By Pete Borello
Tournament boosts Eagles’ confidence
Prep Softball Report
os Altos High softball coach Bernie Quintero said he’s seen a big difference in his players since they returned from last month’s Reno Tournament.
“They’re more aggressive; they’re running and swinging the bat more and not looking at strike 1, strike 2 and strike 3,” he said. “They’re playing with more confidence.”
Although the Eagles didn’t wow Nevada with their performance - they went 1-3 at the tournament - Quintero said they did prove they’re capable of playing with top-notch teams.
“We faced some tough competition, but we stuck in there,” the coach said of the tourney, held April 12-15. “The kids know they played tougher teams in Reno than they’re playing here.”
Quintero hopes this new-found confidence can help catapult Los Altos into the Central Coast Section playoffs. The Eagles would need to finish among the top three teams in the SCVAL De Anza Division to earn an automatic playoff berth, which Quintero estimates would take at least seven wins.
Los Altos moved closer to that goal last week in its first two games since returning from Reno. The Eagles beat both Monta Vista and Los Gatos, upping their league mark to 4-6.
The Eagles edged Monta Vista 6-4 in eight innings on April 25. Freshman pitcher Alyce Jorgensen wasn’t at her best, Quintero said, but she and her teammates came through on offense with some timely hits.
With the game tied at 4 in the eighth, Kristin Herrera doubled to start the Eagles’ rally. Jorgensen then laid down a bunt that the Monta Vista fielder overthrew to first base, which allowed Herrera to score and put Jorgensen at third. Jorgensen scored moments later, getting a good jump on pinch hitter Jessica Cruz’s grounder to third base.
For the game, Herrera had two doubles in three hits and her younger sister Jennifer Herrera slugged a home run. Jorgensen also had a double.
On Friday, Los Altos shut out visiting Los Gatos 4-0.
Jorgensen (6-6) picked up the win, allowing just two hits. The Eagles got their four runs on only five hits, including a triple by Jennifer Herrera.
Los Altos (9-11 overall) has four league games remaining, starting with a 4 p.m. contest today at first-place Milpitas.
Other local action
St. Francis (6-4, 12-11) crept within a game of Milpitas (7-3, 14-8) in the De Anza Division standings with a 6-4 home win over the Trojans last Friday.
Mei Sausa (1-3) picked up the win for the Lancers, allowing just three hits. St. Francis’ eight hits came from eight players.
Mountain View (6-5, 11-11) remained in the hunt for a playoff spot by winning two of its three De Anza Division games last week. The Spartans beat Milpitas 7-5 and Santa Clara 3-0, then fell 3-0 to visiting Monta Vista on Friday.
The Spartans wasted a nine-hit effort against Monta Vista, including two each by Elise Barrios, Kathleen Benetua, Siobhan Hyde and Kerry Quistad.
In the SCVAL El Camino Division, Homestead (7-1, 10-4) remained a game back of first-place Lynbrook with a 12-1 rout of Palo Alto on Thursday. Starter Karen Purdy earned the win and Ashley Suth had three hits.
