For coming within a few hits of beating Westmont, the
fifth-ranked softball team in the Central Coast Section, Live Oak
had reason to be proud
MORGAN HILL
For coming within a few hits of beating Westmont, the fifth-ranked softball team in the Central Coast Section, Live Oak had reason to be proud.
The Acorns felt like they could play with anyone after Tuesday’s 8-5 loss in which they overcame a three-run deficit and had the bases loaded with no outs and one run across in the final inning.
But their window of opportunity to prove they can this postseason has dwindled to one game starting at 3:30 p.m. today at second place Leland, a team that beat them 11-0 in their previous meeting April 4.
A win there would offset what has become a very tense final week of the regular season for Live Oak (8-12, 6-7). It began with an 8-2 loss Monday at sixth place Pioneer, where the game had to be held on the junior varsity field; play was stopped midway through when coaches realized the pitching rubber was 40 feet away from the plate instead of the regulation 43.
“We couldn’t really get it going. It was just one of those weird, frustrating days,” Live Oak manager Barry McDonnell said.
All the more reason why the Acorns were proud of themselves Tuesday. They had much to dwell on with Monday’s loss and the chance to play their Senior Game against Westmont (21-5, 12-1), the newly crowned Mount Hamilton Division champion. None of that seemed to affect them.
“We played really well,” said first baseman Jenny Obbema, who had three hits and reached base in her four plate appearances. “From coming back on Monday and being really down and then doing this; even though we lost, it was a very good performance by everybody.”
Electricity was abound in the seventh inning after Live Oak loaded the bases with consecutive singles by Kayla Cisneroz, Katie Obbema and Jenny Obbema, and Rachel Ditta drove in Cisneroz on a single up the middle. The Acorns had pulled even with s two-run single by Obbema in the third and an RBI single by Pati Monterrey in the fourth. Now they were a big fly away from sending their seniors off like queens.
“I didn’t have to try and keep them focused,” McDonnell said. “They were cheering each other on the whole time. This a very supportive group. When one person gets fired up, it’s contagious.”
Westmont’s heralded junior ace, Lujane Mussadi (21-4), answered by striking out Diana Lopez and Khailyn Neumayer, setting up a showdown with leadoff hitter Priscilla Orona, already three for four with a double.
Orona ran the count fall after falling behind one and two – but then grounded out to short.
“Easily the best game we’ve played all season,” said Lopez, who singled home Katie Obbema in the second inning, cutting Westmont’s lead to 3-1. “We put a lot of heart into it today.”
Katie Obbema had no strikeouts to show for a manageable day of pitching. The Warriors scored five runs off her with bloop singles to right field and received a combined four RBIs from their Nos. 8-9 hitters.
Live Oak matched Westmont with 14 hits.
“Some hits for them fell that didn’t fall for us,” Jenny Obbema said. “That’s what it usually comes down to.”
With a postseason on the line, the Acorns eagerly looked forward to making amends once and for all today. For them, the playoffs have already begun.
“We’re definitely excited. I know I am,” Lopez said. “It’s do or die right now. We’re leaving it all out there.”
