After bouncing back from their first loss of the season, the El Camino College Warriors softball team was handed a second loss in their 12th game of the season.
Looking to regain their winning streak, the Warriors, with a 10-1 record, hosted the Long Beach City College Vikings, with a 12–2 record, in a conference match at home on Friday, Feb. 28.
“I feel like we came in knowing that we were going to go against a very tough team,” Ramirez said.
Warriors pitcher Lexi Ramirez started the game by striking out the first Viking batter, outfielder May Ramirez, and allowing just one hit in the first inning from the Vikings’ first baseman Anaya Togia. The inning ended with Togia left on base.
At the bottom of the first inning, Warriors infielder Lilly Lewis singled off of Vikings pitcher Hailey Harris, but was unable to score.
“We’re just excited to continue to be able to compete. We’ve got a great girl [Harris] in the circle,” Vikings softball coach Megan Martinez said. “We’ve got a great pitching staff, … great hitters, 1–22, and we know what our entire team is capable of.”
The Warriors managed to get on base again in the second inning when infielder Destiny Padilla bunted to Vikings catcher Zara Mineo.
Mineo threw the ball to Togia for the out, but Padilla was safe by a step.
In the third inning, Lexi Ramirez struck out Vikings’ May Ramirez again, recording the third out of the inning.
The Warriors went up to bat with infielder Emma Garcia hitting a foul ball before reaching first base.
First baseman Savanna Kastigar then had two strikes and a foul before hitting a single, and Lewis hit a foul ball before getting on base.
With the bases loaded, Warriors softball coach Jessica Rapoza called a timeout. Lexi Ramirez and shortstop Emily Gamboa went up to bat, but both were unable to land a hit, leaving Garcia, Kastigar, and Lewis stranded on base.
“We did all that we could, and I just know that for the next game, next time we play against [the Vikings], we’re going to have no fear, and we’ll be ready to win,” Ramirez said.
Both teams were scoreless through the fourth inning. In the fifth inning, Vikings catcher Itzel Diaz hit an RBI for May Ramirez, advancing outfielder Sienna Rievley to second base, and infielder Jaela Ruiz scored a run. The Vikings led 1–0.
“Hitting an RBI feels amazing, and honestly, I feel honored just to be playing on this team, and I’m glad I have the support from my teammates and my coaches,” Diaz said.
The Vikings held their 1–0 through the final inning. The Warriors were unable to get on base in the sixth and seventh innings.
“A lot of our hard hits got caught or went right to people, so it’s just an unlucky day where the ball didn’t bounce in our favor,” Rapoza said.
The Warriors, with a 10–2 record, will face the Rio Hondo College Roadrunners, with a 3–13 record, at the Rio Hondo College Softball Field on Tuesday, March 4.
