Sophomore pitcher Danielle Gloria is only getting better with time. This could be bad news for 6A East Valley Region foes. 
With the season nearing the midway point for most schools, Gloria’s sophomore campaign is already exceeding her stellar freshman season in which she struck out 176 batters. 
“She’s been working extremely hard,” Dobson coach Becky Strauss says of Gloria. “She’s made great strides this season, and I really think the sky's the limit for her.”
In nine starts, Gloria has already fanned 113 batters, easily more than any pitcher in the state. In her most recent outing earlier this week against Gila Ridge, Gloria struck out 15 batters. The week prior Gloria threw a no hitter against Carl Hayden. 
“It’s been a good year so far,” Gloria said. “I made a personal goal to pass 200 strikeouts for the season, so I know I’m ahead of last year’s pace. But what’s important is our team winning more games and improving from last season.”

Natural Talent, Harder Work

Gloria's first experience on the softball field came at age 11, and it wasn't long before her natural arm talent stood out.

Dobson pitcher Daniella Gloria is on pace for 225 strikeouts this season. Photo courtesy of Dobson Athletics

"When I was younger it's not like I set out to become a pitcher, but I knew I enjoyed the game," Gloria said. One of my coaches told me I should try pitching, so that's how it really started. Coach Strauss saw Gloria first pitch while she was at Rhodes Junior High, a longtime feeder school near Dobson. But even then, Gloria's future enrollment wasn't certain. 

"I knew she had amazing potential, so I was naturally excited, but I tried reserving the excitement I knew she had relatives that played for other schools, and I know kids have a lot of choices."

Under open enrollment rules, student-athletes are able to choose and attend any high school without boundary restrictions, so long as they declare before their freshman year. With the ever increasing number of charter and private high schools popping up all over the Valley, kids have more options. Gloria's cousins, Mersades and Nikole, both attended and played for Summit Academy, which is also near Dobson.

Youth Movement

Luckily for Strauss and the Mustangs, all three 'stayed' with the home school. Mersades made the varsity roster this season as a freshman, Nikole is a sophomore.

Seven of Dobson's 14 varsity players are freshmen or sophomores, but that doesn't stop the Mustangs from belieiving they make a second playoff run in Strauss's fourth season.

"Softball really is a team sport, so we've focused and worked on playing together as a team," Gloria reiterated  at 

Dobson will play in a Payson tournament beginning Friday before time off over spring break next week for the Mesa schools. East Valley Region play begins the Tuesday after, and Dobson opens at home against perrenial state power Red Mountain. Should Gloria start against the Moiuntain Lions, it will be her toughest test of the season.

Power Hitters

At 9-1, Red Mountain sits atop the state softball rankings regardless of classification. The Lions are used to state title contention, but this season coach Rich Hamilton boasts one of his better hitting lineups in recent memory. As a team Red Mountain has 22 homeruns through 10 games, including three Tuesday night in its 10-0 win over Hamilton, which has a powerful lineup of its own, with 19 homeruns through 12 games. Kendall Cochran's two-hit shutout against the Huskies might be one of the best pitching performances of the year. Other top homerun hitting teams include defending 6A champion Basha, which also has 22. Gabriella Garcia and Morgan Bragg each having five for the Bears. Xavier has 18, Marana High 17, and Queen Creek has hit 17 homers in only nine games. 

Ben Stapley is a staff writer for AZPreps365. For story ideas, contact him at bstapley@azpreps365.com or by phone at 480 295-9125