At the beginning of the first inning, center fielder Emma Guzman (12) was perched in a ready position, anticipating the pitch from Sierra Wallace (10) and the hit from El Camino. The ball was hit to center field and thrown to Guzman. She chased down and tagged a base runner trying to steal third. Then, Guzman pivoted and threw to second base, getting out another base runner. Softball took the victory 9-4 on March 19. 

“[That play] really set the tone for how the game was going to go,” Guzman said. “It showed we’re here to compete and take care of business.”

According to first baseman Sarah Deng (11), the team intended to come out strong to combat El Camino’s aggressive playing style.

“They are really aggressive in their base running,” Deng said. “They maximize their advantages by taking advantage of our errors.”

The Wolverines prioritized hitting during the practices leading up to the game. Deng said the team wanted to start off strong and establish a good lead. This would allow them to carry momentum into the rest of the game, giving a buffer for any mistakes made.

After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first, Deng led the bottom half of the inning with an inside-the-park home run. She said that helped jump-start the lineup.

“I got to contribute a run for my team from the beginning, and afterwards a lot of other players hit well,” Deng said. “We kept [our] foot on the gas.”

After Deng’s at-bat, Westview managed to get two runners on—third baseman Reese Marier (12) on first and Guzman on second. Pitcher Kiana Rodriguez (10) stepped up to the plate and sent the ball to centerfield, allowing Guzman to run home as Marier slid into third base, 2-1. Then, a powerful swing to the outfield from Jessica Frogstad (9) brought Marier and Rodriguez home. 

According to Guzman, their four-run first inning gave Westview a lot of momentum going into the rest of the game. 

“Offensively, we had a great day,” Guzman said. “We stayed disciplined at bat, and it was one of our best games yet.”

In the third, after El Camino scored once, Guzman tripled and scored. Rodriguez scored shortly after to build a 6-2 lead.

Westview tacked on three more runs in the fifth to essentially seal the win. 

“We didn’t let up,” Deng said. “We scored a bunch of runs, and even though we had a big lead, we kept increasing the number of runs scored for each inning.”

The victory was a manifestation of the intense work the Wolverines have put into practices. Due to the recent heat wave sweeping San Diego, practices have been cut short, and the players were forced to work twice as hard. Additionally, two coaches have been away in Mexico for the Liga Mexicana de Softbol tournament. 

“For me, it feels like I need to step it up,” Guzman said. “Being captain with both our coaches gone, I have to take on the captain’s role and a little bit of the coaching role. At the end of the day, coaches can’t win a game, it’s on us to win.”

The absence of two coaches has been an opportunity for many of the players to take on a leadership role.

“I’m proud of everyone for taking initiative,” Guzman said.

Deng and Guzman said communication has been a major point of focus for the team, and while they have made progress, it remains something they are working to improve through drills during practice. Additionally, Guzman said team bonding away from the field has helped them become a very tightly knit group, amplifying their communication during games.

“We’re gonna have some miscommunications here and there,” Guzman said. “It’s part of life, and a big part of softball.”

According to Deng, the season started rough, but their win against Valley Center, March 6, marked a turning point for the team.

“We’ve been on a winning streak for a while now,” Deng said. “I think we’ve figured out how to work better together, and we love growing and learning as a team.” 

Guzman is hopeful that over the course of the season, the team will continue to become stronger.   

“Honestly, it feels like I’m stepping onto the field with my best friends,” Guzman said. “I think if we keep up this positivity and good energy we have, we’re really gonna go far. I look forward to what the rest of the season will bring.”