The Pride 16U started the summer season off with a second place
finish at Twin Creeks in the first weekend in June. The team
includes eight players from Live Oak’s 2003 varsity squad: Alyssa
Adamo, Eileen Grove, Katie Hillman, Catalina Rawers, Kaitlyn
Rauschnot, Samantha Ferry, Jackie Tennant and Kaitlin McHargue; one
from Live Oak
’s JV team:Julie Jacobson; one from Hollister: Nicole Clay, one
from Notre Dame-San Jose: Cristina Sanidad; and one from Westmont:
Ann Baumgardner.
The Pride 16U started the summer season off with a second place finish at Twin Creeks in the first weekend in June.
The team includes eight players from Live Oak’s 2003 varsity squad: Alyssa Adamo, Eileen Grove, Katie Hillman, Catalina Rawers, Kaitlyn Rauschnot, Samantha Ferry, Jackie Tennant and Kaitlin McHargue; one from Live Oak’s JV team:Julie Jacobson; one from Hollister: Nicole Clay, one from Notre Dame-San Jose: Cristina Sanidad; and one from Westmont: Ann Baumgardner.
This year’s team is led by manager Debra Grove and coach Barry McDonnell.
On Saturday, the Pride defeated a tough Salinas Storm team 5-1. Rauschnot pitched and didn’t give up any walks. Clay took up the duties behind the plate.
The Pride’s defense came up strong, stranding six runners on base. Grove made several key plays at second base.
On offense, Adamo began the game with a single to left. Rauschnot had a huge hit into center for a double. After Adamo walked, Grove sacrificed her to second.
Ferry then had a nice sacrifice fly to score Adamo. In the next inning, Ferry, Rawers and Rauschnot all singled to bring in runs. McHargue and Jacobson also laid down perfect sacrifice bunts to move the runners over.
Tennant reached base on an errant throw from the third baseman and also scored in the inning.
Cristina Sanidad pitched the second game of the day against the Mountain View Nova Sanidad didn’t give up any walks during the 8-1 win.
On defense, Katie Hillman had a lot of action at third base. Ann Baumgardner had a beautiful catch in center field. In the fourth inning, the Pride turned a nice double play by Adamo and Rauschnot ended the scoring threat.
Offensively, the Pride’s bats came alive. Adamo and Sanidad each had two hits. Hillman, Ferry and Baumgardner also had hits for the scoring fest.
On Sunday, the Pride was in the winner’s bracket and the championship game.
After waiting until 3 p.m., they finally met their match, losing to the Mountain View Nova 2-1. With Rauschnot on the mound, the Nova was only able to score two runs. But those would prove to be just enough.
Rauschnot had nine strikeouts in the effort. The Pride bats were quiet until the third inning when Samantha Ferry crushed a hit into center field. After stealing second, Ferry was caught in a double play to end the inning.
In the fourth inning, the Pride threatened. Eileen Grove had a nice hit and Katie Hillman reached base on an error by the right fielder.
But, once again, the runners were left on base to end the scoring threat. In the sixth inning, Grove walked and Catalina Rawers and Rauschnot had hits to score Grove.
