Crosstown Rivals Take to the Field
By Mark Bell, The Orinda News
April 29, 204

The matchup has always been a benchmark of any season. Sixty-two years of competition between the Miramonte Matadors and the Campolindo Cougars. Even if all other games on the schedule are losses, this is the one game for which both high schools really want to see that "W" next to their name.
    So late Thursday afternoon on April 18, the Matadors girls varsity softball team seemed perhaps a little more resolute as they geared up to take on their historic rivals. Division 3 is an extra tough arena to walk away with a winning record, much less a run at an NCS title.
    The surrounding hills, fresh with mustard blossoms, mimicked the colorful rallying chatter from supporters just outside the caged fence. The girl's pre-game "Mats!" rallying cry could be heard all the way up Moraga Canyon, I imagine, as the Matadors took to the diamond to defend their 10-5 record.
    Star Abby Warren, #12, just a sophomore, was on the mound, having struck out over 100 batters thus far this season, with an incredibly low 1.97 ERA against her.
    Behind the plate was the highly polished catcher Talia Kardon, #8. Some may remember her recent heroics on the soccer field during the NCS shoot-out victory.
    In short, there is no shortage of talent, or heart, on this team.
    Head Coach OC Schott has done an unbelievable job of turning this team around since last season. In 2023, we were outscored 263 points to 63 with just a 2-15 record. This year, although still not finished, we're now the ones out-scoring those same opponents 121-23.
The team also has two shut-outs under their belt now, which hasn't happened since 2013.
    Schott credits starting his focus on the pitcher's circle first, then working outward, early match-up scheduling and, of course, his 14-deep roster of star players who can fill in for each other at the drop of a hat, should academics ever require an absence.
    As the high-stakes rivalry game played out, seniors like #11 Antonia Lawrence and #21 Madilyn Roesner put their experience into play executing Schotts's "Pinball Softball" offensive strategy: Keep the ball in play and let the other team make the mistakes.
    The result was an incredibly exciting game to watch. High energy and high action. Julia Quin-Ferguson, #10, hit the ball so high at one point I thought it was another solar eclipse. Gianna Granzella, #3, stole so many bases there were dust clouds the size of buffalo stampeding across the infield.
    A true "dust up."
    Post-game, the girls gathered for a team ritual. Physics teacher and Assistant Coach Tiff's send-off words of wisdom: "…Your bats were a battle and y'all were staring adversity in the face — down 4-0, and then 7-4. But you kept your head in the game and figured out how to hit the starting pitcher and show them who we are."

Final score Mats 24, Cougars 7.

https://theorindanews.com/2024/04/29/game-on-may-2024/