Aristotle-the famed Greek philosopher and Plato disciple-said, “The young are permanently in a state resembling intoxication.” Now it is safe to say that Malibu High School’s varsity softball team has been refraining from all forms of intoxication this season, but they are nevertheless an extremely young team and youth is one of the reasons they fell to 4-14 with a 14-3 loss to Santa Clara on Friday at Malibu High School.
On the positive side, the athletes’ parents point out, softball has provided the girls with a valuable means of spending their extra-curricular time and-much to the contrary of Aristotle’s supposition-has kept the young women from pursuing alternative and intoxicating means of satisfaction.
“Softball helps the girls a lot with self-esteem and confidence,” said Al Cowart, father of freshman starting pitcher Brittany Cowart. “It teaches them responsibility to more than just themselves; it teaches them responsibility to the team. These girls have a lot of character.”
“The girls have learned to back each other up,” added Marie Zweig, mother of junior third baseman Casey Zweig.
Friday’s game began on a positive note for the Sharks in the top of the first inning. Senior starting pitcher Lisa Marie Kohrs held Santa Clara scoreless in the inning, striking out two Saints batters. The Sharks were unable to score in the bottom of the first with Zweig’s walk making her the only runner to reach base in the bottom frame. Zweig would reach base on all three plate appearances on the afternoon with two walks and double to right-center field, bringing her average to an impressive .340 on the season.
Santa Clara (7-5, 2-2) had a big inning in the top of the second, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring six runs to take what would prove to be an insurmountable 6-0 lead. One of the key hits in the inning was a two-RBI single by senior third baseman Liz Pinon.
Zweig and Malibu senior Laureen Jenson scored runs in the bottom of the third inning to give the Sharks their first two runs. Jenson scored Malibu’s third and final in the bottom of the fifth, after which the game was called in the interest of time.
Of the 17 girls on Malibu’s roster, only four are seniors, which seems to foreshadow success for the Sharks in subsequent seasons as the younger girls mature. Five of the girls-including speedy starting centerfielder Amanda Ernst-are Freshman, giving them three more years to turn things around under Head Coach Alfredo Silva.
Malibu (5-15, 2-2) went on to win the first game of a doubleheader Saturday against Rosemead 9-6, but lost to Paraclete of Lancaster 2-11 in the second game of the Desert Diamond Classic at Malibu High School. The Sharks have four games remaining on their schedule, the last being a league game against Oaks Christian on April 12 in Westlake Village.