FCC’s softball team stays focused despite a slow start

With a 4-6 record, the Fresno City College women’s softball team is currently sitting in fourth place in the Central Valley Conference. Though the team is not off to the start they would like, they are not discouraged.

“We’re coming together pretty well. We’re doing the best we can to work with what we have. We’re on the brink of playing where we’re capable of playing,” said outfielder Alexis Ramirez. “We’re working on our chemistry and being able to finish games. Unexpected injuries could come, people need to step up. It has happened already so we’re learning how to do that early in the season. ”

Despite the slow start, the Rams are keeping their expectations high.  “I think we can go all the way. Our goal is to be league champs and make it to state. We just have to play as a team all seven innings day in and day out,” said Ramirez.

Left fielder Miranda Gonzalez is returning to the field after she was a red shirt the previous season. Gonzalez is looking to prove she belongs on the field and also striving to show the Rams can take first place.

“The last few years we got beat out by College of the Sequoias and Reedley. We want to prove we can be first. We just need to keep talking throughout the game. Once we go silent, it goes downhill from there,” said Gonzalez.

The competition within the team has also given Gonzalez reason to be optimistic. “Even though we’re trying to beat out each other for positions, we still rely on each other. We want to be first place,” said Gonzalez. “We lead at different points, but all of us are leaders and followers. We learn from each other. If someone doesn’t step up, another person will have to step up.”

Early in the season, the Rams have been plagued by errors.  Gonzalez believes the team needs to be mentally stronger and put in more time at practice to minimize errors.

Right fielder Kayla Walker is happy with how the team has stayed together despite the struggles.  “Once we all got to know each other, it felt really good. We see each other every day so it feels like we’re family. I still think we can make it all the way,” said Walker. ” We have a good sisterhood bond going on. When it’s game time, we know how to come together and be there for each other.”

Sophomore Vanessa Salinas is convinced the Rams can still can go undefeated in league play. “We have a lot of players that can play various positions, we have big hitters, and we have speed,” said Salinas. “It’s a matter of continuing to work hard and pushing each other.”