The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journal and is being reprinted with permission.
This might be a very special week for the College of San Mateo.
By virtue of their wins last week against City College of San Francisco and Foothill College, the CSM softball team is one victory away from clinching their first outright Coast Conference title since current head coach Nicole Borg took over the program seven years ago.
The team they’d be unseating, Ohlone College, has won at least a share of the title the last nine seasons. According to JCscores.com, CSM currently stands 2.5 games ahead of the Renegades in the Coast Conference North Division with three games to play. If the Bulldogs can find a way to beat a Mission College team that is 5-16 overall this season, it would be mathematically impossible Ohlone to catch CSM in the standings.
The Bulldogs have won 18 straight games — the longest such streak in the state this season.
San Mateo is coming off another two-win week.
First, by defeating CCSF 7-0 by virtue of a Rams’ forfeit — not that a win against CCSF would have been in question since the Bulldogs beat them 24-0 earlier in the season.
On Saturday, CSM traveled to the Los Altos Hills and disposed of Foothil1 16-1 for the their state-leading 34th win. The game was called after five innings for yet another mercy-rule win in CSM’s favor (19 have come in that fashion).
Michelle Pilster pitched three hitless innings to pick up her 24th win of the season – a number that leads all pitchers in California. She walked one and struck out three.
Amelia Shales brought the win home. She pitched two innings, allowing one hit and one earned run.
The CSM offense generated 12 hits in the effort and drew three walks.
Jacey McDaid had a terrific day at the dish for CSM. She had three hits in four trips to the plate with three RBI.
Lindsay Handy had a pair of knocks including a trip to Jack City. She always drew a pair of walks.
Anabel Hertz had a two RBI effort. Kaylin Stewart had two hits, so did Selina Rodriguez. Jamie Navarro notched a couple hits, including a double.
