Lady Bulldogs looking for answer after 1-5 start
MORGAN HILL — The Lady Bulldogs were not planning on being 1-5 midway through Santa Teresa Division play, just like they weren’t planning on missing their ace pitcher Danielle Clampett for most of the season.
The two setbacks go hand in hand. Although the Sobrato softball team has churned out plenty of offense in 2009, the squad has struggled on defense — mainly because Clampett, an everyday starter and second-team all-leaguer in 2008, has had to miss all but one league contest because of tendinitis in her throwing shoulder. The one game Clampett did pitch? Sobrato beat Silver Creek 4-1.
“We’ve hardly even used her yet,” Sobrato coach Bob Clampett, Danielle’s father, said. “She’s struggling with the injury. Behind her, we have a sophomore and two freshmen pitching. They’re doing okay, but we need Danielle’s speed.”
The Bulldogs could have used it Thursday, when they dropped a 6-4 decision to Branham. Despite allowing 14 hits, Sobrato stayed in the fight behind starting pitcher Katie Machado, a freshman. The Bulldogs even led 4-2 after the first inning. The Bruins were held scoreless through the next three innings, but went ahead for good with three runs in the fifth.
Sobrato got two hits and two runs from Allison Stoner and two RBIs from Nicole Larson, who is averaging better than .400 this year. Danielle Clampett, Frankie Kellett and Nicole Kiles also have been hitting well, Bob Clampett said.
“The girls are still pretty positive and pretty confident at the plate,” the second-year coach added.
That speaks volumes considering the team’s 2-7 finish in nonleague play. In an effort to boost their postseason resume, the Bulldogs penciled several A-league teams into their nonleague schedule.
“That ended up hurting us a little because the girls got down on themselves for losing. That’s partly my fault,” Bob Clampett said. “It’s tough to get on a winning streak when you’re in a rut.”
The Bulldogs can still clinch the program’s first CIF-Central Coast Section playoff spot, but have to turn things around fast. They have battled in each division contest — with the exception of lopsided defeats to front-runners Mount Pleasant and Santa Teresa — and will be well rested when they return to action next Tuesday at Independence.
Bob Clampett said Danielle should be ready to go by then.
“The girls are keeping their heads up,” he said. “We know we can still turn this thing around. We can beat any team in this league when we’re healthy.”
