The San Diego Mesa College softball team rolled past Saddleback College, 8-4, in a non-conference match for their fourth consecutive win on Monday.
The Olympians improve to a 7-3 overall record and is currently second in the conference standings behind Palomar College.
"We are starting to finish out games," states head coach Jaclyn Guidi. "Overall, we could be 9-1 but 7-3 is a good start."
Solid hitting, strong pitching, and stellar defense are all contributing factors for the current win streak. Despite the absence of sophomore Annemarie Fischer, who was slated as the top pitcher in the rotation, pitchers Jessica Schoen, Karli Ramsey, and Christiana Ferjean have stepped up to lead the team.
A pleasant surprise has been the production of freshman Adrianna Dorame (Otay Ranch HS). Dorame is currently hitting .318 with 5 RBI's and 2 home runs.
"Adrianna has improved every day since joining the program," states Guidi. "She has so much passion for the game that coaching her is easy. She hit a home run on Monday that travelled 240 feet reaching the tennis courts. It's not just her power behind the plate. She has also played well at first base. Her 4 picks last week helped us save the game.
The Olympians will play back to back doubleheaders starting with College of the Canyons on Saturday, February 16. The team will then host Cerro Coso on Monday, February 18th at Mesa College.
Despite the win streak, the coaching staff knows they can do better. Guidi continues to emphasize the importance of being prepared before, during, and after a match. Furthermore, the team is encouraged to find time for the video room to watch their mechanics.
"We need to take advantage of the favorable pitch counts that we are getting," explains Guidi. "If we focus on what we are capable of, and not leave our teammates stranded, we'll do some good things this year. There are times when I feel that some of our players have not been fully prepared. In a seven-inning game, you might only get one play to make, so we better be ready to execute."