run anything down. Our right fielder Calista is better at fielding the ball and reading the spin, but she's come along with her bat," said Coronado.

Injuries have brought Worland's numbers down to 10 and as a result, Coronado has brought in two out-of-town players, Faith Naso and Bailey Drewry, to give the Wildfires some depth.

With the new additions working on defensive communication has been the focal point in practice as well as continued work at the plate.

"We need to work on consistently hitting because right now we're fluctuating. We're going to keep working on our swing and continuing to work on bunting because I'm really pleased with that. Then defensively we have to keep working together. We were able to pick up two players from Greybull and Basin, we'll get these girls into our team because 10 girls aren't enough," said Coronado.

12U WILDFIRES

The Worland 12U Wildfires will also be competing at the state tournament this weekend. Led by coaches Charity Glanz and James Donahue this will be the first state tourney this group of players will experience.