The Long Beach City College Softball team is currently 10-3 in the conference season, with 13 games to go until the playoffs.
Last season the Vikings softball team couldn’t compete because of Covid-19 only being able to play 11 games until it was eventually canceled. Their first season back after the shutdowns as a result of the pandemic has seen them win 20 out of the 25 games played.
“We’ve been hitting good a lot lately, these past few games by like 8 runs,” utility player Jaylene Ross said. “I think everything is coming together, we’re jelly as a team and our chemistry is way better than it was before the season started”.
During the conference season, the team has a batting average of .346 from 121 hits, completing 82 runs to show for it.
“Our pitcher, Daisy Torres is our ace and she’s been lights out, keeping the ball down in the zone,” head coach Megan Martinez said.
Sophomore Daisy Torres has been the star pitcher for the Vikings with her strikeouts and phenomenal changeups of the speed of her throws.
Torres has completed 33 strikeouts gaining an average of 3.77 strikeouts per game. In addition, she has gotten a .278 batting average against, only giving away 30 runs to opponents.
To stay focused, coach Martinez doesn’t allow the softball team discuss their wins or losses, instead, they keep every practice simple by working on their hits, throws or infield plays.
During the season, the Vikings were on a nine game winning streak beating schools such as Citrus, Pasadena, and Riverside. Five of the nine games were won by mercy rule before the 7th inning.
Currently, the Vikings ranked eighth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association state standings and third on the SoCal Standings. They’re sure to be in the run-in for state champions which is the sight coach Martinez has set for her team.
Since the finished construction of the new softball field, the team has been playing all of their home games on it. The stadium has gained a home attendance in their conference games of 234 spectators and is considered to be a factor in the Vikings winning 13 home games.
“Wow, it feels incredible! It feels so great to be in our brand new stadium and represent the college and bring the wins home, ” coach Martinez said.
The Vikings go back onto the field for their conference game against Mt. San Antonio at home on March 25.