After two weeks of spring break, the girls’ softball team was back at it against the Buckingham Charter Knights on Tuesday, April 11.
Coach Scott Galati praised his team despite their lack of practice over the break.
“We had a great practice Monday, and I think it translated directly into some great plays during the game,” Galati said. “It is always tough to get back in the groove, and I think one more practice will help us get back our swings and be more productive at the plate.”
The team was rusty, losing the game 4-21. Although it was a loss, the team showed a lot of improvement from their first two games.
They matched their runs for the season, previously having only four total runs. The team also led for the first three innings of the game and lasted the full seven innings, a first this season.
In fact, this game had many firsts in it, according to Galati.
“We held Buckingham, who is in first place in our division, to less than one run in the first inning (and did it again in two other innings),” Galati said.
“(Sophomore) Gabi (Alvarado) turned her first double play. (Senior) Avi (Bhullar) caught a fly ball and hard hit line drive in left field.”
“It was an awesome game,” Bhullar said. “We lost, but it was the best game we had ever played.”
Although the game was promising, it came with many challenges.
“We needed two more runs at the bottom of the fifth (to continue the game), and we came out and did it.” Bhullar said.
In addition, the team was without three players, leaving them with only eight, so they had to pick up sophomore Lia Kaufman. Despite not having much experience playing softball, she played “amazingly well,” according to Galati.
The team was also forced to move some players out of position to fill in for the missing players. Senior Kayleigh Valverde played catcher for the last two innings of the game, another first.
“Playing catcher was really hard because it was a new position for me,” Valverde said. “But it was worth it to help out my teammates and give them a break.”
In addition to Valverde, sophomore Sophie Naylor was moved to first base.
“Sophie stepped up and played first base extremely well, even though she has never played that position,” Galati said.
The Cavs will face off against the Sacramento Adventist Academy Capitals on Thursday, April 13, at Howe Park at 3:30 p.m.
—By Bryce Longoria
