The Gresham softball seniors were smiling and dancing during their final game of the regular season.
It helps when you know you’ve got more innings coming. Oh, and when you put together that kind of offensive clinic.
“It was so emotional, everyone has those jitters heading into senior night because this is the last time being on the home field with the team,” said Nayeli Ramirez. “I was happy to be with this team all four years, they have given me so much support and love.”
Ramirez, Kendall Gardenhire and Ally Downing were celebrated for their careers as Gophers.
“Me and (Kendall) have been playing since we were toddlers together, it’s crazy to now be in the last year,” Downing said.
That final game had fireworks against visiting Reynolds. Gresham (13-12, 7-5 League) used a pair of monstrous scoring innings — 8 runs in the 2nd and 7 runs in the 3rd — to secure the mercy-rule 18-2 victory over the Raiders Tuesday, May 14, to cap Mt. Hood Conference play.
Coach Jim Gardenhire joked after the game he didn’t need to do much coaching. It’s hard to give tips when every swing of the bat is a well-placed deep shot.
“Good things happen when that ball is up in the sun and wind,” he said. “We need to keep this good energy heading into playoffs.”
During the pregame the three seniors walked to home plate with their loved ones. There were balloons, streamers, flowers, and plenty of hugs. For Gardenhire, it was a special moment being out there with her dad.
“We have a really good coach-player and father-daughter relationship,” she said. “We talk to each other all the time and stay connected on what is happening with the team.”
All of that could have been a distraction. But the three seniors stayed focused on closing their Gresham careers with a win at home.
“We have all been playing so long that we have gone through stuff while playing,” Ramirez said. “You zone in —”
“You lock in,” Downing said.
“I was going to say that,” Ramirez added with a laugh. “I couldn’t think of the word.”
There were plenty of highlights. The Gophers had four-straight doubles in the 2nd inning courtesy sophomore Melinda Herrejon, Downing, junior La Terra Foster-Frison and Suntaya Riddle. That was followed by a triple from sophomore Maddy Sagapolutele to build an 8-1 Gresham lead.
The Raiders got one back in the 3rd inning after sophomore Jaslene Magana’s double brought home freshman Madelyn Bailey.
But Foster-Frison answered with two beautiful hits after Gresham worked its way through the lineup. First she hit a home run to make it 12-2. Then after a scoring flurry, which included a two-run triple by sophomore Alyssa Grover, Foster-Frison did it again. She smashed another hit deep middle, nearly getting a second homer. That one fell just short, clanging off the back fence for a triple that scored two runners, sealing the win.
“The team has a spark, and we need it to keep going,” Downing said. “Everyone is there for each other, if one of us is down we all bring them back up.”
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