Santa Clara Saints best Lady Ranger softball
by Misty Volaski

After graduating so many seniors, it was time for Nordhoff's varsity softball team to rebuild itself. And, as expected, it's taking a while.
In their home games against Santa Paula and Santa Clara, the Lady Rangers made the most of their few returning players, including Andra Edwards and Christina Stoltz, by bringing them up to bat as many times as possible to make up for the lack of players lost due to several injuries.
Nordhoff's loss against Santa Paula last Friday, 3-6, and Santa Clara Tuesday, 4-11, was probably a result of lack of experience on the young team and the multiple injuries.
Diana Garvin hit a two-run home run in last Friday's game against the Cardinals, then came in as a relief pitcher in the fourth inning; however she could not stop the Cardinals from making three more runs and taking advantage of nine Ranger errors before the end of the game.
In the Santa Clara game on Tuesday, first-time starting pitcher Stoltz saw 11 Saints cross home plate during her time on the mound, nearly half of which came in the first inning alone. She later went three for four at bat. Tiffany Tolliver finished up the pitching and was able to prevent any more Santa Clara runs in the last innings.
Candace Schmidt did her part at bat, going two for three; however it wasn't enough, as Santa Clara capitalized on eight Ranger errors and a total of 13 walks.
Nordhoff, currently 1-5 overall and 0-3 in league, plays at home next Tuesday against Calabasas, both J.V. and varsity at 3:30 p.m.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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