Softball runs the show as conference begins

COD Athletics

COD Softball celebrates after their victory against San Diego City on Jan. 31.

Julio Camacho, Sports Editor

As the spring sports season continues, the Roadrunners softball team has been defying all odds and continues to win.

Coming off their 2019 season with an overall of 19-16 and recovering from their negative performance the previous year with an overall of 9-24, this new softball team is breaking walls and beginning to show their potential.

Establishing their presence early on, their first conference game of this year resulted in a 19-0 mercy rule against the San Diego City Knights. With the first game resulting in such a dominant fashion, the Roadrunners went on a 10 game win streak. Up until their away game against the Ventura College Pirates, which resulted in an 8-0 loss.

After the loss, the Roadrunners regrouped and were able to go on a three-game win streak. Unfortunately for the team, the next three games resulted in a trio of losses, making them become inconsistent midway through their season.

But most of the time, when the Roadrunners win, they do it in an exceedingly ruling way. Having wins where the runs are double digits, indicating that the team is controlling the momentum of the game.

When a team is winning against their opposition like this, it leads to smooth playoffs.

Sophomore pitcher Lauren Robinson is coming off the mound with a 3.03 earned run average and 39 hits midway through this season. Her academic prowess is also there as well, returning as an academic all American, Robinson has worked to get where she is at, stating, ” During the offseason, I was going to the batting cages, pitching three times a week, and trying to keep my endurance up. I want my fielding, pitching, and hitting to get better.”

Robinson has shown improvement in all these. Comparing her past hitting, she raised .064 going from .536 to a .600 batting average. In regards of her pitching, she has brought down her ERA from a 4.47 to a 3.03.

Earned run average or ERA, “represents the number of earned runs a pitcher allows per nine innings,” according to the MBL website. Accomplishing a low ERA is no simple task and Robinson put the work in and it has shown through her performance this season.

Another player on the team that has shown high potential and domination is freshman shortstop Davina Hines.

Hines has a batting average of .619 and a fielding percentage of .845, she too has made her mark in the conference. Hines knows the potential her team and she has, stating, “I feel like we have a really good connection. Our chemistry and respect for our potential make us work harder to achieve the success we desire.”

With a current record of 16-7, the team has shown their hard work and passion in the field.

The Roadrunners’ next game will be on March 13 against Victor Valley.

For more on the Softball team and other COD sports visit www.thechaparral.net.