This year
’s Gavilan College softball team continues to make history as
the Lady Rams won the school’s first-ever tournament championship
by defeating a very strong Porterville College team by a score of
4-3 in the championship game of the Lady Rams Tournament on Sunday
afternoon. Not only did Lady Rams
win the tournament, but they did so in spectacular fashion with
an amazing come-from-behind victory in the championship game.
This year’s Gavilan College softball team continues to make history as the Lady Rams won the school’s first-ever tournament championship by defeating a very strong Porterville College team by a score of 4-3 in the championship game of the Lady Rams Tournament on Sunday afternoon.
Not only did Lady Rams win the tournament, but they did so in spectacular fashion with an amazing come-from-behind victory in the championship game. Down 3-1 with two outs in the final inning, Gavilan scored three runs in the top of the seventh to win.
Porterville led the entire game after scoring two runs in the bottom of the second and one more in the bottom of the sixth.
Until the top of the seventh, the Lady Rams could only muster one hit, a leadoff triple by Live Oak High grad Kristine Miles in the fourth, and a single run, when Miles scored on a past ball. The Pirates ace Jessica Cloutier, had been stifling the Rams with an untouchable rise ball – walking only one and striking-out 10 going into the top of the seventh.
In the Rams’ last at bat, the Pirates ace quickly retired Rams’ leading hitter Kristine Miles on a ground out to third for the first out, then fanned the Rams clean-up hitter Justine McDonald for the third time in the game for the second out. Then, with a never-say-die attitude that has characterized this team all year, the Lady Rams mounted its comeback. With two outs, Gav’s Courtney Colianna launched a single into left centerfield. Vicki Velasquez then singled down the left field line, moving Colianna to second. Megan Smart then laid down a perfect surprise bunt down the third base line for the Rams’ third consecutive hit in the inning. That loaded the bases for the Rams Erinn Gouker, who had hit a game-winning pinch-hit grand slam homer in the Lady Rams’ 7-4 come-from-behind win over the same team just two weeks ago in the College of Sequoias Tournament.
The Pirates ace walked Gouker, which scored Colianna from third, making the score 3-2. With the Lady Rams’ fans on their feet, Katrina Villa then lined a sharp single to centerfield scoring Vicki Velasquez from third and Megan Smart from second to put the Rams ahead for the first time in the game.
Lady Rams’ pitcher Destinee Powers then retired the second, third, and fourth hitters in the Pirates lineup to seal the win and the school’s first-ever tournament title.
Powers scattered eight hits, struck out seven, walked only one, and allowed no earned runs in going the distance.
After winning three out of four in their own tournament, the Lady Rams improved their overall record to 11-8.
On Saturday, the Lady Rams opened their tournament with a comeback win against a tough Feather River College squad, overcoming a 5-3 deficit by erupting for seven runs in the top half of the seventh inning to take a commanding 10-5 lead. Feather River rallied for one in the bottom of the seventh before closer Colianna shut the door by retiring the last two batters.
Kristine Miles led the Rams’ 13-hit attack going 3-for-4 with two singles, a double, and two RBIs.
Amanda Jackson, Courtney Colianna, and Erinn Gouker collected two hits each for the Rams. Both Gouker and Justine McDonald had doubles for the host team. Destinee Powers picked up the win pitching while giving up five runs on seven hits and three walks. Colianna earned the save, striking out two in the last inning, while giving up only one run on no hits.
In the Rams’ second game on Saturday, they ran into a hot-hitting Mendocino College team which turned the tables on the Rams by knocking out nine runs on 11 hits, while holding the normally hard-hitting Rams to just five hits and one run. Megan Smart led the Rams with two hits in three trips to the plate.
In the Rams’ first game on Sunday, the Lady Rams pounded visiting Lassen College by a score of 10-1 on eight hits and six walks. Vicki Velasquez was 2-for-2 with two doubles and two RBIs and Kristine Miles continued her torrid hitting by going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
Colianna pitched the entire game for the Lady Rams, striking out nine batters, walking two, and giving up only three hits in five innings in a game won by the Lady Rams by the eight-run rule.
