SOFTBALL PREVIEW; BORON NOT DOWN ON 0-3 START EXTENDED LOSING STREAKS NOT NORMAL FOR TINY SOFTBALL POWER.Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer BORON boron (bōr`ŏn) [New Gr. from borax], chemical element; symbol B; at. no. 5; at. wt. 10.81; m.p. about 2,300°C;; sublimation point about 2,550°C;; sp. gr. 2.3 at 25°C;; valence +3. - No, no this can't be right. Boron High 0-3? In softball softball, variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Invented (1888) in Chicago as an indoor game, it was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' ? The same team that won its first 24 games last season and returns star pitcher Jennifer Jenkins? Those Mighty-Mouse small-town girls who have won a state-record 82 consecutive Desert Mountain League games - and advanced to Southern Section semifinals six of the past seven seasons? No joke. The Bobcats lost their opener to Mojave and then dropped a doubleheader to Silverado. They will be seeking their first victory at 3:15 p.m. today against visiting Vasquez of Acton. Still, All-Southern Section catcher Shena Green, a three-year starter, vows everything will be OK. ``We're really not that concerned. We just have a lot of new people,'' she said, taking a break between classes Monday morning. ``We just need to get used to playing together. Our defense is a little bit shaky and we need to patch up some holes.'' Whatever the reason, Green and Co. certainly haven't gone through anything like this before. ``We have a lot to live up to because of what we've done in the past, and we know that,'' she said. ``We're trying to live up to what we've done, have fun, and do good all at the same time.'' Coach Mick Van Horn, noting Mojave and Silverado have talent this year, is waiting for the girls to turn things around. ``I don't want to say we've never started 0-3, but it would take a long time to think about when the last time was,'' said Van Horn, in his 18th year. ``This is definitely something new to us, and we're just gonna gon·na Informal Contraction of going to: We're gonna win today. have to battle through.'' Like last season, Boron is banking on Jenkins. The 5-foot-9 right-hander was 24-1 with 194 strikeouts, 16 shutouts and a 0.24 earned-run average last year. She also batted .473 with three home runs and 25 runs batted in. This season, Jenkins is 0-2 with a 1.50 ERA, 12 strikeouts and 14 hits allowed in 14 innings INNINGS, estates. Lands gained from the sea by draining. Cunn. L. Dict. h. t.; Law of Sewers, 31. . She didn't give up any earned runs earned run n. Baseball A run scored without the aid of an error, used in computing earned run averages. Noun 1. earned run - a run that was not scored as the result of an error by the other team in the Mojave loss, and Van Horn said the defense also wasn't exceptional against Silverado. ``Well, we are making a lot of errors, but I think we'll make it just fine,'' Jenkins said. ``We just have a lot of younger girls. We're a beatable team, but you win some, you lose some.'' Van Horn said Jenkins still ``isn't at the point where she was last year,'' but he's encouraged because she has good control. Van Horn said Jenkins compares favorably fa·vor·a·ble adj. 1. Advantageous; helpful: favorable winds. 2. Encouraging; propitious: a favorable diagnosis. 3. with most large-school starters even though she's not a power pitcher In baseball, a power pitcher is a pitcher who relies on the velocity of his pitches, sometimes at the expense of accuracy. Power pitchers usually record a high number of strikeouts and statistics such as strikeouts per 9 innings pitched are common measures of power. . The Bobcats believe they will dominate again, although they play a more challenging nonleague schedule that includes matchups against Foothill of Bakersfield and Rosamond. (League play starts March 24.) Besides Jenkins and Green, six starters return, including infielders Coni Nelson, Veronica Valdez and Cody Tubb and outfielder Emily Palmquist. Van Horn expects Tubb to have a breakout season. He also has a prospect in junior Becky Sheasley, the younger sister of former three-sport standout Richie Sheasley. AT A GLANCE Nickname (1) An alternate name used to identify yourself in a chat room. (2) A shortcut for identifying a recipient in an e-mail address book. : Bobcats League: Desert Mountain Coach: Mick Van Horn, 18th year Last year: 24-1, lost 4-0 to Cornerstone Christian of Camarillo in Southern Section Division VI final. Key returnee re·turn·ee n. 1. One who returns, as from a journey or to school after a long absence. 2. A person returning from military duty overseas. See Usage Note at -ee1. : Jennifer Jenkins, Sr. - 24-1, 0.26 ERA, .473 avg., 3 HRs, 25 RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in . This season: 0-3 On tap: Hosts Vasquez of Acton today, 3:15 p.m. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: (color) Although 0-3, Boron has confidence that senior pitcher Jennifer Jenkins will dominate as she did last season. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer Box: AT A GLANCE (see text) |
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