By Marshall Tempest
Reporter
The Wekiva softball team has shown remarkable resilience, despite a challenging start to the season, leading to a 1-5 record after six games. This week, the Mustangs hosted two games: one against Cypress Creek High School and the other against Freedom High School.
Catching up
Wekiva’s one win this season showed the team’s potential. The Mustangs triumphed over the Edgewater Eagles with a staggering 19-0 victory in their second game of the season. Scoring 11 runs in the first inning and eight in the second, they swiftly run-ruled the Eagles in the third inning.
In that win, Wekiva’s Camilla Delgado, Arianna Garcia and Janelle Rodriguez led their teammates to victory, combining for 12 of the team’s 16 RBIs, all seven of the team’s hits, and seven of the team’s runs.
Delgado, Rodriguez, and Garcia are the driving forces behind the Mustangs this season. Delgado, with a .727 batting average, an .800 on-base percentage, 10 runs, nine RBIs, four extra-base hits and six stolen bases in six games, is a force to be reckoned with on the field.
Rodriguez follows closely with a .667 batting average, a .714 on-base percentage, and four runs on four hits in four games. Garcia boasts a .545 batting average and a .643 on-base percentage, to go along with six hits, six RBIs and three stolen bases in six games. She’s also the team’s primary pitcher.
Wekiva vs. Cypress Creek (15-5) Loss
The Cypress Creek Bears came into this game undefeated and left undefeated after routing the Mustangs 15-5. However, Wekiva put up a good fight against the Bears, the 73rd-ranked softball program in the state, according to MaxPreps.
The Mustangs faced a tough challenge from the start in their game against the Cypress Creek Bears. After retiring Cypress Creek’s leadoff hitter, they soon found themselves on their heels as the Bears scored seven runs in the first inning.
Wekiva quickly struck back, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. Wekiva began to slow down the methodical and fundamental Cypress Creek team, shutting down their explosiveness with better fielding.
The Bears could only score two more runs in the second inning as the Mustangs looked to keep them under control. Wekiva could only score one run in the second inning, but how it was scored was exceptional. Delgado sent a ball to the wall and immediately started sprinting. By the time she was at second base, the ball was just being picked up in the outfield, and she beat the throw home for an inside-the-park home run.
Headed into the fourth inning, the Mustangs were trailing 10-5 and not in terrible shape. But they couldn’t stop the Bears from bringing in one more run. Wekiva also could not bring in a run for themselves and went into what would be the final inning down 11-5.
At the top of the fifth inning, the Bears were able to bring in four runs to officially have an opportunity to run rule the Mustangs at 15-5. Wekiva could not score any runs in the bottom of the fifth, forcing the win for Cypress Creek.
The Mustangs finished the game with just three hits, including the home run. Leading Wekiva at the plate in the victory were Delgado and Alajah Kimber. Delgado went 1-2 at the plate and scored twice and collecting two RBIs. Kimber went 1-2 and also scored one run.
Wekiva’s Arianna Garcia pitched the entire game, allowing 10 hits and 15 runs, but only seven of them were earned. She walked six and struck out two while throwing 114 pitches.
Wekiva’s fielding struggled in this game, piling up nine errors. In contrast, Cypress Creek had a nearly flawless day in the field, making just one error for a fielding percentage of 0.950.
Another problem for the Wekiva fielders, especially early on, was the Bears’ base running. Cypress Creek collected four stolen bases in the victory.
What’s next?
After the game against Cypress Creek on Monday, March 10, the Wekiva softball team hosted Freedom High School on Wednesday, March 12. Their next game will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, when they will host Lake Buena Vista.
