Roelling, Ramirez lead Central Catholic past Oakdale to earn spot in section championship
Randi Roelling and Noelany Ramirez knew the Sac-Joaquin Section semifinals game against Oakdale could have been the last time.
The last time the team suited up this season, Ramirez’ last time playing high school softball and the last time the Raiders’ dynamic duo got to play together for the rest of their careers.
The Valley Oak League opponents went into the rubber match with a spot in the Division III championship on the line and the Raiders responded, getting a 15 strikeout complete game effort from Roelling and scoring three runs in the second inning to win the game 3-1.
They will play Vista del Lago, which upset Vanden in the other semifinal matchup, on Saturday at 11 a.m. at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton.
“It was a lot leading up to this,” Roelling said. “Knowing it was a rubber match and also knowing that it could have been my last time pitching to her (catcher Ramirez). Knowing that it’s not, I just looked at her every time for everything and it gets me pumped up. I look straight at her. We’re always just together.”
Not only has the battery helped lead the Raiders to a 26-3-1 record, they are best friends off the field and on it.
“Randi is one of my best friends,” Ramirez said. “We always had that connection. … You wouldn’t believe we’re best friends on the field. But we have that bond.”
Tuesday’s matchup between the Raiders and Mustangs proved to be like the first two meetings, pitchers duels.
Oakdale sophomore Reagan Everett pitched most of the game in relief of older sister Delainey after the Raiders scored three runs.
Oakdale won the first matchup 1-0 and Central Catholic won the second 2-1. Going into the third meeting, Raiders coach Sam Nichols knew there were no surprises. When game planning, they focused on being ready mentally.
“We had to prepare for emotions because of the crowd, the girls have never played in front of all these people,” Nichols said. “We talked early on about emotions and just staying locked in. These people are here because they love you and respect what you do. And so go out there and just play, it’s softball at the end of the day.”
There was also an on-field game plan.
“The physical part of it was just staying disciplined, because what we did last time worked,” Nichols said. “When we face Delainey, we have nothing but respect for her but our game plan was to be aggressive. We wanted to go win the game. We can’t sit back and hope for five doubles in a row. It’s not going to happen.”
The Raiders did all of their damage in the bottom of the second inning. Reagan Dickens got the scoring started with a suicide squeeze with runners on second and third, bringing in the first run of the game.
“Yesterday, we actually practiced it,” Dickens said. “So, when he called it, I was like, ‘OK, let’s go,’ and I just knew I had to be confident in myself … and once I got it down, the energy picked up from there.”
Oakdale answered with one run in the top of the third as it attempted to cut into the Raiders’ lead. Amanda Bricker doubled to right field in a sixth inning that saw the Mustangs put two runners in scoring position with no outs. With the Mustangs’ momentum building, Ramirez and Roelling stayed calm and worked through the potential danger together, producing a pop up and two strikeouts on three straight at bats to get out of the jam.
“One thing that she (Roelling) does a great job of is just keeping her cool and not showing so much of her emotions to the other team.” Ramirez said.
Roelling had praise for her catcher as well: “She’ll come up and be like, ‘We’re fine. Just get it done.’ I know she’s going crazy in her mind. I’m going nuts. But like we’re not showing it to each other. It’s like, ‘Oh, she’s cool? I’m cool.’”
Oakdale threatened again in the seventh inning when a Kylie Valente single nearly sparked a two-out rally.
“That’s a good hitting team,” Nichols said. “They’ve put up 10-plus runs in the last two games. We didn’t feel like three runs was enough, and as you can see, they had (runners on second and third) with no outs. There wasn’t a point in the game where we felt comfortable. We were just trying to grind it out and just finish the game.”
The Raiders advance to their first Division III final in school history, and because the section champion and runner up advance to the Northern California playoffs, they will play at least two more games this season.
“We’re excited for the next two games and we’re ready to push through and get it done.” Ramirez said.
This story was originally published May 25, 2022 at 11:52 AM.
