Eagles get caught in down cycle

Steve Virgen

Estancia High softball coach Marc Rodig said it has been an

up-and-down season for his Eagles, thus far. Wednesday was the

downside of that assessment, as Golden West League visitor Ocean View

came up with its highest-scoring output of the season in its 11-3

victory.

“I don’t know what team I’m going to get from game to game,” Rodig

said of his squad which dropped to 9-5, 2-4 in league. “I know we’re

capable of much better ball than today. [The Seahawks] came out here

ready to play. I don’t think we were as intense as we should have

been and they jumped all over that.”

The Seahawks built a 6-0 lead, scoring three runs in each of the

first two innings. Jennifer Shafizadeh smacked a two-run home run to

right-center field to start the scoring for Ocean View (6-11, 3-3).

Coach Kathy Ponce’s Seahawks collected six of their 12 hits in the

first two innings and never showed any effects of having a week off

for spring break.

“Today was an unusual day for us,” Ponce said. “We usually score

about three runs a game. We started off this season sluggish, but

we’re peaking now.”

The Eagles showed sings of life when they scored twice in the

second to cut the deficit to 6-2. Freshman Chelsea Kaplan opened the

frame by reaching on an error and sophomore Hillary Larsen followed

with a base hit. Then, with two out, senior Laura Morton stepped up

with a two-run double.

“I still think we’re always the underdog,” Rodig said. “We now

have to get back to the basics and fundamental play. I won’t use that

week off as an excuse.”

Though his team underachieved, Rodig also noticed the talent and

offensive power displayed by the Seahawks.

“I think their record is deceiving,” Rodig said. “They are

definitely better than their record indicates.”

Estancia scored its final run in the fourth when courtesy runner

Be Diep, a freshman, crossed the plate after senior Karleen Curran’s

fly ball to right field produced an error.

Rodig also said Estancia pitcher Muriel Mason, who took the loss

after her complete-game effort, has played with or against the

majority of the players from Ocean View during offseason club

competition.

*--*

Golden West League

Ocean View 11, Estancia 3

Score by Innings

O. View 330 113 0 -- 11 12 5

Estancia 020 100 0 -- 3 4 4

Isfeld, Cruz (7) and McLaughlan; Mason

and Acosta. W -- Isfeld. L -- Mason, 5-4.

2B -- Baxter (OV), Morton (E). HR --

Shafizadeh (OV)

*--*