Chaffey softball team falls to hot Antelope Valley, 11-3

By Michelle Gardner

Staff Writer

RANCHO CUCAMONGA - Earlier in the season the Chaffey college softball team threw a scare into perennial playoff contender Antelope Valley, losing by only one run.

The teams squared off again in a Foothill Conference finale on Friday and this time it wasn’t close as the Marauders, ranked No. 6 in the state, trounced the host Panthers 11-3 for their 62nd straight conference win. It also capped off a fourth straight conference title.

“I think the last time we played them they took us lightly and we put a scare into them,” Chaffey coach Jimmy Rodriguez said. “They told us they would be ready the next time and they were.”

Antelope Valley (38-6, 14-0) was never threatened thanks to the efforts of sophomore pitcher Gracie Perez. Perez, the conference pitcher of the year in 2006, sat out last year. She has returned to form in dominant fashion, striking out 14 batters, 13 of them in the first five innings.

Jessica De Luna was the only Chaffey hitter to reach base in the first four innings, doing so on a walk in the second.

The Marauders led 4-0, highlighted by a two-run home run from Felecia Shepler in the fifth.
Chaffey finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of that frame with Marissa Lavendera reaching on an error and scoring on a double by Krystal Gonzalez.

Antelope blew the game open in the last two innings, scoring three in the sixth and four in the seventh with four errors paving the way.

Chaffey (26-17, 11-3) made it closer, getting two in the seventh with Gonzalez again providing the big blow. The freshman out of Kaiser High School smacked a Perez offering over the left center field fence for her second home run of the season. It followed a double by Katelyn Outzen.

“She has a very good rise ball and it was really working today,” said Gonzalez, who struck out in the third. “You have to move up in the box and go for it before it rises.”

Antelope leadoff hitter Traci Wolf stole the show offensively, going 4-for-4 with a walk, triple and scoring five times.

Early in the week the Panthers thought the game would be for a share of the conference title but it ended up not meaning much because they suffered a 5-1 loss Wednesday to Mt. San Jacinto in which the team was lethargic from the start.

Rodriguez admitted it took some edge off the game on Friday but players say they were ready.

“We still had a chance to stop them from being undefeated in the conference,” Gonzelz said. “We still came in here with the attitude of winning the game.”

Rodriguez said he will give his team a few days off and await the playoff draw which will be announced next week. The Panthers should advance as the conference runner-up but will face a tough draw with a matchup against a strong Orange Empire conference team likely.

“We will give them a couple days off, then go back to basics and do the best we can to be ready,” he said.