Samohi Girls Softball Team Ends Difficult Season on High Note

Patrick Siritara
Mirror contributing writer

   According to Oscar Wilde, “experience is the name so many people give to their mistakes.” 
   Samohi’s 2001 softball season embodied that quote, as a team consisting of mostly sophomores and freshmen gained experience through their share of mistakes. Despite an up and down season, they finished on a high note with a 7-4 victory over Hawthorne last Thursday. The win ended Samohi’s season with a 10-15 record, 5-9 in Bay League competition. 
   Sophomore centerfielder Casey Lieb led the offense for Samohi against Hawthorne with a 2 for 3 performance with 3 RBIs. Pitcher Kristine Jones pitched a complete game for the victory, while helping her own cause by going 2 for 2 at the plate. 
   The victory comes on the heels of a recent internal team setback and the loss of their starting pitcher and first baseman through suspension and injury. In light of this, Coach Debbie Skaggs commended her players for their effort. 
   “They really rallied together and played well,” Skaggs said. “When you bring other kids up from JV it’s difficult, but the kids hung in there and we didn’t get blown out,” Skaggs said, alluding to the losses versus Peninsula, Torrance, and El Segundo, where each game was decided by 2 runs or less. 
With the competition completed, another season begins for Samohi—the summer off-season program. 
   “We gotta work harder this off-season,” said Skaggs. “We need to get stronger for every facet of the game, be it hitting, pitching, or throwing. We also need better swings, as you can see by our lack of offense, and need stronger arms for the fielding.”
   With the anticipated workouts, and the arrival of a couple of highly regarded freshmen next year, Samohi should be in the chase next season.