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Finally the big fish Cardinals can leave the small pond known as the AAA.
As the regular season draws to an end, the varsity softball team prepares for tougher competition beyond San Francisco. With only one more league game against the Washington Eagles the Cardinals have remained undefeated in the San Francisco AAA league.
Of all the team’s regular season opponents, Washington seems to be its greatest playoff competitor. In an intense Battle of the Birds on March 18, the Cardinals struggled to defeat Washington 5-4 at Parkside Field. Senior pitcher Alina Werth was a major influence during the game. “Alina almost shut out Washington during the last inning,” sophomore outfielder Emma Nakayoshi said. “It was crucial.” The game remained tied after six full innings, until junior catcher Chloe Roddy scored the fifth and final run.
In an epic game against the St. Ignatius Wildcats on March 20 the Cardinals experienced their first lost; losing 8-2. The match lasted all seven innings, but the high caliber St. Ignatius offense and sharp defense led by Wildcat pitcher Sawyer Hulbert were too much for the Cardinals to overcome. “S.I. got a lot of solid hits,” senior captain and third baseman Lauren Quirarte said. Despite the disappointing loss, the varsity softball team utilized this experience only to gain strength and become an even more impressive team.
Within their league, in every season match-up the Cardinals have been heavily favored. On April 6, the Cardinals blew out the Wallenberg Bulldogs 27-0 at West Sunset Field. They similarly sunk the Balboa Buccaneers 15-0 on March 24. And on March 11, the team caged in the Galileo Lions 17-0.
The Cardinals carry high hopes for the championship and postseason. If they become San Francisco section champions the Cardinals will compete in the Transbay Series on May 21 with the winner from the Oakland Athletic League at Lang Field, San Francisco. Last year the varsity softball team lost to Skyline High in the Transbay tournament 2-1. “Every year that I’ve been on the team we lost in the Transbay,” Quirarte said. “This is our year.”
Come cheer on the Cardinals 3:30 p.m. on April 30 at Rossi Field, Diamond One, as they battle their feathered Washington opponents.
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