Softball Bats .381 in Three Game Win Streak
Catcher Paige Cassidy hit a double in the Knights’ 14-0 win against Mt. Diablo High School.
With a runner on first and one out, first baseman Ally Carol leapt skyward and snagged a sharp line drive feet above her head, touched down and tagged first base, completing the double play to close out the inning.
On a bases loaded play in the 3rd inning, shortstop Alissa Gardenal ripped a line drive to left field. She knocked in three runners and found herself at third base.
Plays like those from the 14-0 shutout over Mt. Diablo High School define Las Lomas varsity softball in recent games. The girls have won three in a row, all by margins of 11 runs or more. Sophomore pitcher Mary Locher thinks there is a reason for the hot streak.
“We had a rough preseason...but when we started league...we had a fresh start,” said Locher.“We got fired up to win and have been since.”
The Knights have pushed through the first two thirds of their season with a record of 4-7.
“The losses don’t matter to us as long as we learn from each game,” said assistant coach Erika Marshall. “I love the energy we have so far. It’s helping the team stay motivated. We learn from each game to become better week by week.”
Those improvements have started to show with a .17 improvement in the team’s batting average over the first eight games.
“I want to improve as an assistant coach by getting the team to be the best they can at executing their plays. The roster is skilled this year and we have a lot of talent from each grade,” said Marshall.
Additionally, Locher won the player of the game award for the second game in a row on April 20, pitching her second consecutive no-hitter.
She struck out nine batters, went 2-4 at the plate, and scored 2 runs. Locher is very content with her recent pitching feats.
“Pitching a no hitter is really exciting and fun,” said Locher. “Actually, it is less tiring than pitching other games because I pitch less balls.”
The team is currently running a little behind the national average, but spirits stay high in practice.
“Everyone on the team has been supportive and we are working on upping our enthusiasm and positivity on and off the field,” said Britney Budiman, a second base-woman and outfielder in her fourth season on the team.
When asked about the off-season, Budiman said, “Every Saturday, both JV and Varsity go to Muir Specialists and do conditioning for injury prevention.”
This type of training helps athletes reduce season fatigue and injury risk.
“It’s actually one of my favorite parts of being on the team because it’s a super fun workout and bonding experience,” said Budiman.
Defensively, the Knights are doing well. Their fielding percentage, roughly how often the team executes a defensive play properly, is on par with some NCAA softball teams at 91%.
In a March 23rd game against the San Lorenzo Rebels, the Knights showcased their potential with a 17-9 victory, posting a super team-like .500 batting average.
The superb performance saw a season record 48 plate appearances and second to most 17 runs, making one full run for about every three plate appearances.
Single after single rang out that night at San Lorenzo High School, and play after play Knighted hits outsmarted the Rebels.
As for the future of the season, the Knights are about two thirds through a 19 game season which ends in mid May. You only have a few more weeks to catch the best Softball players in Las Lomas.
“I really hope that people show up and bring our Knights the energy and spirit they need to be motivated and pumped for the game,” said Marshall.
Be sure to catch their final home outing on Tuesday, May 16 where the Knights seek to trounce the Campolindo Cougars.
