Spruce Mountain outfielder Grace Harmatys races in to catch the ball during a softball game in Jay on Monday.

JAY — Spruce Mountain softball coach Clint Brooks is always on the lookout for positive improvements in this frustrating season.

Despite an 18-8 loss to Winslow on a rainy and dismal Monday afternoon in a Class B South matchup, Brooks witnessed a handful of signs that the young Phoenix (2-12) are learning the game.

“You are disappointed when you lose this way, but there is a part of me that sees a lot of positive things,” Brooks said. “That’s what we are looking for at this point in the year.

“It has been tough sledding for us. You have games like that when you get to this point in the year, you look for the small positives to build on for the next year.

“I got a battery out there tonight of two freshmen. That’s one of the best Class B teams in the state, but I thought they (Phoenix) held up pretty well.”

When talented Winslow (8-3) scored three quick runs in the top of the first inning, the Phoenix brushed it off and answered with five runs of their own in the bottom half to take a 5-3 lead.

Shortstop Alex Bessey walked and Grace Harmatys doubled. JuJu Doiron also walked to load the bases, and Calley Baker brought in a run with a sacrifice. Pitcher Jenna Martin and Emily Castonguay each ripped RBI singles.

But the Black Raiders weren’t comfortable with being down two runs. They rebounded with three runs in the second inning, thanks to an error and RBI singles from Sarah Guimond (three hits) and Bailey Robbins (three hits) to take a 6-5 lead.

The Phoenix punched in two more runs in the bottom of the second inning using hits from Allie Acritelli, Doiron and Baker to take a 7-6 lead.

The rain picked up and so did Winslow’s hitting. The Black Bears used five hits, including a hard-hit double by Robbins, to collect five more runs to take a 11-7 lead in the third inning.

“They had some well-placed hits. I knew they could hit because I looked in the Heal points and they are scoring a bunch of runs,” Winslow coach Steve Bodge said. “So we had to play some defense. We took advantage of our hits and we ran a lot. I love to run.”

Spruce Mountain got one more run in the third inning when Bessey got on with a hit, stole second base and came home on Harmatys’ RBI single.

A seven-run fourth inning in the heavy rain put a lid on the Phoenix. The Black Raiders used another round of timely hitting, hammering out four singles to help bring across the seven runs. Catcher Cassie Demers launched a two-run homer.

Winslow had 15 hits for the day, and Broghan Gagnon got the win on the mound, giving up nine Spruce hits.

Spruce’s Jenna Martin was handed the loss in first varsity start and eventually left the game when she was hit by a hard line drive in the leg. Bessey came in relief.

The game was called in the seventh due to rain.

Spruce Mountain’s Alex Bessey slides safely into home as Winslow catcher Cassie Demers waits for the throw during a softball game in Jay on Monday.

Spruce Mountain pitcher Jenna Martin throws a pitch against Winslow as first baseman JuJu Doiron looks on during a softball game in Jay on Monday.Winslow coach Steve Bodge watches as Cassie Demers rounds the bases after hitting a two-run homer in the fourth inning during a softball game in Jay on Monday.