Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 04/20/1998 All articles from this issue

Errors haunting Los Altos softball team

printer friendly version

By Pete Borello

Town Crier Staff Writer

Los Altos High's softball season could be described as a comedy of errors, but forgive the Eagles for not laughing.

Los Altos averaged nearly 13 errors per game the first month of the season, according to coach Bernie Quintero. This led to some embarrassing losses, including a 19-1 rout by Los Gatos.

The Eagles started to cut down on these mistakes the first two weeks of April, committing an average of just three errors a game. This improved defense played a major role in a 2-1 win over Homestead April 8.

But the following week, the errors started creeping up again.

Los Altos made six errors April 17 in a 10-0 loss to top-ranked Notre Dame Salinas at the Wilcox Strikker Tournament in Santa Clara.

Then on April 22, the Eagles committed 10 errors in a 15-0 shellacking by host St. Francis. The first five runs were unearned, according to Quintero, wasting a strong pitching effort by his daughter Samantha.

"She pitched one of her best games of the year," Quintero said, "but the defense didn't stop the ball."

Samantha, who dropped to 7-3, has probably been the Eagles' most consistent defensive player. When she's not on the mound, the sophomore is an able shortstop and catcher. But Quintero said the rest of the infield has been erratic.

"We have a lot of young players who have never played the infield before this season," the coach said. "Most of them are outfielders, and I'm still training them to play the infield."

The Eagles enter today's 4 p.m. game at Homestead with a 2-3 record in the SCVAL De Anza Division. They are 8-10 overall.

However, Quintero has not given up on this season. He believes Los Altos can still finish among the top three teams in the division and make the playoffs.

"I have to go back to the drawing board and convince these girls that they're as good as anyone else," Quintero said. "They need to believe in themselves because they're a good team."

Despite going hitless against St. Francis - pitcher Cory Montalbano came a walk away from a perfect game - the Eagles have been performing a bit better with the bat than the glove. Samantha and fellow sophomore Pam Aubert are both hitting above .400. Junior Jackie Roux and sophomore Ana Denmark have also done a solid job at the plate, Quintero said.

"We're hitting the ball well, but it's been going right at somebody lately," the coach said. "We need to get it to fall into the gap."

If the hits come and the errors don't, Los Altos may have something to smile about by season's end.