PLAYOFF HOPES ENDED FOR MARAUDER SOFTBALL TEAM
| TOP 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Antelope Valley
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 3 |
|
Bakersfield
|
0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 3 |
| BOT 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Antelope Valley
|
0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 13 | 1 |
|
Bakersfield
|
1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 11 | 4 |
Photo by Bruce Jacobsen
BAKERSFIELD - All the Marauder softball team needed to do was beat Bakersfield College and it would get in to the playoffs.
Or at least one to give themselves a chance.
Neither happened.
AVC went from the potential of going into the playoffs as the conference's No. 2 representative to fourth place and out of the playoff picture.
The Marauders dropped a pair of games to the Renegades, 5-3, and 9-8, ruining any chances of post season play.
Despite a pair of home runs from Maria Acosta (one in each game) and another from Angelica Ochoa, Marauders couldn't overcome deficits to gain the victories. AVC hit three more home runs giving them a state leading total of 45.
"The girls battled today like they have all season, but unfortunately came up short," AVC head coach Cindy Vargas said. "They gave everything they had and never quit; that's all coach can ask for."
With both losses, Bakersfield goes in as the No. 2 seed representing the Western States Conference-Blue Division. Citrus College finished third.
As the teams battled back and forth in the second game, the Marauders (19-20, 12-7) took an 8-7 lead entering the bottom of the sixth inning. The Renegades (18-21-1, 14-7) rallied and scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, with two outs and runners on second and third, leadoff batter Alexis Rodriguez (3-for-4) singled home the winning run for the Renegades.
AVC's best defense this season has been its offense. Yet even pounding out 13 hits and eight runs, the Marauders couldn't keep Bakersfield, a team they destroyed earlier this season at home, off the board. The Renegades benefitted from 19 hits and 10 walks combined in both games.
The Marauders rank in the top 10 in nearly every offensive category, including hits, doubles and batting average. However, AVC pitching allowed a total of 206 walks this season, ranking it third from the bottom in walks given up. Only Monterey College and Victor Valley College allowed more.