Two weeks into Mount Hamilton Division play, the Live Oak Acorns have balanced success with frustration.
They sat 1-2 (6-5 overall) after a 2-1 loss to Leigh on Wednesday, but could easily be 3-0 as the calendar turns to April, and the stakes get higher in one of the toughest divisions in Central Coast Section softball.
Friday they were one strike away from what would have been a huge win, on the road in extra innings no less, over a Westmont team that’s as well-rounded as they come. But the Warriors dropped in a bloop-RBI single to tie it in the 11th inning, and won it on Elayne Devillier’s sacrifice fly in the 12th.
Wednesday it was more of the same, with the Acorns accompanying a solid start by Katie Obbema with error-free defense and six hits off Lizzie Hogan – but one run. The Longhorns’ two runs came on homers by Lizzie Haskell and No. 9 hitter Lyndsi Garcia, who broke a 1-1 tie in the final inning.
“It is frustrating. It really is because we’ve played so good,” Live Oak manager Barry McDonnell said. “We felt like we could have won either game, and to come up on the wrong side of both, it hurts a little bit. It’s still a good team, and I’m sure that we’re going to win our share of one-run games this year.”
McDonnell’s players remain just as optimistic.
“We’re still feeling confident,” said freshman shortstop Bre Sabala, who continued an impressive start to her varsity career Wednesday, batting 2 for 4 with a double. “We’re getting really good. It’s just a couple of lucky hits, tough calls that’s getting us. But we’re hanging in there and still doing awesome.”
The Acorns’ mounting injuries – they had one reserve available against Leigh (4-6, 2-1) – have caused little concern.
“It’s one of those things that happens,” junior second baseman Rachel Ditta said. “When it does, we try to say, ‘OK, let’s pick up the slack.’ We’re positive in general. No one’s ever moping around.
“We’ve been moving people around to different positions. Hopefully people will get healthy soon. The injuries are putting us down, but the people that are injuries are right there in the dugout with us, fighting and being supportive until the end.”
Even with the two home runs, Obbema (4H, 3BB, 8Ks) was impressive once again. The 5-foot, 10-inch righty, who two weeks ago threw a no-hitter at Alvarez, kept the Acorns in position to win by getting crucial outs. With the score 1-1 in the fifth with two outs and runners at the corners, Obbema took a deep breath and struck out Lauryn Saunders, an imposing hitter, on three pitches.
Obbema struck out the side in the sixth.
“It really helps having Katie on the pitcher’s mound,” McDonnell said. “She’s a senior and a team leader. She’s got a lot of responsibility and maturity out there. She helps the whole team, keeps them focused. She’s been a super positive this year.”
The Acorns stranded six runners, including four in scoring position. They nearly tied it in the sixth when, with runners at first and second after a Sara Day single, Ashley Zerr smoked a 1-0 offering into right field. Julia Orona, pinch-running for Obbema, rounded third and broke for home but was caught in a rundown.
Ditta delivered a tying squeeze bunt in the third to score Kate Guzman.
“We did exactly what we needed to today,” McDonnell said. “We just didn’t get the timely hits. They had a couple of good ones, two home runs that beat us. It’s tough to defend when the ball’s going over the fence.
“Once we get everyone back, we’ll be stronger and ready to go.”
Boys tennis
The Acorns’ singles players delivered once again, and their makeshift doubles teams came through for a sweep to beat Santa Teresa 6-1 Wednesday, avenging a 3-4 loss in the first round of Santa Teresa Division play.
Live Oak’s top single Bryan Freitas played outstanding in defeating his opponent 6-1, 6-0, while Milan Le Ruyet continued to dominate, winning by the same score to move to 8-2. Tanner Hallinan charged back from a three-game deficit in the opening set to win 6-4, 6-1, also for the Acorns (4-6, 3-4).
Subbing for the injured Dane Cleeton, Ryan Rupp and Mike Renteria, who have played excellent together, won 6-1, 6-3 in the No. 1 doubles match. Geoff Ivie and Justin Schumate stayed hot with a 6-1, 6-2 victory, and Ian Karin and Ben Hopwood, who just returned from an injury, rallied from a 6-4 loss in the first set to take the second one 6-3 and win a super tiebreaker in the third.
Boys volleyball
Sobrato lost a close Santa Teresa Division match, 25-23, 22-25, 22-25, 13-25, to visiting Branham on Tuesday despite getting a game-high 16 kills from sophomore Drew Mammen.
The Bulldogs (5-9 overall) fell to 2-2 in league.
