New Bakersfield College softball head coach and former Cal State Bakersfield softball player, Christie Hill, has led the BC Renegades to a three-game winning streak.
First game of the season came against Fresno City College on Jan. 29, who beat BC last year, 17-0, but Hill said that the students aren’t too worried about it.
“They have pretty much put it in the past and are focused on this season more than anything,” said Hill.
This year BC got their revenge and came out on top beating Fresno City College 9-4.
On Jan. 30, BC played a doubleheader against Cuesta with BC winning both. The first game with a final score of 7-4, and ending with a three-hour, seven-inning game to follow with a score of 19-18.
One thing that coach Hill believed last season’s team lacked was defense. The first two weeks of January, the Renegades worked on their defensive game in practice.
“All around as a team, we are better defensively,” said Hill
Hill says that her players are excited for the season and that the team moral is high.
“My players get along and are always together,” said Hill.
This season coach Hill says that you will see her team play hard for seven innings, with a die-trying attitude, and possibly show some goofiness out there on the field.
Three freshman players have returned to the softball field after taking a break from the sport. Jessica Valasquez has been out for two years and is returning to the field playing infield and pitcher. Victoria Appling and Brittany Puetz have been out for the past year, with Appling playing the infield and outfield, while Puetz playing outfield and catcher. “They are making their softball comebacks,” said Hill.
As far as captains go they have not been determined, “ When I played ball we never really had captains, who ever stepped up and was a leader, was the leader,” said Hill.
BC’s second game against Cuesta was won after Cuesta threw a wild pitch in the seventh inning allowing Alex Avila, who was on third, to steal home for the win.
Prior to the comeback, BC was trailing by four runs in the first inning when Trinidad Lee hit a triple to bring in three RBIs and put the Renegades back in the game. With BC making five errors in the second inning, this allowed Cuesta to score eight runs and take a 12-4 lead. Lee came up to bat with bases loaded once more and hit one over the fence for a home-run bringing in four runs in the third inning, helping close the lead that Cuesta gained in the second inning.
This is coach Hill’s first season with the Renegades and so far Hill has showed that she does have what it takes to coach these softball players.
“It’s nice to give back to the community that gave a lot to me,” said Hill.
The BC Renegades will face Ventura College in Ventura on Feb. 3, Reedley and Santiago Canyon here at BC on Feb. 7, Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara on Feb. 10, and the College of Sequoias Tournament in Visalia against Ohlone and COS.