Folsom softball slips by Rocklin before extended break

Coming off the program's best season in 13 years, if any softball team was looking forward to playing this year, it was Folsom High's. The Bulldogs won 17 games a year ago, the first time the team had a winning record since 2010. Optimism was high with several returning players who were hungry for more success. Then came the coronavirus. As of Friday, all athletic contests involving Folsom-Cordova Unified athletic teams were cancelled through April 13, as the month off will help lower the risk of the virus spreading faster than it already is. Before the stoppage, the Bulldogs had played two games; losing the first to Ponderosa, 5-4, before winning the second 2-1 against Rocklin on Tuesday in their first Sierra Foothill League game of the season. The win against Rocklin was an exciting one, as Folsom won the game in walk-off fashion, as Allison Gallant singled to score Gracie Carpenter in the bottom of the seventh inning. "We've come together well and against Rocklin we played with good energy and showed great focus and intensity," Folsom coach Paige Beeskau said. Carpenter, one of three freshmen on the team along with Isra Rauf and Lauren Holcomb, also drove in Folsom's first run, which scored Alexa DeMarse. Carpenter and DeMarse both had two hits. Sophomore pitcher Emma Falen shined as well, allowing only four hits, while striking out five. "This team has bonded really fast," Falen said. "I had full faith in the girls against Rocklin. Look what Allison did in her first at bat; got a hit. I'm super excited for the season. It's a great group of girls." The Thunder is no pushover either. A year ago, Rocklin and Folsom finished league play with 9-6 records and tied for second place. Rocklin won two of three league games against Folsom, but the Bulldogs also defeated them in a tournament. "Rocklin's a good team and they're good at generating their own tempo and energy and that affects other teams," Beeskau said. With the season currently put on hold, time will tell how the Bulldogs will finish. The team this year, however, is much different than last year's bunch. Despite seven returning players, there were seven others who did not return. Three players transferred to Sheldon High and four others chose not to play. "I can only speak to the players currently here," Beeskau said. "We've only had two games, but things are going well. We have a lot of new girls on the team and we're trying to get them to bond. Each season is independent of the next. We don't perceive anything off of last season. This year the goal is the same as last year and that's to make the playoffs." Added Falen, "I wish the girls who didn't come back the best of luck. I can't change any of that. I respect their decisions. I still feel this team can compete. We have talented underclassmen; you saw that with Gracie against Rocklin. I'm confident. We're going to have our good and bad games, but every team has that."