3C2A Softball Opening Weekend Report

Glendale Starts Season 4-0 

Story written by Eric Owens

What a opening weekend of softball the Glendale Vaqueros had in the 21st annual Dave “Hawk” Wilder Memorial Tournament as they outscored Imperial Valley, College of the Redwoods, West Hills Coalinga and Cuesta 51-12 en route to a perfect 4-0 start, marking the best record to open a Sal Pizzo coached team. 

Wilder was the beloved coach of the program from 2001 through 2013, with his biggest achievement being a 3C2A Super Regional appearance in 2012, which was the first time in team history. Wilder was forced to retire after the 2013 due health issues and two months later with complications of post-polio, Coach Hawk passed at the age of 70. Current Coach Pizzo, who served as an assistant to Wilder for seven seasons prior to the passing had this to say about his vivid memories of Hawk: “Hawk had a larger-than-life personality. He knew and cared for everyone in the softball community and was loved and respected by everyone who knew him. I am grateful for the privilege and opportunity I have had to try to continue to carry on his legacy of kindness and making every athlete that comes through our program feel special and part of a family. That was Hawk’s desire for everyone.” 

Imperial Valley: Colorado State University Pueblo transfer Mia Sanchez was dominate in the circle, striking out 13 batters in a five inning, one hit complete game. Sanchez began the game with nine consecutive outs all by way of a strikeout and at the dish had two hits and a run scored. Redshirt Freshman, Azusena Lopez led the offensive attack with three hits (which included a triple), two RBIs and two runs scored. The freshman Pasadena Muir duo of third baseman Alyssa Perez and first baseman Jasmin Jaquez combined for three hits. Jaquez drove home two runs. The Vaqueros also got extra base hits from former travel ball teammates in freshman catcher Grace FitzRandolph and All WSC second team selection Annaliese Ruiz. FitzRandolph tripled and Ruiz doubled in the game. 

Redwoods: Lopez delivered once again with five runs driven in to go along with a home run and a triple. Also, returning All WSC first team center fielder, Catarina Anzalone was equally impactful, reaching base three times and driving home three runs, while also scoring twice to go along with a double. FitzRandolph finished the 2nd game on Friday afternoon with three RBIs and Valerie Montes had two RBIs. Olivia Ziebell-White had an all-around game by going 3 for 4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Sophomore, Taylor Bangs collected a triple in the game. Ruiz tossed three perfect innings with six strikeouts to earn her first win of the season increasing her career total to 11 overall. Glendale was aggressive on the bases with eight stolen bags. 

Coalinga: Anzalone sparked an 11-run fourth inning for Glendale with her first grand slam of the year and that was followed up with a solo shot from Lopez. Anzalone finished with three hits and two runs scored. Lopez also doubled with two runs scored. Ruiz was 3-for-4 at the dish with one double and two runs scored. Sanchez became the second straight starter not to allow a hit, striking out eight batters in four innings of work. 

Cuesta: Despite being down by two runs, The Vaqueros walked ten times with three coming with the bases loaded thanks to Ariel Flores, Sanchez and Jaquez. Former All WSC second team selection, Arlene Islas was the only player with more than one hit. Islas tripled, scored once and had an RBI. Jaquez picked up her first win with five strikeouts through 4.1 innings and Ruiz was dominant in relief, allowing just one hit, while striking out three to secure the save.

Lopez had quite the week as she was 8-for-13 with 10 RBIs, eight runs scored, three homeruns, two triples and doubled once with a dazzling .615 batting average to become the first 3CFCA Player of the Week selection of the season on Monday, January 26th. 

In other games across the 3C2A, the Mission Eagles opened their season against three top 10 teams in Southern California, falling to both #7 Mt San Antonio 11-5 and #8 Fullerton 4-3, with their lone win coming in shutout form 4-0 against #10 Ventura. As for the Monarchs of Valley, they won two of their four games played with a doubleheader setback at Western State Conference North rival Moorpark on Friday, but returned the next motivated for a fresh start at Oxnard and in game one defeated Santiago Canyon 7-6 and in the second game beat the home team 9-4. My last program in my coverage region is Canyons and they will open their season on January 29th with a doubleheader against 0-5 Cuesta in the Battle of Cougars Classic. First pitch from COC is slated for 12pm, with game two will be about 30 minutes after.