The Bakersfield College softball team will not be taking a trip to the postseason this year. With an overall record of 23-21 and 14-11 in the Western State Conference, the Renegades failed to make the playoffs.
The Renegades ended the season by going 4-4, which included a doubleheader sweep of College of the Canyons on April 15. In the doubleheader, the Renegades scored a combined 24 runs, beating Canyons 10-9 in the first game and 14-3 in the second game. In the first game, the Renegades were led by sophomore Heather Spoon, who went 3 for 4 and scored three runs. Sophomore Jenny Zavolosieck added two hits for the Renegades. In the second game, Celina Cruz, Liz Chabolla, Rachele Flores, Katie Sawyer, Deborah Salcido and Spoon had two RBI each to lead the Renegades.
“I felt we played well in both games,” said BC softball coach Sandi Taylor. “In the first game, it seemed like no matter what we threw up there, they found a way to put something good on it. The games matter whether you are postseason-bound or not. They matter for sheer pride.”
Sophomores Flores, Natalie Martinez, Salcido, Spoon, Sawyer and Zavolosieck played their last home games as Renegades during the doubleheader.
“The reality is that it could be the end of playing softball (for them), which they have done probably since they were eight or nine years old,” Taylor said. “As a coaching staff, you work so hard with them and spend so much time with them for two years. After the season, you lose touch with them. That’s kind of hard. It’s an odd feeling, but every end has a new beginning.”
Taylor felt that her team fought through a lot during the season. “We were on the border of making the playoffs all year long,” she said. “I felt like we really fought hard. We had a lot of adversity thrown our way early in the season. I feel like they really accomplished a lot.”
Taylor sees a positive future not only for her team next season but for the baseball and softball fields as well.
“We have a pretty good recruiting class that has committed to coming here right now,” she said. “We’re excited about the future and hopefully getting our baseball and softball complexes modernized with the seating project.”