Tom Price Jr.
In their first three games of the young season, the Lindsay Cardinals softball team has played one bad inning. The result, a 2-1 record and a team slowly meshing as East Sequoia League play looms in the coming weeks.
Last Tuesday the Cardinals surrendered 12 runs in the first inning of their season opener against Granite Hills at home. The team settled down after that forgetful inning and eventually lost the game 18-4.
On Saturday they continued to improve taking both ends of a double-header against McFarland in McFarland. They won the first game 3-1 and the second 5-2.
"We only have three senior returners and one junior so we weren't quite ready for Granite Hills," Lindsay coach Jeff Hall said. "We had four sophomores that grew up a lot that day. I think if we had played a game before that opener it would have been a different outcome."
Against McFarland Raquel Chairez showed little signs of rust having just made the transition from point guard on the basketball team to the No. 2 hitter on the softball team. Chairez went two-for-two in both games of the double-header.
"She is real hard to fool," Hall said. "She is not the fastest or the strongest player, but she always comes through."
Perhaps the key to the Cardinals season this year is the play of four-year varsity player Rebecca Dial. Dial has developed into one of the most versatile players in the league having started her Cardinal career as a third baseman, then moved to catcher her sophomore year and now as a senior they are looking for her
