For the Live Oak High softball team, a shot at the Central Coast
Section playoffs came down to its last regular season game. Playing
at arch-rival Gilroy, the Lady Acorns needed to come out on top in
the rubber match between the two teams to continue their
season.
For the Live Oak High softball team, a shot at the Central Coast Section playoffs came down to its last regular season game. Playing at arch-rival Gilroy, the Lady Acorns needed to come out on top in the rubber match between the two teams to continue their season.
Meanwhile, with the playoffs already out of reach, Gilroy knew its season would end as soon as the last out was recorded in Thursday’s home finale.
The Lady Mustangs, however, made sure both seasons came to a halt, playing the spoiler in a 2-0 shutout victory.
“We had four games to win one and we lost all four of them,” said Lady Acorns starting pitcher Juliette Bowers, referring to the team’s four-game losing streak to end the season. “I don’t like not going to CCS. It’s a sad thought.”
Live Oak (6-9 in T-CAL, 14-15 overall) lost two straight one-run games last week, then dropped a disputed 3-1 decision in 13 innings to league champion Notre Dame on Tuesday before falling to Gilroy.
“When the last one is there and you don’t do it, there’s not a lot that you can do,” Live Oak head coach Barry McDonnell said. “This league is tough and we know all the games are going to be tough. We thought we had a win on Tuesday and we had it pulled out from under us. There’s no sure wins in this league at all.”
The Lady Mustangs (4-11 T-CAL, 11-16 overall), who had been part of the playoffs the past seven seasons, approached this rivalry game with a playoff enthusiasm and dedicated it to their one senior on the roster – catcher Bria DeLorenzo.
“I wouldn’t trade this team for a CCS team any day, because they’re awesome,” said De Lorenzo, fighting back the tears.
“This team will never, ever, be the same without her,” Gilroy head coach Julie Berggren said. “She is definitely going to be missed.”
Early on, it was tough to tell if either team would ever score. Live Oak was being handled quite easily by Lady Mustang freshman hurler Patricia Olvera, while Bowers was successfully fighting location issues. Each starter limited the opposition to one baserunner over the first three innings.
Then things began to unravel for the Lady Acorns.
What started off as a one-out single by Olvera in the bottom of the fourth turned into a bases-loaded situation two batters later. DeLorenzo’s flare over the second baseman’s glove and a fielder’s choice gone wrong forced Bowers to look for the strikeout.
And Bowers delivered by winning a tough battle with freshman first baseman Erin Magill, who struck out swinging. A foul pop-up to third base by freshman Amanda Tellez left the bases loaded, as Live Oak could breathe a sigh of relief.
The Lady Mustangs responded by applying more pressure. After the first two Gilroy batters reached base, Bowers’ day in the circle would come to an abrupt end. Sophomore outfielder Kristen Campos singled and junior teammate Christina Hernandez reached on a costly error from Bowers, whose errant throw to first base on a sacrifice attempt put runners on first and third with no outs.
The Lady Acorn ace finished with four plus innings of work, allowing four hits and walking none. Senior Jackie Jacob came in to replace Bowers and control was an issue from the start as she walked the bases loaded.
Gilroy finally broke through when junior Kayla Aldridge’s roller could not be handled by shortstop Catalina Rawers. The infield single made the score 1-0 and the bases were still loaded with no outs. Jacob managed to fan Olvera for the first out, but promptly tossed a wild pitch that allowed Hernandez to score, giving Gilroy a two-run lead on a pair of unearned runs.
The Lady Acorns put two runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings, but failed to collect the key hit to drive in a run. Olvera responded each time and secured her first league win and shutout. Live Oak managed only four hits and one walk all game.
In Tuesday’s final home game, Live Oak battled league champion Notre Dame head-to-head before falling in the sixth extra inning.
After the game went to an international tiebreaker in the 10th inning, Live Oak appeared to have won when Jackie Tennant slid home and was initially called safe twice, according to McDonnell. After the Acorns poured out of the dugout in celebration, the umpire reversed his call and called Tennant out after saying she hadn’t reached the plate.
Live Oak knocked superstar Spirits pitcher Kim Reeder out of the game after the 12th inning but Notre Dame scored twice in the 13th to go ahead.
The Acorns had runners at first and third with no out in the bottom of the 13th but couldn’t score.
The loss spoiled an amazing performance by senior pitcher Jackie Jacob, who was awarded the start in her final home game and went the distance while striking out 21.
