Lady Sharks End Softball Season On Seven-Game Losing Streak

After a promising 11-5 start, the Miami Dade College softball team lost 21 of their last 24 games to finish the season with a 14- 26 mark. 

The Lady Sharks had three losing streaks of at least six games and ended the season on a seven-game slide. They won 15 fewer games than the previous season. 

Their best stretch was from Feb. 3 through Feb. 17 when they won eight of eleven games including a five-game winning streak, the team’s biggest of the season.

“I think we had a good, bonding team,” said Beatriz Narazaki, the team’s starting catcher. “Although we lost a lot, we did have fun together.”

Despite the losses, the Lady Sharks softball team also had some bright spots. 

Right-hander Vicky Navarro led the pitching staff with a 6-8 mark, a 2.91 earned run average and 49 strikeouts. In two seasons at MDC, Navarro won 22 games and struck out 157 batters.

The sophomore was also potent with the bat. Navarro was second on the team with a .344 batting average this season while contributing 17 RBI and a team-leading nine doubles. 

“I had a little bit of a rocky start,” Navarro said. “As we went on I got out of my head and then I was able to push through and play to the best of my ability.”

Narazaki, who shared catching duties as a freshman, had a breakout season for the Lady Sharks. She led the team with a .373 batting average, 26 RBI and four triples and was third on the squad with six doubles.

Sophomore pitchers Ashlyn Blanchard and Mckenna Thompson each won four games.

Two freshmen—outfielder Taylor Clayton and first baseman Alexis Ortega—also played prominent roles.  

Ortega had a team-leading three home runs and added 18 RBI, seven doubles and a .274 to the Lady Sharks offensive attack.

Clayton contributed a .316 batting average, 21 RBI, seven doubles and three triples.  

Click here to subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter, The Hammerhead. For news tips, contact us at mdc.thereporter@gmail.com