The Yellowjackets’ softball team rode their senior leadership all the way to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship last season — the program’s first blue banner.
But with that blue banner came the caps and gowns worn by those senior leaders. And this year’s Hilmar team is dominated by underclassmen.
For coach Paul Willis, that’s not necessary a bad thing.
“We’re young and we’re going to compete and we’re going to get better every day and do everything we can to win games,” said Willis, who also serves as the school’s athletic director. “We’re going to be fighting for a playoff spot this year. That’s what I believe and that’s what I’ll instill in the girls.”
After starting the year 0-3, the Yellowjackets have won two of their last three and will travel to take on Riverbank today at 4 p.m., before starting Trans-Valley League play on Friday in Livingston.
Hilmar will have to make up for the loss of Jenna Gomes, the league co-pitcher of the year and the team’s MVP. Also gone are backup pitcher Kiara Egli, first baseman Emily Bare, and shortstop Nicole Teixeira.
“When you lose seniors of that caliber, obviously, it’s going to have an effect on you,” said Willis. “Our goal is to not let it.”
Senior Emily Cogswell, a three-sport athlete who plays golf and basketball in addition to being an all-league softball player, will play a key role, as will classmate Lexi Vieira. Sophomore Sophie Stivers and freshman Emma Gomes also will be key contributors.
Willis expects Escalon and Ripon to be the teams to beat in the TVL.
“For a young team like ours to say we’re going to beat a Ripon team that has about everybody coming back and we lost to twice last year, that’s pretty tough,” said Willis. “But we will compete, no doubt.”
Baseball
Hilmar High’s baseball team has gotten off to an uneven start, winning two games out of the gate before dropping its next three.
The Yellowjackets started the season with a 5-2 win over Atwater of the Central California Conference, then followed that up with a 15-8 win over Pacheco in Los Banos.
After a 10-day, weather-induced layoff, Hilmar fell to Central Valley 4-2 in Ceres, then lost 9-1 to Hughson in the Trans-Valley League opener for both schools.
Hilmar lost 11-1 on Monday to undefeated Linden (5-0).
The Yellowjackets will visit reigning Sac-Joaquin Section Division VII champ Turlock Christian on Friday at 6 p.m. — weather permitting — and then complete their home-and-home series with Hughson on Saturday.
So far this season, junior Jackson Takhar is hitting .455, with three extra-base hits and five RBIs, while sophomore John Labno and freshman Jacob Sward are each batting .333.
The Yellowjackets, along with Hughson and Livingston, shared the 2022 TVL title with a 9-3 record. Overall, Hilmar was 14-10 and was bounced from the D-V playoffs in the first round. Eight seniors graduated from that team, leaving the 2023 squad with two seniors, eight juniors, five sophomores and one freshman.
