Dons capitalize on Hawks’ errors

   For the first time since April 2008, the Dons softball team defeated district rival Santiago Canyon College 10-3 in a game marred by multiple errors on Feb. 24.
Santa Ana totaled six hits and capitalized on six errors by Hawks’ defense.
   Dons’ center fielder Nicole Warnick reached base and scored on errors from Hawks shortstop Courtney Aden and pitcher Kayla Nash. The Dons then scored four runs in the second inning on two hit batters, two errors and a single from designated hitter Melba Valencia.
   But the Dons ran into some problems of their own in the top of the fourth inning, committing three errors and allowing three runs to score.
   “Errors are always going to happen. It’s how your team picks you up after that matters,” third baseman Taylor Martin said.
   Katlyn Harp and the rest of the Santa Ana defense held SCC at three runs, retiring all the batters in the last three innings.
   Santa Ana worked to extend their lead to 9-3 in the fifth inning, taking advantage of two errors from Hawks’ third baseman Chelsea Navarette.
   Santa Ana scored their final run in the sixth inning when right fielder Nicole Mendoza hit a double then scored on a single by catcher Sarah Singh. Mendoza and Singh led the Dons with two hits each.
   Dons’ first-year Head Coach Jessica Rapoza has now been on the winning team for three seasons, previously as an assistant coach at SCC. Even though her time there was so recent, Rapoza didn’t let her history faze her.
   “All week I focused on just my team,” said Rapoza. “I didn’t want to get side tracked thinking about other things that take away from our game.”
   The two teams will face each other again on March 19 and April 14. Santa Ana improved to a record of 7-7-1 overall and 2-3 in the Orange Empire Conference. With a win against their rivals, Rapoza was confident in her team’s ability to keep the momentum going.
   “We’re figuring out our strengths,” said Rapoza. “We have 18 competitors on this team who can come off the bench at any time and play hard.”
   Their next game is Wednesday against Golden West College. The Dons are 1-0 versus the Rustlers this season.