In 2013, the Gavilan College softball team had a void in leadership and top-flight pitching.
Not surprisingly, the Rams finished with a 12-25 overall record and 4-13 mark in the ultra-competitive Coast Conference South Division.
“In college softball, success boils down to leadership and pitching,” said Nikki Dequin, who enters her ninth year as Gavilan’s coach. “This season, seeing the leadership and pitchers we have on the team has made the coaching staff much more optimistic in how things will turn out. I mean, the only place we can go from last year is up.”
The Rams, who opened up their season at Reedley on Thursday — the result wasn’t available when this edition went to press — figure to be in the thick of things for a playoff berth this season.
As usual, the majority of the Rams’ roster is made up of players who prepped locally, a testament to Dequin and the coaching staff’s effort to maintain a nice pipeline with high schools in the South Valley.
Out of the 14 players on this year’s roster, five graduated from Christopher, four from Gilroy, one from San Benito, and one from Live Oak.
Dequin has plenty of reasons to feel optimistic, starting with her two pitchers, Paige Miguel and Victoria Lobato (Salinas). Miguel, a 2011 San Benito graduate, played at Hartnell two years ago before redshirting last year at Gavilan.
Possessing tremendous control, Miguel can throw just about any pitch for strikes, including a devastating dropball.
“In high school, Paige lived on three pitches. Now she has every pitch,” Dequin said.
Miguel and Lobato complement each other well. While Miguel is more of a control pitcher, Lobato throws some serious heat.
“But Victoria has some nice off-speed stuff, too,” Dequin said. “I see Paige and Victoria as co-aces. They’ll split starts at the beginning of the year, and then we’ll see how the rest of the season goes.”
Miguel said this year’s team has the chemistry and talent to contend for a conference championship.
“The connection between the coaching staff and the players is great,” she said. “We have a great atmosphere in practice, and the girls on the team push each other to improve everyday.”
Sophomore catcher Kari Bittle (Branham) is the team’s top returner, having earned All-Coast Conference South Division Second Team honors a year ago. Dequin said Bittle is one of the best catchers in the conference, possessing tremendous instincts for the game.
“Kari has a great arm, a great glove, and a great presence behind the plate,” Dequin said.
The Rams feature a strong outfield consisting of Olivia Barajas (Christopher), Samantha Ribeiro (Gilroy) and Cristyn Simpson (Gilroy). Sophomore second baseman Kayla Medrano (Christopher) is equally adept at laying down a bunt or driving the ball, making her a legitimate threat to reach base every time she steps to the plate.
Sophomore Priscilla Orona (Live Oak) is one of a number of Gavilan players who can play multiple positions, along with Mariza Rodriguez (Christopher), Angelica Carrillo (Christopher), Samantha Parraz (Gilroy), Adrianna Ortega (Gilroy), Kristen Dennis (Christopher), and Anissa Martinez (Odyssey).
Dequin said she actually gets a bit scared when she throws batting practice to Parraz and Rodriguez because of their ability to smash the ball.
“They’ve got some mean bats,” Dequin said. “The ball just jumps off their bats when they make contact.”
In Dequin’s third year, the Rams finished with 30-plus wins and won a playoff series for the first time in school history. Dequin feels confident this year’s team has the mental makeup and physical skills to challenge the best teams in the conference.
“The returning sophomores didn’t like how last year ended, and the talented newcomers are hungry to compete at a higher level,” Dequin said. “That’s always a great combination to have in a team.”
