Heritage softball team keeps rolling in league opener, 23-0
Heritage players stand at home plate to greet Tara Skinner after her home run during the team's 23-0 win. (Staff photos) By Doug Spoon, ...
By Doug Spoon, Editor
The victories won’t all be as easy as today’s was, but the Heritage High Patriots continue to show every opponent that they are a force to be reckoned with on the softball field.
Heritage scored 10 runs in the first inning, pounded out 15 hits and took advantage of eight walks to rout an outmanned Notre Dame team, 23-0, in the Patriots’ Sunbelt League opener. Now 15-2 overall, Heritage is expected to move up from its No. 8 ranking in the CIF Division 3 poll.
Did coach Raul Olivas expect such a strong start to the season?
“Absolutely,” he said. “We have a very strong team. All our girls but one will play college softball. “We’re a lower division team in our league, which makes things challenging. But with this year’s team, we should be able to compete with the bigger teams.”
Under the current CIF Southern Section alignment, the Sunbelt League has teams from Divisions 1, 2 and 3. A Division 3 team, Heritage finished fourth in league last year, was 11-6 in a COVID-shortened season, and missed the playoffs.
Olivas has his sights set much higher this season, pinning his hopes on a roster that is loaded with talent with only four seniors. Needless to say, the future is bright.
One reason for optimism is junior pitcher Cassidy Shaw, who started at third base today and had two hits – including a two-run home run – with four runs scored. She entered the game leading the team in hitting with a .500 batting average, 23 RBIs and 10 doubles. She also leads the pitching staff this season with an 8.1 record and 1.32 ERA.
“Cassidy has really been dominant," Olivas said. "As a pitcher, she’s thrown over 60 innings already. She’s also our leading hitter. We’ve pretty much ridden on her back. But we have a lot of strong hitters. Pretty much our 1-8 batters are able to put it over the fence. When one person’s not doing it, somebody else picks it up.”
Shaw, pitcher Tara Skinner and first baseman Adriana Abrantes all hit home runs in this one. Shaw’s two run blast over the left-center field fence in the first inning was the team’s first home run. In the second inning, Abrantes led off with a homer and Skinner hit a two-run shot to the same spot later in the inning.
Heritage led 19-0 after the second inning. The game was called after 4.5 innings due to the mercy rule.
Skinner pitched a perfect two innings before being replaced by sophomore Presley Vasquez, who allowed only one baserunner – on a catcher’s interference call. Sophomore shortstop Kaylee Fraund had three hits and three runs scored.
Adding to the offensive attack were Tyler Suttles with a hit and two runs scored; catcher Sydney Farmer with a single, three walks and three runs scored; Raina Olivas with a single, two walks and two runs scored; and Abbiegail Barron with two hits, a walk and two runs scored.
Notre Dame’s season record fell to 2-9. Olivas expects are much more competitive game when the Patriots play host to rival Paloma Valley on Wednesday.
Adriana Abrantes prepares to connect on the second of three Heritage High home runs today.
