Lady Jags nudged from playoffs

Softball coach Yasmin Mossadeghi promised to improve the offense when she took over at Southwestern College. She has kept her promise.

Hard hitting and hard charging, the Lady Jaguars scored a lot of runs this season, but gave up a few too many to reach the playoffs. Despite a solid 24-16 overall record and the stellar play of multi-talented Gabrielle Beasley, they are staying home from the playoffs this year.

An eight-game winning streak near season’s end made it interesting, though.  Lady Jag bats were booming in a 13-0 trouncing of Imperial Valley College and 9-5 thumping of San Diego City College. Mossadeghi said it was the type of play SWC is capable of replicating and that could lead to a promising 2014.

“The team focused on goal setting and on the little things such as quality at bats during the eight-game winning streak,” said Mossadeghi.

SWC got lots of good at bats in a 13-0 trouncing of Imperial Valley College. Outfielder Alex Gallegos said the slugfest helped to create momentum.

“It was a great way to boost our confidence and get the ball rolling in our direction,” she said.

Following a 4-2 loss to the San Diego Mesa College Olympians, the Lady Jags came home to beat San Diego City College, 9-5.  Monica Armas clubbed a three-run home run to tie it at 4-4, then she smoked a solo shot in the sixth to give the jags a lead. Outfielder Crystal Corona launched the winning assault in the seventh, followed by singles from Jessica Ramirez and Gabrielle Beasley. Shortstop Ariel Bockniak lined a two-run triple and Nikki Berumen singled her in for the ninth run.

“I knew I needed to get the job done and just make contact and start the rally,” said Corona. “I knew my teammates would follow.”

A late-season stumble prevented a return to the playoffs in the highly-competitive Pacific Coast Athletic Conference. SWC would have made the playoffs in any other Southern California conference, but Mossadeghi said she has no regrets and wants the Lady Jags playing against the highest level of competition.

No one played a higher level this year than Beasley, the gifted and tenacious shortstop/pitcher/slugger who was named PCAC Softball Player of the Year as well as Southwestern College Female Athlete of the Year. Beasley has a scholarship to play at CSU Fullerton in 2014 and she said she looks forward to playing on a bigger stage.

Sonia Mazon joined Joining Beasley as First Team All-PCAC. Berumen and Bockniak were Second Team selections.