'We have come out stronger': Sutter Union HS softball 9-0; No. 2 in Sac-Joaquin Section poll

Mar. 20—The Sutter Union High softball team has come out more motivated in 2024 after suffering what Olivia Bauer called an "emotional" defeat to end the team's 2023 campaign.

Orestimba derailed Sutter's chances from reaching the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V final and the subsequent Northern California state playoffs a year ago when it took down the Huskies at their place, 4-0 in (9 innings) for one of Sutter's two losses last year.

Bauer, who is committed to Boise State on a softball scholarship, said the loss to Orestimba stuck with her for a good chunk of the offseason. It was a defeat that changed a lot of the way that Sutter does business.

Bauer said Sutter has a new outlook, fueled by team meetings and a team contract.

"I feel like at the beginning of this season we've come out more as a collective team," Bauer said. "We are doing it for each other, not for ourselves."

Sutter has been perfect this year on the books, and at 9-0 the team has taken down some top notch competition — most notably last week's section No. 1 Ripon, 10-0. Sutter has won eight of its nine games by 10 or more runs, with its stars putting up gaudy numbers during the spurt. Bauer is hitting nearly .700 (with almost an .800 on-base percentage) and an under-one ERA through a perfect 5-0 mark. Sutter, this week, has vaulted to No. 2 in the MaxPreps computerized Sac-Joaquin Section full rankings heading into a trip to Lindhurst Tuesday, home against Marysville on Thursday and Yamhill-Carlton (Oregon) on Friday before heading out for the Righetti Tournament in April that will undoubtedly feature some of the best in the state. One of Sutter's foes next month is Bullard, a team that is top-100 in the state and No. 13 in the Central Section. It will be the third time that the teams have met in the last decade, dating back to the most recent matchup in 2022.

Bauer said the team looks to continue to work together as it navigates this season.

"At the end of last season we weren't very much a collective team. It was more toward the end we were doing things individually — you could tell here and there," Bauer said. "We can already tell we have come out so much stronger. Someone gets out, we pick them up (by getting) a hit for them; someone's not having a good day we have a good day for them."

Bauer has had plenty of help to begin 2024. Morgan Heggstrom, another senior and player bound for the next level — having signed with Dominican University — is right behind Bauer in batting average (.625) with five doubles, two triples and 10 runs batted in.

"This year it's (about) focusing on the team and how we build together and get to the end," Heggstrom said. "Softball is the biggest mental game and when you are looking at stats it's intimidating. You have some of the best softball players on the field around you and it's scary so putting the stats aside and being a team player is important. For me, it comes down to when I get into the box I'm like 'Ok I have a job to do for my team not for myself.'"

Sutter head softball coach Stefanie Danna said the team's approach to open 2024 has been on attacking from the get-go.

"We want to make sure we are getting ahead early in games," Danna said.

Danna referenced the Ripon game as one contest where Sutter made adjustments all game to successfully win each battle up and down the lineup.

"The team hit well, it was a collective win," Danna said. "They did a good job adjusting to their pitcher because she brings different levels and so you have to lay off that high stuff. The girls had to make her bring it down and they did a good job."

Sac-Joaquin Section softball full poll

Yuba City is second among area teams at 29th in the section's full poll following its first win in the Capital Valley Conference — a 1-0 win over No. 35 Woodcreek on Tuesday where sophomore Taylorlyn Anderson blasted the game-winner with her first homer of the season.

River Valley (4-4), which lost its CVC opener, comes in at No. 40 in the section. Orestimba, last year's SJS D-V champion is 33rd at 8-3 on the year.

The area baseball rankings will be unveiled on Friday.