On a cool late January morning at the Glendale Sports Complex, players, coaches, umpires, and fans began arriving for the 20th annual David "Hawk" Wilder Memorial Softball Tournament. Wilder was the beloved head coach of the Glendale College Softball program from 2001 through 2013. Among his accomplishments, Wilder led the Lady Vaqueros to a berth in the CCCAA Super Regionals in 2012 for the first time in program history. He was forced to retire after the 2013 season due to health issues. He passed two months later due to complications from post-polio at the age of 70.
Current Vaquero head coach Sal Pizzo, who served as an assistant to Wilder for seven seasons prior to the passing, has very vivid memories of "Coach Hawk." "Hawk had a larger-than-life personality. He knew and cared for everyone in the softball community and was loved and respected by everyone who knew him. I am grateful for the privilege and opportunity I have had to try to continue to carry on his legacy of kindness and making every athlete that comes through our program feel special and part of a family. That was Hawk's desire for everyone. Because of those special qualities and all his other accomplishments here at GCC, we re-named our annual tourney that we host each year "The David Hawk Wilder Memorial Softball Tournament." This being the 20th anniversary of the event, makes it even more special. So as I have told all of my players, we need to perform at as high a level as possible in this tournament to honor and dedicate it to him.
The Lady Vaqueros did just that this past weekend as they won three of four games - for the program's best start in nearly a decade after wins against the Cerro Coso Coyotes (6-1), Imperial Valley Desert Warriors (9-1) and Oxnard Condors (14-7) with their lone loss coming on the hands of San Diego Mesa (9-0). Mesa went on to finish with a 4-0 record. GCC has gone from a combined five wins to just two losses in the past two editions of the tournament dating back to Jan. 2024.
Cerro Coso: Freshman leadoff hitter Catarina Anzalone set the tone for the Vaqs with a team-high three hits and two runs scored. Azusena Lopez finished with two hits - thanks to two run-scoring hits in the sixth inning to put the game away for good. Joslyn Padilla had two hits. Annaliese Ruiz got the start for the Vaqs going six strong innings to secure her first career victory. Ruiz allowed just four hits to go with four strikeouts in the circle and on the offensive side of the plate, she had a double, scored a run, and drove home a run as well.
Imperial Valley: Returning sophomores Tati Pisa, Desiree Guzma,n and Emma Mendoza all had a great day at the plate in this one. Pisa went 3 for 4 with three RBIs overall - thanks to a two-run home run in the fourth inning, a triple, and two runs scored. Pisa's three hits in the first game of Saturday was the second time she has done that - the first since a game against Victor Valley last season. Guzman was 2 for 3 with a triple, two runs driven i,n and two runs scored. Mendoza finished with two hits and scored a run. Lopez also had a triple for the Vaqs - the third as a team for the game.
Freshman pitcher Valerie Juarez pitched a four-inning three-hitter with no earned runs allowed and registered her first victory.
Oxnard: Lopez wrapped up the last game of the tournament by going 4 for 4 with six runners driven in, which included both a three-run home run and a two-run double in the middle of two plate appearances. Lopez finished the weekend (7-for-14 with EIGHT RBIs, one home run, and two triples) to help her be in the running for State Player of the Week honors. E. Mendoza finished with a home run and two runs scored and Guzman had a two-run double in her first plate appearance. Ruiz moved to 2-0 on the season after pitching three innings against Western State Conference North rival Oxnard.
Story by Eric Owens
Pic Courtesy of Jesse Mendoza of SoCal Sports Photos