Maybe there is something lucky about the number “13” after all.

The last time Adams City’s softball team played a .500 season was in 2009. This year, ACHS compiled a 14-7 record, played for the Colorado 7 League softball title and was on the verge of a berth in the regional round of class 3A softball playoffs, which are Saturday, Oct. 15.

Playoff pairings are due Monday, Oct. 10.

“Our main goal is the league title,” said assistant coach RJ Quintana. “We’re planning on regionals. We’ve got a good shot at looking at state. We like to keep the girls humble. Our motto is 'more is possible.' Adams City has always been a wrestling program. I told the girls the school is more than wrestling.”

Quintana credited his squad for a lot of the success.

“They show up every day, they put in the work, and they have a desire to compete," he said. "We brought something out of them. They have a drive for the game, and they’re loving the season. They are successful. They are swinging the bats. They are playing defense. They are being successful. They are seeing the results.”

Most of the last 13 years’ worth of games have been very one-sided.

“They show up wanting to get better, and that’s what you want in a program,” Quintana said. “They put in the work for 2 ½ hours a day. They just have a different mindset. They came out wanting to get better.”

Some of the seniors approached the coaching staff before the season and said they wanted to finish up their high-school careers on a winning note.

“I said, ‘Show me the effort, and we’ll give you the keys to the ride,’” Quintana said. “It doesn’t surprise me. You get any team in the state that wants to get better, and they are going to be successful. They are going to put in the work,. These girls needed somebody to light the fire. We’re a good group of coaches that have come from various successful programs, and we brought that here.”

ACHS needed five innings to beat Thornton 14-4 on the Trojans’ field Oct. 5. The game ended early because of the state’s mercy rule. The other games between the two schools this season were one-run contests.

Deysi Palacios had a bases hit and four RBIs. Emily Ruiz added a base hit and a pair of RBIs. Thornton’s Araya William had two hits and drove in a run. Keila Saucedo had a base hit and drove in one run.

“Our mindset was we have to swing the bat, put them away early,” Quintana said. “We came out in the first inning and put up four (runs). We knew we can be aggressive at the plate and be successful.”

Boulder put an end to the Eagles' dreams of a Colorado 7 League title Oct. 6. The Panthers beat Adams City 11-7 to win their first softball league championship in 25 years.

Leyla Jaquez had three hits and two RBIs for Adams City. Sherea Ortiz added two base hits and an RBI. Carol Villanueva had two hits. No stats were available for the Panthers.

Quintana is an Adams City graduate.

“This is home for me,” he said. “There’s nothing better than giving back to your home.”