A learning experience
SOFTBALL Due to the loss of seniors from injuries, the underclassmen are leading the Brahmas.
Sophomore Kimberly Flores (left) and senior Ruth Munoz (right) during a game against South Hills losing 3-0.
April 26, 2017
With a plague of injuries, the Diamond Bar High School softball team left 2-2 at the Arroyo Grande Tournament last weekend. Moving forward with a 3-7 league record and 7-11 overall, the young team is working to gain experience this season.
Only having two seniors in the starting lineup, the team is learning to play with underclassmen, especially with seniors Ruth Munoz and Becky Winder experiencing injuries. Catcher M
unoz has dealt with knee problems while Winder is working through a hip flexor injury from last season. Senior Ariel Moreno was also out for some games due to a shoulder injury.
As the No. 1 pitcher for the team, Winder is determined to stay out on the field and has been fighting through her injury. Winder plays shortstop or second base when she’s not pitching.
“Right now it’s kind of a struggle because I am pitching a lot and last year I had an injury, my hip flexor, so that’s starting to bother me a little bit, but I think I can work through it and figure it out,” Winder said.
Because of the excess of injuries, the team has been spread thin this year, according to junior Ellen Lasko. Several games were close and went into extra innings.
“We just haven’t had our luck in terms of winning those close ball games but compared to what it was at the beginn
ing of the season when we were getting [destroyed] at five innings, we’ve come a long way,” head coach Roberta Garcia said.
This season, the team is playing the other schools in league three times for more games than previous years.
“I think our biggest thing is keeping it going for seven innings… because we tend to get to the sixth inning and kind of fall apart a little bit,” Ellen said.
Offensively, Munoz leads with a .450 batting average, followed by junior Elizabeth Wilson with a .448 average and freshman Emily Ruhl with a .444 average. Ruhl also leads the team with 15 runs batted in while Munoz leads with 20 hits followed by sophomore Kimberly Flores with 17 hits and Ruhl with 16 hits.
“It all comes down to hitting. If you’re hitting, you’ll find your way in the lineup,” Garcia said.
The Lady Brahmas will face the Glendora Tartans today looking to recover from their losses over the weekend. On Friday, the team plays Ayala, going into the last two and a half weeks of league games.
“I’m just hoping we can keep everyone healthy and be ready to continue with the season and our pitchers can stand out,” Garcia said.
