Oak Ridge slide continues as team drops seventh straight game

Oak Ridge High's varsity softball team has fallen into a rut. The team has lost seven straight games following Wednesday's 7-5 loss to St. Francis, while the team hasn't had seven losses in an entire season since three years ago when they lost nine games. Through the last seven games, the Trojans have been outscored 41-13. In the first five of those games, the Trojans were outscored 29-4, while in the last two games they've been outscored 12-9. "I don't know if frustrated is the right word, but I'm seeing improvement so that's a good thing," Oak Ridge co-coach Katelin Eccles said. "We've just got to take it one day at a time." The Trojans didn't score more than a run in five straight games against Whitney, Del Oro, Ponderosa, Rocklin and Davis. Then on Monday they scored four in a 5-4 loss to Elk Grove. On Wednesday, they allowed seven in a 7-5 loss to St. Francis. "I don't blame the pitching," Eccles said. "Kennedi is good, but every team we play is good and she's going to give up hits here and there. Early in the season our defense was our strength, but the roles are reversed now." Four Oak Ridge errors led to five unearned runs in the loss to St. Francis. Oak Ridge scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning against the Troubadours to take a 4-1 lead. Leadoff hitter Emery Glaser ripped a leadoff double and two batters later Brooklyn Paratore singled to drive her in. Gemma Almont then doubled before Berkeley Lampe's single scored Paratore to give the Trojans a 2-1 lead. Camdyn Glaser was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Alyssa Gerritt singled to knock in one run and another run came in to score after Eden Heald drew a walk. However, St. Francis scored two runs in the third inning to draw within one run and then put up four runs in the fifth to take a 7-4 lead. Oak Ridge managed to get one-run back on a solo home run from Kennedi Freeland, but lost, 7-5. In the three innings St. Francis scored, the leadoff hitter reached base all three times. In the four innings the Troubadours didn't score, their leadoff runner did not reach base. The loss dropped Oak Ridge's record in the Sierra Foothill League to 1-5 and the team is 6-7 overall. They will try to end their seven-game losing streak on Friday when they visit Folsom. "We've just got to fit the pieces of the puzzle together," Eccles said. "The girls are frustrated; they want to win, especially considering the success we've had in recent years. It's frustrating for them to be in this position that they really haven't been in much, but adversity is a good thing."