The next sound you hear will be that of revved up engines and
screeching tires, as local softball players scatter for family
vacations this week.
The Lady Greyhounds wrapped up their summer campaign in the Mark
West playoffs on July 11, falling to the Windsor Wildcats, 4-3 in a
heartbreaker. The Wildcats lost to Rohnert Park the following night
in the playoff title game, 4-1.
Despite an outstanding eight-strikeout effort from Healdsburg
hurler Lily Tomkovic, Windsor erased a late, three-run deficit to
post the one-run victory. The loss gave the Lady Hounds a final
summer record of 6-6.
³We always want to beat Windsor, but our main objective in the
summer isn¹t to win the league,² said Hounds coach Brian Osborn.
³It was a good experience for a lot of our players, and I saw
everything I wanted to see from an evaluation standpoint.²
On Tuesday, Healdsburg drew first blood in the opening frame
when catcher Samantha Erickson reached base on an infield error and
came home on an RBI knock from Jennah Peavler for a 1-0 lead.
The ladies plated another pair of runs in the third when Mary
Minaglia got aboard on an error, followed by a hit from Brooke
Gustely. Minaglia scored on a well-executed double-steal when
Gustely broke for second and was caught in a run-down. Devon
Dericco followed with a double and came home on an RBI single from
Erickson for a 3-0 lead.
Windsor clawed back with a run in the fifth, and strung together
five hits in the sixth to plate three runs for the eventual, 4-3
victory.
Tomkovic (2-3) put the wraps on a breakout summer season, as she
emerged as the top returning pitcher for the Lady Hounds next
spring. The incoming senior ended the Mark West campaign with a
solid, 2.31 earned run average, with opposing batters hitting a
paltry .214 against her this summer. Sophomore hurler Taylor
Dericco led the team in wins, posting a solid, 3-2 mark.
Top offensive leaders for the summer league were Peavler (.579
BA, 14 RBIs), Devon Dericco (.500 BA, 14 hits, 15 runs, 10 SBs) and
Erickson (.409 BA). Another key for next year was the emergence of
second baseman Brooke Gustely, who had a solid season from the
leadoff spot in the lineup.
