Selma High’s softball team has progressed along their season nicely. May 11th reaped a nice victory for the girls, winning with a score of 6-3 against rival team Kingsburg. Their next game will be a home game on May 14 against Washington Union at 4 pm.  They are scheduled to compete against Kingsburg again on May 31, the final game of the season before starting playoffs on June 8.

Some of the schools the team has faced were Bullard High, Dinuba High, Kingsburg High, and Hanford High. 

“We currently have six wins and five losses,” says Coach Tapia. “Unfortunately three of those losses were by only one run each.”

Tapia has been coaching the softball team for the last five years. Before that, he coached baseball and football for 20. 

“My favorite part about coaching softball is the competition. I am a very competitive person. Our challenges this season are making the proper adjustments at the right time. We have not been as consistent as we should be.” 

Currently the team has three wins against D1 teams. In their efforts to win the league and Valley Championship, the team practices every weekday from 3:30 to 5:30 on days they don’t have a game.

“A team goal is to stay focused and play every game like it’s our last because we can’t afford to lose. We, of course, would all like to win league and valley,” proclaims, senior Marissa Cerda. 

Cerda, alongside Emilee Sanchez and Marytza Morales, is one of the captains on the softball team. As captain, she must make sure everyone’s attitude is “on the right track to win.” 

Emilee Sanchez is another captain on the team. She leads the team on and off the field and helps motivate them. 

“Softball has made me a more responsible person in life. It has allowed me to take responsibility in different situations,” says Sanchez. 

Softball has taught not just Sanchez, but many other girls about determination and grit. With such determination, responsibility, and grit, the team is paving the way toward becoming Valley Champions.