Central Catholic is dominant against Manteca, learning along the way
It’s always better to learn lessons in a win than in a loss.
That was how Central Catholic softball coach Sam Nichols described his thoughts after the Raiders’ 7-1 win over Manteca. The victory moved the team to 9-3 overall and kept them perfect in Valley Oak League play at 5-0.
They allowed just one run in the opening inning, but after that played six frames of dominant softball, allowing just three hits and minimal baserunners. On offense, they scored six of their seven runs in the middle innings, putting up four and two in the second and fourth innings, while holding the Buffaloes scoreless.
But a great team is never satisfied and that’s what the Raiders want to be. The program has been to four straight section title games in different divisions and has a NorCal title in that span. Though the season is still relatively young, the end goal is always on the head coach’s mind.
It will take time to get there as the team is learning to play with each other and players are asked to play different roles. They graduated seniors with multiple years of varsity experience who accounted for a lot of offensive production. This season some are at new positions and others are playing the most innings of their varsity careers.
“It is a lot of learning,” Nichols said. “It’s more patience on my part. There is more conversations and not expecting them to know everything. There’s a lot more coaching going on because we understand we’ve got young people still learning.”
Very few adjustments made this season are more obvious than the No. 1 batter in the Raiders’ lineup.
The leadoff batter has been somewhat of a revolving door this season as Nichols tries to find someone to replace current UNLV freshman Taryn Calderon, who held the spot for two seasons.
Recently,the Raiders have gone with junior Ceriah Fitzhugh and she has fit the mold.
The outfielder did it all on offense, leading off the bottom of the first inning with a single, getting hit by a pitch, drawing a walk, scoring two runs and stealing a single-game career high four bases.
That’s exactly what Nichols says he is looking for in a leadoff hitter.
“Someone that can run and when the lineup turns over, they’re able to swing the bat too,” Nichols said of what he thinks makes a good leadoff batter. “They can also bunt and play the small game and they can steal bases for us.”
Fitzhugh then turned around and made an impact defensively. She ran to chase down a ball in foul territory but narrowly missed as she collided with the left field fence but did not show any ill effects. She caught a flyout and hustled to chase down another ball in foul territory to retire the next two batters.
In her first game hitting at the top of the order, she recorded two hits, stole two bases and scored two runs in a 7-0 win over Sierra.
“My mindset is just being prepared for anything,” Fitzhugh said. “What coach says, I do. It just takes practice. After practice, I go home and practice more, just to get extra reps in. I don’t make the moment bigger than it needs to be. My job is to always try to find a way to get on. Whether it’s getting hit by a pitch, getting walked or having a hit.”
Nichols praised the junior’s ability to quickly adjust; “She looks so comfortable and she understands we need her to step up and she’s taking the role and running with it.”
The batter at the top of the Raiders’ order was just one of the team’s offensive changes. University of Florida commit Samantha Nichols, who started as the leadoff hitter after joining the team from basketball, moved to third and senior Carsyn Lomeli-Garcia went from hitting in the bottom third of the order last year to No. 2 this season.
Tuesday’s showdown featured two top 15 teams in the Sac-Joaquin Section. The Buffaloes entered as the No. 7 team in the section and the Raiders No. 13. But after a four-run second inning, the game was not in doubt. It was Central Catholic’s day.
Manteca scored its only run in the first, but the Raiders immediately answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. After holding Manteca scoreless in the second, Amaya Gustavis singled and then scored when a Stephanie Garcia bunt single turned into a trip around the bases after Buffaloes throwing and fielding errors. Fitzhugh was hit by a pitch and Lomeli-Garcia sacrificed but reached on an error. Both came around to score later in the inning. The Raiders added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth.
A University of the Pacific pitching commit, Garcia tallied her seventh appearance this season and picked up her second straight complete game victory. She did not allow an earned run and struck out four.
The defense played well behind her as the Raiders gave up just four hits. After giving up that early run, they held Manteca scoreless.
The Raiders had two fielding errors Tuesday and one led to the Buffaloes’ only run. They also had baserunning mistakes, all things the team will work to iron out as the season progresses. The Raiders do not want to be in their final form early in league play, they hope to play their best when the playoffs hit.
But they will be happy with the win.
“It feels really good to keep getting league wins,” Fitzhugh said. “I hope that we can continue to stay undefeated and continue to play our game.”
They travel to Pioneer Friday then play a pair of VOL games before traveling to the Michelle Carew Tournament at Canyon High School where their first contest is against Mater Dei Catholic of Chula Vista.
