Charles Rich
NORTHEAST GLENDALE -- Glendale Community College softball Coach Dave
Wilder did the math in about 30 seconds.
Those pending numbers Wilder surmised might go with him to his grave
should GCC qualify for the Southern California Regional playoffs in May.
The Vaqueros will have their work cut out after they dropped a 3-1
decision to Ventura College in a Western State Conference Southern
Division game at Scholl Canyon Park on Tuesday.
GCC (19-8, 8-5 in conference) doesn't have much margin for error and
its climb toward the top of the division standings hit a snag after it
lost to Ventura (24-9, 11-3) for the third time this season.
Wilder figured the Vaqueros must win 10 of their final 13
regular-season games to receive an at-large berth for the postseason.
"At least we control our own destiny," Wilder said. "We have to win
just about the rest of our games to get in the playoffs. It would help if
we can start hitting. We haven't been hitting like we should."
The Vaqueros entered Tuesday's game hitting .315. It appeared GCC
might get no-hit by Ventura pitcher Monique Barretto, who didn't allow a
hit until Vanessa Lira singled with one out in the bottom of the sixth
inning.
When the Vaqueros managed to reach base safely, they endured several
mishaps. Wilder accepted full responsibility for one of the misfortunes.
GCC had a runner at third base with one out in the seventh when
Tiffany Flores hit a pop-up to shortstop. Wilder inadvertently sent the
runner home, thinking there were two outs.
"That's a coaching error," Wilder said. "It happens sometimes in the
heat of the battle. Those things happen in a long season."
GCC starting pitcher Cori Herbert (8-5) tossed a complete game,
striking out nine and allowing seven hits. The Hoover High graduate
surrendered a two-run home run in the sixth to Francesca Magana.
Herbert, who entered Tuesday's contest with a 1.18 earned-run average,
had to be sharp while GCC's offense searched for its groove.
"I was frustrated with my at-bats," said Herbert, who went hitless in
three at-bats. "I had to put that aside when I pitched or else it would
have been a real bad day for me. The home run came on a rise ball that
hung.
"It takes the pressure of me if we can get a run early. I can't relax
if we don't score. Now we have to pick it up and get back into a groove
like in the beginning of the season."
GCC scored its run in the sixth when Amy Herrera drove in Lira with a
ground-rule double.
BOX SCORE
Ventura*0*0*0*1*0*2*0*--*3*7*0 GCC*0*0*0*0*0*1*0*--*1*3*0
Ventura*IP*R*ER*H*BB*K
Barretto*7*1*1*3*2*3
GCC*IP*R*ER*H*BB*K
Herbert*7*3*3*7*1*9
WP-Barretto (9-3).
LP-Herbert (8-5).
2B-GCC: Herrera, Acosta.
HR-V: Magana (1).
SB-V: Ca. Berumen, Mijares; GCC: Lira.
