The long-slumbering bats of Cal High’s softball team have awoken for the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs.
Cal advanced to Saturday’s quarterfinal round with a pair of offensive outbursts, first a 9-2 drubbing of Atascadero – after a four hour-plus bus ride to Northern San Luis Obispo County – followed by its 7-6 victory over Warren on Thursday.
Condor coach Jim Kruse said the team’s approach at the plate has been more patient in the postseason, which has resulted in deeper counts and more pitches seen.
“It’s been amazing,” Kruse said Friday morning. “The (offensive) potential has always been there but we never really had a plan at the plate. Now, we have a plan.”
Kruse warned the team before Thursday’s game Warren pitcher Courtney Sheldon liked to get hitters to swing at low pitches just out of the strike zone. Cal’s batters laid off the low pitches, forced Sheldon to get the ball in the strike zone and had a big day.
“Before we would always go for (low pitches),” Kruse said, “and (Thursday) we didn’t.”
Senior third baseman Brigid Ruiz hit a home run Thursday and senior outfielder Rachel Shumaker knocked in the go-ahead run in the seventh.
“The seniors really performed well,” Kruse said.
Of the Condors’ 11 losses this season, they were held to two or fewer runs nine times, and they earned a pair of 1-0 victories as well.
On Saturday, Cal will visit Palos Verdes in a quarterfinal match-up. The Sea Kings knocked off No. 1 seed Burbank 5-2 on Thursday. Game time is 1 p.m.