Two games into the 2026 season, Palo Verde looks every bit the defending Class 5A state champion. The Panthers defeated host Centennial 8-2 on Wednesday, handing the Bulldogs their second straight loss to open the year.

Senior pitcher Ava Koenig, the reigning 5A Mountain League pitcher of the year, struck out nine and allowed four hits over seven innings. She kept Centennial scoreless until the fourth, when a two-run single by catcher Campbell Cole plated Valeria Lopez and Leeah Ibarra. Koenig then retired the next seven batters and allowed just two more hits the rest of the way.

“It showed we can persevere through tough days,” Koenig said. “It gives us momentum… and shows even on the days that we don’t have our best, we can still come out on top.”

Palo Verde (2-0) jumped ahead in the third inning on an RBI single by sophomore catcher Halle Law. The Panthers extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by sophomore second baseman Ava Cruz and a run-scoring double by junior left fielder Alexis Kearnes. After Centennial tied it at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth, Palo Verde answered with a run in the fifth and four in the sixth to put the game away.

Junior third baseman Kayleen Enriquez went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Kearnes finished 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI, and Law had two singles and two RBIs. For Centennial (0-2), Ibarra and third baseman Abigail Estrada each went 1-for-3. Hailey Dixon took the loss, allowing eight runs (six earned) in 5.1 innings.

First-year coach Angelique Council, who took over for the retired Kelly Glass, praised her team’s adjustments. “We came together as a team and we started making adjustments when we needed to make those adjustments, and it worked out in the end,” Council said. “We just need to stay focused and keep on having great practices.”

Palo Verde hasn’t lost a regular-season game since May 2, 2024.