‘Comeback Kids’ eyeing deep run in postseason
The Lady Jaguars are the comeback kids of the softball world, finishing up the North Bay League schedule with stunning victories over Montgomery and Casa Grande.
Windsor has become a connoisseur of late-game heroics, with its last three wins coming in come-from-behind fashion to end the league regular season campaign on a three game win streak and in sole possession of second place.
“I’ve been telling the girls to be relentless and never give up,” WHS coach Morgan Rasmason said. “We’ve been hitting the ball well and just about every returning player has a higher batting average this year.”
The Jags (11-3, 17-6-1) will quickly turn their attention to the NBL playoff tournament, which includes the top four finishing teams. At press time number-two seeded Windsor was preparing to host third-seeded Montgomery in the tourney opener on Tuesday, May 16 (4 p.m.). Should the Jags win, they’ll advance to face the survivor of #1 Rancho Cotate versus #4 Ukiah on Thursday, May 18 at Santa Rosa Junior College (4 p.m.).
Jags stun foes
Windsor played host to Montgomery on Senior Day on May 9, honoring graduating veterans Maddie Pellman, Ashley Golding and Shay Mendoza before taking the field.
The teams battled to a 1-1 deadlock after three before the visitors took charge in the fourth with four runs to grab a seemingly comfortable 5-1 lead. Trailing 6-1 in the sixth, the Jags exploded for six runs in the bottom of the frame, just enough to lift them to an eventual 7-6 win.
Sophomore Sydney Hage (7 IP, 12 hits, 0 ERs, 8 Ks) picked up the victory, while leading hitters were Gracie Hernandez (2 for 3, 2B, run), Camille Kahnberg (2 for 3, run, RBI), Hage (1 for 3), Kayla Scott (1 for 4, 2 RBIs), Caitlyn Murphy (1 for 3, 2B, run, 2 RBIs) and Alyssa De Casas (1 for 3, run).
The ladies took the field at Casa Grande for the NBL finale, again spotting their opponent a 2-0 lead after three full. The Jags scratched for an unearned run in the fourth and then drew even in the sixth with an RBI single from Anis Acevedo. Windsor took a brief 3-2 lead on a run scoring knock from Hage in the seventh, but the Gauchos clawed back to send it to extra innings knotted a 3-3. The Jags ended the madeness in the eighth inning when Gehrett tripled and scored on an RBI single from Camille Kahnberg for a 4-3 win.
Hage (8 IP, 5 hits, 0 ERs, 11 Ks) earned the victory, while top batters included Hernandez (2 for 4), Averie Gehrett (2 for 4, 3B, 2 runs), Kayla Scott (2 for 4, run), Hage (2 for 4, RBI), Maddie Pellman (1 for 3, RBI), Acevedo (1 for 4, RBI) and Kahnberg (1 for 5, RBI).
