Winners of 22 Straight Games, Softball Plays Doubleheader Tuesday at Ventura

The softball team enters the week on a 22-game winning streak, the second-longest active streak in the state, behind only 29-0 San Mateo. The Bulldogs are a perfect 8-0 in Western State Conference play and 24-2-1 overall. They are ranked No. 12 in the latest State Coaches Poll and sixth in the Southern California Regional.  

Hancock plays three conference games this week starting with a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 31, at Ventura. The Bulldogs beat Ventura 10-2 to open conference play earlier this month. Hancock travels to Moorpark on Thursday, April 2, a team the Bulldogs beat 8-0 and 10-2 the first round of conference games. Ventura starts the week in second place in conference at 5-2 and 12-16 overall. Moorpark is 1-6 in league and 5-15 overall.

Last week, Hancock went a perfect 7-0, including a doubleheader sweep over conference rival Cuesta College. The Bulldogs blanked Cuesta 10-0 in the first game behind a home run and no-hitter from Katie Chenault. The sophomore struck out 12 and issued one walk. Judith Salazar added two hits and 4 RBI, while Michaela Valencia had two hits and also drove in four runs. Hancock won the second game by virtue of a forfeit because Cuesta only had eight players. Two days later, Hancock dominated Oxnard 20-1 thanks to a grand slam from Salazar, two home runs and 5 RBI from Chenault, and a home run and 5 RBI from Jessica Rothanzl.

The Bulldogs went 4-0 during the Ventura Tournament over the weekend. They edged Cerritos, the ninth ranked team in the region, 2-0 behind a three-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts from Chenault. A few hours later, Hancock trumped the third-ranked team in California, Cypress, 1-0 behind a 14 strikeout effort from Chenault. Shortstop Missy Regalado drove in the only run of the game with a two-out double. Freshman catcher Teanna Silveira drove in the only run of the game with a two-out single in the second in Sunday's 1-0 win over Porterville.

Chenault leads the state with 273 strikeouts and 22 wins. She ranks second in California with a 0.75 ERA. Salazar leads the conference with four triples and 38 RBI. Rothanzl ranks second with 37 RBI, is tied for the conference-lead with seven home runs, and leads all WSC hitters with a .519 batting average. Valencia ranks fourth in the conference with 23 RBI and leads the league with 17 walks and 17 stolen bases.