Gridley
GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The Gridley Bulldogs softball team is off to a hot start this preseason and has already won more than half the games they did last season in a historic year for the program.

In her first season as head coach, Tammy Carr expressed that she is looking for consistency from her experienced roster.

Carr has been a coach in the softball program, and she was an assistant on last year’s team that clinched a playoff spot for the first time since before MaxPreps started recording statistics in the 2005 season.

“It goes back to our senior leaders being consistent,” Carr said. “It was nice to get there, but we want to go further.”

Carr said that with the departure of Sutter and Wheatland both moving from the CIF Northern Section to the Sac-Joaquin Section, the Butte View League title is up for the taking.

With a senior heavy roster, Carr mentioned to the Herald that whether the senior Lady Bulldogs players are on the field or the bench they all have their leadership roles.

Senior catcher and California State University, Chico commit Gracie Dunning told the Herald the experience of getting to the playoffs last season gave Gridley (5-1) an “energy bump” and the goal this season is to continue that momentum.

Senior outfielder Avery Weagant, who is planning to continue playing softball at Butte expressed to the Herald that she is looking to gain more knowledge on the field.

Weagant and Dunning both told the Herald that being mentors to the younger players on the roster with encouragement and a bad game or play will not define them as a player.

Dunning and Weagant are off to great starts at the plate as both players have at least eight hits and six RBIs in the early season so far.

The Lady Bulldogs traveled up to Redding this past weekend and competed in the Anderson tournament at the Field of Dreams where they went 2-1.

In the circle primarily for Gridley season is going to be sophomore pitcher Reese Stevens and junior pitcher Maddie Garcia.

Reese told the Herald that the team bonding is going to help the younger players get acclimated and connect with the other players.

Carr told the Herald they planned to attend a Simpson University game as a team and that would give them all a great bonding experience.

So far on the season, Reese and Garcia have evenly split time in the circle and have identical stat lines with innings pitched and batters faced. Reese and Garcia both have at least two wins each.

The Lady Bulldogs hosted Winters on Wednesday and aren’t scheduled to play until they open BVL play on April 4 versus Corning.

Live Oak
LIVE OAK, CA (MPG) - The Live Oak softball team made history last season when they made the CIF Northern Section Division IV playoffs for the first time since the 2010 season.

Live Oak head coach Kevin Medeiros is entering his second season at the helm of the Lady Lions program and wants to continue the growth that he was successful with in his first season.

Mederios expressed to the Herald that this year is a different season as he had a heavy senior presence in his lineup last year as eight started consistently compared to his lone senior in first baseman Annalese Contreras

“The confidence of the younger roster and building their skill sets is what we’re trying to do this year,” Mederios said.

Lady Lions sophomore pitcher Izabella Pacheco is going to be the primary hurler for Live Oak.

“She has come a long way,” Mederios told the Herald. “This is her team for the next three years.”

Pacheco appeared 10 times last season and threw a total of 41 innings and 30 strikeouts.

Mederios mentioned to the Herald that junior shortstop and captain Olivia Nanez is a key returner for the Lady Lions.

Nanez hit .382 with 10 extra base hits and 17 RBIs last season.

The first words the veteran leader spoke to the Herald was about being a mentor to the younger players on the Live Oak roster.

“I’m looking forward to showing the younger girls some of the past traditions we’ve had and teaching them more,” Nanez said.

She added that as a leader, she wants to bond with her teammates because it is a crucial part of the team aspect of the game.

Nanez proceeded to tell the Herald that Mederios has done a lot of good changes since he has taken over the program in his short stint so far such as laying a structure for the program.

Contreras told the Herald it was nice to make people look at the Live Oak softball program differently last season as they were successful and it started with Mederios.

“He’s (Mederios) understanding, he attempts to teach you to be better,” Contreras said.

The Lady Lions have had a three-week layoff as Live Oak was scheduled to play Williams on Wednesday before they were supposed to begin league play in the Sacramento Valley League on Thursday in a doubleheader at Colusa.

“I just want clean innings, no errors and them to try their hardest,” Mederios said.