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Cervera's Blast Powers TC to Doubleheader Split
by Dennis McCall
Taft Midway Driller
March 4, 2010
Leadoff batter Joya Cervera slugged a three-run homer during a five-run rally Tuesday that helped Taft College to a Central Valley Conference softball doubleheader split with Fresno City College. The five runs in the second inning of the first game would be all the scoring the Cougars would get on the day, but it was enough for a 5-4 victory. Two Fresno pitchers combined for a five-inning no-hitter in the second game the Rams won 9-0. Only three of the runs were earned because the Cougars committed six errors. The game was shortened by the eight-run rule. The split leaves the Cougars with a 1-2 conference record and 6-10-1 overall. Fresno left town at 1-1 and 8-3.
“I think we’re on the right track,” said head coach Stefanie Walsh. “We’re capable of putting up a lot of runs. It’s just a matter of working through our youth.” Walsh has but two sophomores on the roster. “If we keep working on the things that we need to grow, it should pay off for us,” she said. Fresno brought a depth-rich veteran team with solid pitching. The Cougars made the most of the four hits they got in the first game.
The two sophomores – catcher Monica Lovato and center fielder Mahela Puley drew back-to-back one-out walks and Baylee Day was hit by a pitch to load the bases. No. 9 hitter Allie Carrigan poked a double to left to get two runs in and tie the game. Shortstop Cervera belted the first pitch she saw over the left field fence to give the Cougars a 5-2 lead. Fresno countered with a run in the fourth and one in the sixth and had runners at first and third with one out before the Cougar defense closed the door.
First baseman Courtney Nyetrae had the other two Cougar hits – both singles. Mersades Cruz worked the first three and a third innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits, striking out one and walking one. Carrigan finished up, giving up a run on six hits, striking out one and walking one. She started the second game, but was roughed up for seven runs in the first two innings. Carrigan was replaced by Megan Smith, who pitched the final three innings. She gave up two runs on three hits, struck out one and walked three. TC’s will host College of the Sequoias next Thursday at 2 p.m. after drawing a conference bye on Tuesday. COS leads the conference at 3-0 and its 16-5 overall. The Giants swept a twin bill from West Hills, 9-1 and 12-6.
Taft Sweeps Hancock in Softball Doubleheader
The Bakersfield Californian
February 23, 2010
Kelcey Viliamu had one home run in the first game and two in the second as Taft College swept a doubleheader at Allan Hancock 9-1 and 12-2. Winner Mersades Cruz pitched 41/3 innings in the opener, Allie Carrigan pitched a complete game for the second win. The Cougars (5-4-1) totaled 29 hits in the two games. Taft will open conference play on Thursday at Porterville.
Cougars Win 3 of 4 Bay Area Softball Games
By Dennis McCall
Taft Midway Driller
February 22, 2010
After getting off to a rocky start, the Taft College softball team bounced back last week with a road trip to the Bay Area that saw the Cougars win three of four games. The Cougars split a doubleheader with Contra Costa before sweeping a pair from Marin College. It was the team’s first taste of success after starting the season 0-5-1.
The Cougars then dropped an 8-0 decision Saturday at Bakersfield College to give them a 3-6-1 record heading into today’s doubleheader against Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria. “We played very well,” head coach Stefanie Walsh said of the Bay Area trip. “It’s something we can build on.”
The Cougars swept Marin, scoring three runs in their last at-bat to win the first game 5-3 before pounding 20 hits in a 13-1 five-inning romp in the second. Leadoff hitter Joya Cervera went 6-for-7 in the series, scoring three times and driving in two runs. Courtney Nyetrae was 6-for-8 with an RBI and scored four times, Megan Smith was 4-for-7 with three runs, Amber Si’u 4-for-6 with two runs and two batted in, Mahela Punley was 4-for-8 with two RBIs and Allie Carrigan 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Cruz got the win in the first game, allowing three earned runs on four hits, striking out four and walking three. Carrigan tossed a two-hitter in the second game, striking out two and walking four. She pitched a five-inning no-hitter the day before when the Cougars blanked Contra Cost 8-0 before falling 4-3 in the second game.
Carrigan fanned six and did not walk a batter. The Cougars had six hits and took advantage of seven walks. Carrigan also was the hitting star, going 3-for-3, scoring twice and driving in two runs. Si’u bashed a bases loaded triple in the first inning when the Cougars jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Carrigan took the loss in the second game, allowing four runs on six hits, striking out three and walking two. Smith tripled while Carrigan and Punley doubled for the Cougars. Cervera and Si’u had singles. The Cougars dug a big hole early against Bakersfield, giving up five runs (4 unearned) in the second inning. TC managed just three hits – singles by Smith and Isela Puenta and a ringing double by Nyetrae that narrowly missed being a homerun. The Cougars will open Central Valley Conference play Thursday with a trip to Porterville College and will host San Joaquin Delta College Saturday in a non-conference doubleheader that begins at 11 a.m.
Mixed Results for TC in Softball Opener
By Dennis McCall
Taft Midway Driller
February 4, 2010
Taft College got mixed results in its softball opener Tuesday against the visiting Hartnell College Panthers. The Cougars got off to a shaky start, giving up six runs on 10 hits in the first two innings before dropping the opener of a doubleheader, 7-0. But the second game was different with the teams struggling to a 5-all tie after eight innings. The game was called on account of darkness. “It was actually a pretty good day for us even though we didn’t get the result we wanted,” said head coach Stefanie Walsh. “We have a really young team that found some success on the field as they got a taste of college level competition.”
