In the span of two short seasons, Denair went from softball also ran to runner-up for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 7 championship. The fact that the Coyotes fell just short Saturday – losing 7-6 to Foresthill in the final game – does nothing to diminish how successful a season this was.

“We think we have sent the message on culture change,” said second-year head coach Andy Dayton. “These girls and community have seen a change. My assistant coach, Chad Boucher, and I will hit the ground running immediately getting these girls on board and push on the mechanics of the game and correcting anything and to make us better and give this community and girls what they deserve — a competitive and winning culture.”

Until last season, Denair had not won more than three games in 17 years. The Coyotes went 8-12 in 2024 and then finished fourth in the very competitive Southern League this season to earn the No. 2 seed in the Division 7 playoffs.

Denair (14-10) defeated No. 7 Elliot Christian of Lodi 20-10 and then knocked off No. 5 Vacaville Christian 13-3 to reach the championship game against top-seeded Foresthill (10-5).

Denair jumped in front with a run in the bottom of the first inning, only to see Foresthill rally to take a 2-1 lead after three innings.

Then in the bottom of the fourth, Denair erupted for five runs – three of them on a bases-loaded triple by Kenzie Prine. 

Unfortunately, the Coyotes’ 6-2 lead didn’t last long. Foresthill rallied for five runs of its own in the fifth inning to go back in front 7-6, which turned out to be the final score.

“We were just a tad off balance and not completely being ourselves. Just not quite as disciplined as what got us there,” Dayton said of the final game. “Credit to their pitcher. She just kept driving and keeping us off balance. We did have quite a few hits that went up the middle right to her. If they were off to the left or right a little, we’re talking a different game, but the ball didn’t bounce our way.”

Still, Denair has taken major strides to revive a program that has already come a long way in a short time. The Coyotes will lose two of their best players — pitcher Makayla Dayton and shortstop Havyn Boucher – to graduation but are expected to return most of the rest of the team.

“We’re losing our shortstop and pitcher this year,” Andy Dayton said. “They will all be back besides that. We have heard we have a decent crop of freshmen coming in with some experience.”