Lady Rams’ early struggles continue with 13-0 home loss to
unbeaten West Valley
GILROY – The Lady Rams softball team dropped to 3-13 on the season after Tuesday’s 13-0 shutout loss to undefeated West Valley College.
“We did OK, but we were just outmatched by West Valley. They were a much stronger team,” head coach Tim Kenworthy said. “We’re improving. We just still have a lot of work to do. We have some young players who are new to the game.”
Freshman catcher Ashley Magana picked up the only base hit for Gavilan in the fourth inning. Freshman pitcher Tanya Isbell gave up 13 runs on 11 hits before giving way to Megan MacDonald, who scattered two hits in two innings of work.
“Sometimes the cards are stacked against you,” Kenworthy said. “It all boils down to whether or not you gave your best effort. … What I like most about this group is that they don’t give up. That’s the most important thing. They try their hardest. That makes them enjoyable to coach.”
West Valley (15-0) scored 11 runs in one inning to remain unbeaten for the season.
“If you take away one big inning, it’s a 2-0 game,” Kenworthy said. “We just have to keep working. We have to make up in hustle and team spirit what we might lack in raw talent and experience.”
There are no sophomores and 12 freshmen on this year’s roster.
The Lady Rams also lost five straight games in the Sierra College Tournament over the weekend, but two were by only one run.
“We had a tough weekend,” Kenworthy said. “We hit balls with runners on base right at the defense, line drives. Another six feet left or six feet right, we come out on top a couple of times. We just hit a streak of bad luck.”
Gavilan lost 3-0 to Porterville, 1-0 to Consumnes River College, 3-2 to College of the Redwoods, 8-1 to Delta College, and 3-0 to Diablo Valley College.
Freshman Kristine Miles, who has eight runs scored, and MacDonald, who has 12 RBIs, share the team lead in batting average with .342 sticks. Isbell, who is batting .298 with 11 runs scored, has pitched 66 2/3 innings so far this season, maintaining a 4.94 ERA, giving up 75 runs on 74 hits, striking out 45, walking 44.
