Ranger Varsity Softball fights through a tough pre-season schedule

By: Hailey Smithson

Redwood softball started off the season strong with a win, however, over the rest of their pre-season games, they began to struggle. They currently have a record of 1-10.

Their pre-season schedule is filled with heavy competition including: Buchanan, Clovis West, and Clovis High.

Through facing hard competition at the beginning of the season, it can lead to them excelling in league when they begin to face more Division 2 schools versus all of the Division 1 schools they are currently competing against.

However, when they get that break from Division 1 competition they will have to go back into after their league competition for playoffs because as of last year, Redwood softball has worked their way into Division 1.

With having almost a full year off due to Covid, most of the team is still re-adjusting to both practicing and playing in games. Being off of the diamond for a year can make it hard to come back strong. Captain, Sydnee Weber, ’21 says, “We’ve been doing well considering we haven’t played in so long.”

Whilst some girls were able to get some work in during these difficult times, others were not able to do any sort of softball-related activities.

The girls currently have a team batting average of .194. However, despite having a low team batting average, the team has a total of 12 doubles for the season. Weber is leading the team currently with four of those doubles.

This team also has a lot of speed. They currently have a total of seven stolen bases with Alina Hernandez, ’23, and Jocelyn Silva, ’22 being tied at two. 

The girls still have four more pre-season games against Division 1 schools. The girls hope to gain some momentum going into league competition which begins on Friday, April 30th against Lemoore. 

There is room for improvement but they have the talent to make those improvements. Co-captains, Weber and Seneca Sowers, ’22 both believe that the team needs to learn to trust one another and begin working as a team more.

Sowers states, “We all have the skills and knowledge of the game which is good but if we don’t have energy, communication, and trust on the field we won’t succeed.”

Sowers believes that once they get out of their heads they will be able to, “brush it all off and start over and really focus on the little things and mental aspects of the game we’ll definitely succeed,” she states.

The girls have gotten off to a rocky start, but with motivation and hard work, they will be able to turn things around for the better.

Tags: Hailey Smithson, pre-season, redwood gigantea, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, redwood softball, redwood sports, redwood varsity softball