IWN: Warriors win 2 in Dugard's return at Victory Classic
4/23/2009 Softball
By TIM BURT, Sports Editor
Woodbridge High's softball coach got a lift Saturday when Coach Alan Dugard returned to the dugout for the second game of the Woodbridge/Victory Classic at Bill Barber Park.
Dugard, who is recovering after a gastrointestinal track infection which hospitalized him for four days, left most of the coaching to interim coach Tricia Saxton.
But he was in the dugout providing encouragement to his Warriors, who rallied for a 5-3 victory over Aliso Niguel.
It was the second victory of the day for Woodbridge, which defeated Mission Viejo, 6-3. The Warriors (7-13) finished 2-2 in the tournament.
"It makes me feel really good and the girls played extremely well," said Dugard, who missed two of the tournament games last week when he was recovering. "It's been a tough year for us and I was really happy to see they are playing well and coming together.
"We've had a lot of setbacks but the kids have really played right through that."
Dugard will continue to be in the dugout, but Saxton will run the team on an interim basis until he is at full strength.
"It was wonderful, we were happy to have him back," said Saxton. "I didn't tell them, but I knew he was coming."
The Warriors got a solid pitching performance from junior Michelle Katz, who picked up her second victory of the day with her second complete game. Offensively, Hannah Dowling (4 for 4, RBI), Kelley Hill (2 for 2, two runs) and Jesika Johnson (2 for 3, one run scored) led the way.
The Warriors trailed, 2-1, going into the bottom of the sixth inning before exploding for four runs. Danielle Mathews had a two-run single and Dowling an RBI single in the inning.
"They're doing a great job working together as a team," Saxton said.