After the shaky first-game start the Cougars settled down and managed to handcuff the Panthers the rest of the way thanks to some solid pitching from Mersades Cruz. “Mersades did a phenomenal job in a tough situation,” Walsh said. She opened the second game, then gave way to Allie Carrigan, who started the first game. “It was the first time Allie was in a position to throw hard since injuring her toe,” Walsh said. “She struggled in the first game, but came back with a strong performance in the second game. She really turned things around.” What made Walsh even happier with Carrigan’s performance was the line drive homerun she jacked over the left field fence in the second game. It could have been a game-winner. The Cougars had a runner picked off first base just before Carrigan’s bash. “In high school she rarely got to bat,” Walsh said. “She’s our No. 9 hitter.”
In the opening game the Cougars managed only one hit off Cat Pierah, a second-inning double by Courtney Nyetrae. Kelcey Viliamu tripled down the right field line to drive in the run that tied the game at 5, but was thrown out at the plate trying to stretch the hit into an inside-the-park homer. Nyetrae had an RBI triple that drove in shortstop Amber Si’u, who had two singles on the day. Megan Smith also had two singles.
The Cougars don’t play until next Thursday when they travel to Los Altos Hills for a doubleheader with Foothill College. Walsh plans to use that time to shore up weaknesses that were evident against Hartnell. “We know what we need to work on. Those games gave us an opportunity to see the negative things. I’m really encouraged.” The tie was the first one Walsh has been involved with in 24 years as a player and coach. “I really don’t know how to feel about it.” She does know how she’ll feel when the Cougars get their first win.
Taft College Softball Team has More Numbers and Talent
By Dennis McCall
Taft Midway Driller
February 1, 2010
Lack of numbers has been a problem for the Taft College softball team in the past, but that shortcoming shouldn’t impact the Cougars this year. Head coach Stefanie Walsh is working with 14 players with another expressing interest in joining heading into today’s season opener when Hartnell College comes to town for a doubleheader scheduled to get underway at 1 p.m. The only rub is that two of her players are redshirting – one because of an injury and one because she wasn’t enrolled in school during the fall semester and is therefore ineligible.
Despite having only two sophomores, Walsh is quite pleased with this year’s edition. “I think we’re going to be much better than we were last year,” she said. “We have a very nice mixtures of girls. This group has really good character, work ethic and a passion for the game. “They step on the field every day with one goal in mind, and that is to be better today than they were yesterday.” Her returnees are second team All-Central Valley Conference catcher Monica Lovato and outfielder Mahela Punley, who has been away from the sport for two years after playing in 2007. “Mahela hasn’t missed a beat, though,” Walsh said. “She has been impressive.”
Walsh will rely heavily on her newcomers. That includes pitchers Allie Carrigan from Carlsbad, N.M. and Mersades Cruz, who lives in Taft but played her high school ball at Maricopa. They compliment each other, Walsh said. “Mesades’ bread and butter is her rise ball,” she said. “That has been very effective for her. We’ve added a drop ball this year. “Allie throws very hard. Her best pitches are her down pitches. She has been very impressive. It’s been really fun to watch her play.” Carrigan has been hampered by a toe injury on the foot she uses to push off the rubber, but is expected to see action in the opener.
Infield candidates include Joya Cervera from Wasco, Amber Si’u from Hono Ka’a, Hawaii, Kelcey Viliamu from Waipahu, Hawaii, and Megan Smith from Phoenix.
Cervera played third base for the Tigers last season but is switching. “She’ll be a middle infielder for us,” Walsh said. “She’s handled the change very well. She is a great athlete, works hard and wants to get better.” Si’u will play shortstop. “She’s going to be a solid go-to player,” Walsh said. “She’s always upbeat. She’s been a great asset.”
“Kelcey is a good hitter,” Walsh said. “She’ll definitely be in the heart of the lineup.” Smith will play on the infield and will serve as the team’s third pitcher. Five candidates are vying for the starting outfield spots – Punley, Isela Puente from Shafter, Marie Irwing from Bakersfield, Courtney Nyetrae from Phoenix and Jessica Sanchez from Palmdale. Nyetrae, who also will back up Lovato behind the plate, has been impressive. “She is definitely exciting to watch with her defense, and even more exciting with her offense,” Walsh said. “In fall practice against Bakersfield College, she hit four homers, including a grand slam.” Sanchez came out just this week. She was the goalkeeper on the Cougar women’s soccer team.
Walsh has a new assistant coach and another who is helping once or twice a week with the pitchers. Ryan Wigley, who offers private lessons in Bakersfield, has worked with several Division I programs, Walsh said. “He’s really a nice addition to our staff,” she said. Helping with the pitchers is Aja Sheuber, who played at Merced College and Fresno State University, one of the top programs in the nation. “She was an all-conference pitcher at Merced and was an outfielder and a DH (designated hitter) at Fresno State,” Walsh said. “She has been a tremendous help to our pitchers.” After the home opener, the Cougars will play four doubleheaders and two single games on the road, including a Feb. 20 date at Bakersfield College.
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