Lozano owning the circle
Accomplishments: Arianna Lozano was a force for the Tokay High softball team last week.
The Tigers’ pitcher struck out six Lincoln batters and allowed two hits in a Tri-City Athletic League road game on March 30. On offense, Lozano, a junior, went 2-for-3. Tokay lost the defensive game to Lincoln, 2-1.
“I threw a little bit of everything,” said Lozano of her pitches against the Trojans. “Everything was working. If the batter is on the plate, you want to throw the ball inside so it’s harder for them to turn on it.”
Less than 24 hours prior at the Lodi Softball Complex, Lozano, who also plays first base, smacked a double that was part of a hitting parade for the Tigers against their cross-town and TCAL rival Lodi. Tokay (1-5 in the TCAL, 8-8) cooled off the Flames with a 6-3 win.
“Most of us have played with and against each other,” said Lozano of the Lodi players. “We, equally, worked hard to beat Lodi.”
In the circle this season, Lozano has struck out 63 batters. She has a 7-8 record, and has pitched in all of the Tigers’ 16 games this season. At the plate, Lozano is batting .233 with seven RBIs and four doubles. As a team, Tokay is batting .323.
Lozano has been solid pitching for the Tigers this season, notes Tokay coach Aaron Misasi. “She’s doing a great job,” Misasi said. In addition to practices with Tokay, Lozano spends an additional hour, if not longer, a day working on her pitching mechanics.
“I throw a heavy (weighted) ball,” said Lozano about one of her drills she does. “This helps me strengthen my snap so I have better velocity.”
At age 9, Lozano started pitching while playing youth softball. Then she started playing travel ball, and has continued since that age. After the high school season is over, Lozano will be pitching and playing first base for the NorCal Bandits, an 18 and under travel
team based out of Elk Grove.
“We practice more, and we have girls who are more dedicated,” said Lozano of playing with girls who are involved in travel ball.
The Tigers’ defense has been off and on during the season. But Lozano and Misasi strongly feel that area will continue to improve.
“We haven’t played defense like we can,” Lozano said. “We haven’t played to our full potential yet.”
Through thick and thin, the Tigers work harder together, Lozano notes.
“We’re like family,” Lozano said. “We get along well on and off the field,”
Lozano said. “We work hard; we’ve had long hours of practices to better our game.”
Two out-of-state colleges have expressed interest in Lozano. But she prefers to remain in the Golden State after she graduates from Tokay High in the spring of 2018. Lozano hopes that either the high school season, if not summer and fall ball will spark more California four-year colleges. She would also consider playing at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento and Sacramento City College.
“I’m not interested in going out-ofstate,” Lozano said. “I’m willing to keep my options open.”