An outstanding softball season came to a sudden end last
Tuesday, as the Lady Greyhound varsity squad fell to visiting San
Marin, 9-0 in the opening round of the North Coast Section
playoffs. The loss gave the ladies a final season mark of
13-10.
³I think we exceeded our own expectations coming into the
season,² said Hounds coach Brian Osborn. ³We met our goal to make
the playoffs again this season, and that will be our goal at
Healdsburg every year.²
It was the second playoff appearance in as many seasons for the
Lady Hounds, who came into the tournament as the fourth seed. The
playoff home game was a luxury that a Healdsburg softball team had
not been afforded in years. Unfortunately, the fifth-seeded
Mustangs spoiled the party, taking charge from the opening pitch
and riding a two-hit gem from pitcher Christina Lewis.
Lewis, benefiting from an outstanding defense behind her, took a
perfect game into the bottom of the seventh inning before Devon
Dericco and Charlene Andrews each broke through for hits.
Healdsburg ace pitcher Jennah Peavler went five innings to take the
loss, while freshman Taylor Dericco closed it out in mop-up
duty.
Things unraveled quickly for the Hounds in the first inning, as
San Marin used a hit batsman, an infield hit and a wild pitch to
plate a pair of runs for a 2-0 lead. The Mustangs struck again in
the third on a two-run double to grab a 4-0 advantage.
With Lewis on cruise control, San Marin put the game out of
reach with a five-run fifth and a decisive 9-0 lead. Devon
Dericco¹s line drive up the middle to lead off the seventh,
followed by a one-out knock from Andrews loaded the bases in the
Healdsburg seventh before Lewis slammed the door to preserve the
shutout.
³We got behind by four runs early and it took away some of the
things we do well ‹ bunt slap-hit and steal,² noted Osborn. ³San
Marin was a better team than their record would indicate.²
A major key to the team¹s success was Peavler, who was one of
the top hurlers in the league when she was on. The big surprise for
the team was its success swinging the bats, with the Lady Hounds
ending the season with a solid team batting average of .280.
³This was a great group of kids that worked hard, and it showed
on the field,² noted Osborn.
³That willingness to work hard in practice and use those things
in games was what made us successful. The girls never complained or
bickered with each other, even when things weren¹t going well.²
Healdsburg will return all but five players from this year¹s
squad, with most taking part on a Mark West summer league team,
coached by Osborn. Healdsburg will play a 10-game schedule on the
summer circuit, with most games being played at Maria Carrillo,
Piner or Healdsburg High Schools. The ladies will open the Mark
West League at HHS tomorrow (June 2) at 6 p.m.
