Smart baserunning helps Pintos' softball team during jamboree

<p>Democrat photo/ Kevin Labotka</p><p>The California Pintos won two of their scrimmages during the jamboree on Aug. 12</p>

Democrat photo/ Kevin Labotka

The California Pintos won two of their scrimmages during the jamboree on Aug. 12

It came down to the wire but the California Pintos' softball team won two of it's scrimmages during the jamboree Aug. 12, thanks to some smart base running.

In their first game, the Pintos defeated the Russellville Indians 4-3. The Pintos scored the winning run on a wild pitch. Head Coach Steven Stock liked seeing the way the team competed during their scrimmages.

"Winning games like this, where a play here or a play there can cost you a game, we gave up a couple (of runs) that could have cost us. But then then they fought back," Stock said. "I was glad that they competed. When those plays are in front of you, you have to make those plays to be able to be successful and get wins."

The Pintos trailed for most of the first scrimmage but were able to rally in the final inning and win.

The team made a few mistakes, as Stock said, and a few signs were missed. That is something that the team needs to improve on. But overall, he was happy with the performance and said the team learned a lot during the jamboree.

"You come out after camp all summer and practice for a couple of weeks, you just need to play somebody else," Stock said. "We learned a lot about us today and we will use it as we go on."

The Pintos won their second scrimmage 1-0 against the Jamestown Eagles thanks to another wild pitch. The scrimmages showed the team the importance of playing smart in such tight competition.

"I tell these kids that, if two teams are evenly matched, sometimes who's ever smarter and makes a better decision, that can be the difference," Stock said.

The Pintos lost their third game which was a junior varsity game against the Eugene Eagles 6-2.

Stock believes that the team took away the importance of playing with a lot of effort and that it will help the team during the season. The importance of having a good effort has been something the team has focused on during practices.

"We're trying to make these kids understand that winning for the most part takes care of itself but you have to compete," Stock said. "I as a coach expect these kids to compete and I think they did that today."