Softball Starts on the Wrong Track

Santa Monica College Corsair Women's Softball pitcher, Elizabeth Martinez pitches a fastball during the bottom third inning of the season-opening game against Glendale Community College on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, at John Adams Middle School in Santa Monica, Calif. (Silke Eichholz | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair Women's Softball player, Joelie Mathisen, slides into home plate during the home season-opening game versus Glendale Community College on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at John Adams Middle School in Santa Monica, Calif. (Silke Eichholz | The Corsair)

(L-R_ Umpire John Buck(L), Glendale Community College's Women Softball catcher, Siannah Gomez(C), and Santa Monica College Corsair Women's Softball Batter, Hal'ia Jimenez(R), stand in position waiting for the pitch during the home season-opening game versus Glendale Community College on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025 at John Adam’s Middle School in Santa Monica, Calif. (Silke Eichholz | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair Women's Softball Pitcher, Elizabeth Martinez, throws a fastball in the bottom first inning of the home season-opening game versus Glendale Community College on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at John Adams Middle School in Santa Monica, Calif. (Silke Eichholz | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair Women's Softball batter, Cinthia Bautista bats under the supervision of Umpire John Buck during the opening home season game against Glendale Community College on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, at John Adams Middle School in Santa Monica, Calif. (Silke Eichholz | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair Women's Softball players(L-R) Cinthia Bautista(FL), Jasmine Arana(L), Hal'ia Jimenez(C), Elizabeth Martinez(R), and Jade Patlan(FR) bond between innings during the opening home season game against Glendale Community College on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, at John Adams Middle School in Santa Monica, Calif. (Silke Eichholz | The Corsair)

On Thursday, Feb. 20, the Santa Monica College (SMC) women’s softball team was defeated convincingly by Glendale Community College (GCC) women’s softball team, the Vaqueros (18-0). The Corsairs were looking to start off the season strong, but by the first inning it seemed like the game was over. 

Up by eight runs in the first inning, the Vaqueros cruised through the following innings, converting four runs in the third, five in the fourth, and one in the fifth and final inning. The game, ending in a mercy rule, led to the final score of 18-0 to Glendale, and left a lot to be desired for the Corsairs.

With game highs including eleven earned runs, seventeen walks, and seven wild pitches, the Corsairs had a lot of work to do in the bullpen while also aiming to improve their offense. The Corsairs were only able to record three hits and one walk during the game, while the Vaqueros recorded a game high of eight hits, leading to their high-performance game.

“Unfortunately, we have quite a few girls playing out of position, because we were missing a few girls. We've got one girl with concussion, one girl that's got COVID, another two girls that are out as well, so we had girls that are playing different position(s), never played those positions before. So it was a little bit tricky to just have that coverage. But it's something that we get to work on for the rest of the season,” said Corsairs’ head coach Christine Druckman. 

“We have to pitch strikes. We need to get better with the strike,” said Druckman, in regard to limiting the amount of walks. 

Moving forward, the Corsairs are looking towards their upcoming game at home against Golden West Community College on Monday, Feb. 24, at 2:30 p.m. to get out of the opening-day slump.