Softball’s past, present take field

UCLA softball exhibition games are, by their nature,
opportunities for excellent players to show off their skills.

The play is relaxed and fun, almost always resulting in
high-scoring slugfests.

Saturday’s UCLA softball alumnae game did not break the
mold, ending in a 13-12 win for the Blue team over the White team.
The game included a home run derby, a lead-off grand slam, a
shortstop pitching for the win and the save, and a pitcher getting
the game-winning RBI.

Both teams were composed of juniors and seniors from the current
softball team and alumnae from each of UCLA’s eight NCAA
championship teams.

“It’s just great to have former players come back
and not only just play but just to be in the stands, come down, and
be in the clubhouse, and connect with the current kids,” UCLA
head coach Sue Enquist said. “It means a lot to us and our
program.”

The White team started off the scoring in the top of the first
inning with a Sheila Cornell-Douty single to drive in Amanda
Freed.

The Blue team took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning
with a five-run barrage that included current Bruin pitcher Keira
Goerl, in her first at-bat since high school, driving in two runs
on a single with the bases loaded to give the Blue a 3-2 lead.
Alumna Lorraine Maynez-Cordova scored a run with a double and then
needed no one to drive her in as she stole both third and home.

In the top of the fourth inning All-American shortstop Natasha
Watley made her UCLA pitching debut and threw a scoreless
inning.

“It was funny and it was exciting, but I like my position
and I like (Watley) behind me,” Goerl said.

The fifth inning brought what has become an alumnae game
tradition ““ a home run derby. Usually a crowd pleaser,
Saturday’s version did not disappoint with a total of 13 home
runs ““ six slammed by the White team, seven by the Blue. In
the final round, Lisa Fernandez and Claire Sua, squared off with
Fernandez winning 4-3.

After a break, the teams decided to play one last inning and
thrill the crowd a final time. To create some excitement, the White
team started off the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded
against Watley. Senior third baseman Tairia Mims hit a lead-off
grand slam.

Despite that, Watley was able to get through the inning without
any further damage and got the victory.

Stacey Nuveman, the Bruins’ former catcher and all-time
NCAA home run leader, was the umpire and made many emphatic calls.
Sharron Backus, a former UCLA head coach (1976-1996) with five
national championship rings, threw out the first pitch.