 | | | Lujane Massadi Photos Tod Fierner | | | | | | The women's softball team at Saint Mary's College is well into its first season as a member of the West Coast Conference. The move from the Pacific Coast Softball Conference gives the players and coaches a sense of pride, something to play for.
"(This) has had a big impact because as a school, we're WCC, but softball was this spinoff as far as the PCSC went," said head coach Jessica Hanaseth-Rodgers. "The girls and I feel more a part of the St. Mary's group of athletics ... more involved (and) a little more important."
After a rocky 5-10 start, the team has notched a 22-23 record (8-4 WCC) including an 8-2 upset of California.
"The game against Berkeley was a huge confidence booster," said pitcher Lujane Massadi, one of the nine sophomores on the St. Mary's roster. "It was the first time in school history that we beat them ... and it was great to see our whole team work together and come up with a win."
Hanaseth-Rodgers credits the growth of her pitching staff with the turnaround.
"We've been relying on (them) these last several games. Playing a tough schedule has taken us in a positive direction... the staff has been poised ... never rattled, and they've started to take control of the games," she explained.
The Gaels' pitchers, Massadi, freshman Katie Moss and junior Sarah Lira have been tremendous this season, with a combined ERA of 2.27. Moss (.62 ERA) has four saves on the year. She made her first start on April 26 against Santa Clara, pitching a complete game, allowing just three hits and three walks, with no earned runs, and 11 strikeouts.
"We're going to need (Katie) if we want to make this run," said Hanaseth-Rodgers. "We're going to need her to come in and step up, and hopefully we can provide some offense."
St. Mary's is chasing a WCC title this season and they can clinch a championship by sweeping BYU this weekend.
"Winning the conference is doable if we keep playing the way we have been," said Massadi. "It's about being prepared mentally ... working in practice then coming out, ready to go."
But the Gaels will need hits from an offense that's been struggling as of late. "In our last eight games we've left 61 runners on base," said Hanaseth-Rodgers. "We were averaging two runs a game and giving up three ... if we score a third of (those) this is a totally different conversation."
Sophomore catcher Andrea Hazel is the team's best hitter so far this year-.346 avg., 46 hits, 25 RBI and 6 HR-but Hanaseth-Rodgers is looking for all her players to rise to the challenge.
"We need timely hits," she said. "We're getting people on base ... it's time for anyone, one through nine, to step up and make something happen."
The Gaels look to bounce back from a 1-2 loss to Stanford on April 30, as they visit UC Davis today, May 7. They play BYU in a three game series May 9-10.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA