Central Catholic loses Division IV softball final to Dixon
Sometimes in softball, you can do everything right — hit the ball hard, field every ground ball — and it still won’t be enough.
Slated as the No. 2 team in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV bracket, playing No. 1 Dixon in the section championship Saturday, the Raiders learned that lesson the hard way.
They were in position to win the game, taking a big lead in the early innings, committing fewer errors and putting a runner on base in the top of the seventh inning. Yet they fell to the Rams, 7-6, to finish section runners-up for the third straight year.
“That’s why I love this game: On any given day, anybody can win,” Central Catholic coach Sam Nichols said of the unpredictability of softball. “Our girls got a barrel and battled and didn’t quit.”
All season, the Raiders’ (20-8) offense has produced some big innings, and Saturday was no different. They scored once in the top of the first inning after Samantha Nichols doubled and Jazmarie Roberts drove her in with a triple. They added four runs in the second.
Emori Machado was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Emry Couch singled and Ceriah Fitzhugh, Taryn Calderon, Miranda Temple and Nichols all drove in runs as the Raiders jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead. Calderon drove in her second run of the game in the top of the third, tripling home Carsyn Lomeli-Garcia to put the Raiders ahead 6-0.
The Raiders’ offense was held scoreless for the rest of the game and Dixon’s (20-4) offense came to life. They scored their first run in the bottom of the third on an Audrey Graham home run and added six more runs in the bottom of the fourth, taking the lead for good, powered by a pair of two-run home runs.
“We started off very well, getting a barrel, but their pitcher did a great job making adjustments,” Nichols said of the Raiders’ offense. “She started
attendance erupted.
“I’ve literally dreamed of a moment where I can get an RBI in a situation like that,” Barnes said. “Just to benefit the team like that, it just makes me over the moon.”
Everett came up next with runners on first and second. She hit a hard ground ball to the Cougars (23-3-1) shortstop and reached on a fielder’s choice. Heads-up baserunning by Volonte saw the junior score from second to extend the Mustangs’ lead to 3-0.
The Cougars had their moment in the bottom of the eighth with two outs, scoring twice on a deep single to center field. But one batter later, Everett forced a game-ending groundout to end the game.
All six of the Mustangs’ losses this season came against quality opponents as a result of a bulked-up nonleague schedule. The team beat Division II section finalist Tracy early this season, traveled to
Fresno to take on top Central Section teams and participated in the ultracompetitive NorCal Classic at Tracy High.
Loger says all of that was in preparation for Saturday.
“We played the toughest schedule Oakdale High’s ever played,” he said. “I’m really proud of this group. We did that on purpose, so when we got here, it wouldn’t seem like we were overmatched. They’re just ready to go.”
Barnes gave Tuua her credit, saying she was the best pitcher Oakdale has faced all season. The super sophomore struck out 13 Mustangs. But Barnes also said that the strength of this year’s team is its ability to make in-game adjustments.
“We’ve been in a lot of situations where it’s high stress and you can’t have mistakes,” Barnes said. “And I think that’s what made us come out on top today. We knew how to handle all the stress that came with this game.”
In qualifying for the section title game, the Mustangs also secured at least one extra game, punching their ticket to the CIF Northern California regional playoffs, which start Tuesday.
Because the NorCal softball playoffs just started in 2022, this year’s team secured the first berth in the program’s history.
As section champions, they hope to host at least one round in the regional postseason. Brackets are released Sunday. Firstround games are Tuesday and regional semifinals contests are Thursday. The regional championships are Saturday, June 1. All games are at host sites.
“We’re so thankful for that. We didn’t want our season to end. I didn’t want to ever stop playing with these girls,” Everett said. “I wish I could play with them forever. We’re really lucky that we have the chance to keep playing, get more games in and be with our girls longer.”