After stretching their Central Coast Section season best winning streak to 17 games after wins over Menlo School and Menlo-Atherton, the Terra Nova varsity softball team lost their first Peninsula Athletic League-Ocean Division game of the season last Friday at Woodside, 1-0. The Lady Tigers are now tied with Woodside for first place with a 10-1 record, and they are 19-3 overall.

Despite the loss, prospects for reaching the post-season still remain bright. Winning their last three games would virtually guarantee them a spot in the CCS Playoffs. With their enhanced non-league schedule they may have amassed enough points to qualify even if they finish second.

Head Coach Donna Tolero does not want to leave anything to chance, however. "The only way we control our own fate is by winning the last three games, so that is what we need to do. We have accomplished a lot this year, and now we need to finish strong," the first year coach stated.

In the loss to Woodside, Terra Nova ran into a tough pitcher and couldn't generate any offense. Despite playing an otherwise strong defensive game, they made two errors in the fifth inning that led to game's only run and spoiled a great pitching performance by freshman Devon Murphy. Jackie Alas had a bunt single for the Tigers.

Sophomore Haley Humphrey threw a complete game five hitter in the 13-4 win over Menlo School, striking out two Knights. Offensively, they banged out 13 hits. Emma Dewit smashed a two-run homer and Kelly Schulze, Briana Cotter and and Jenny Piccolotti all had doubles.

Leading just 3-0 after five innings, Terra Nova erupted for six runs in the sixth and five in the seventh to post a 14-2 win over Menlo-Atherton. Murphy threw a complete game six hitter, walking one and fanning six. Cotter, the first baseman, was the defensive star. She snared two tough pop flies and stretched to turn two throws from right field into outs. She also laid down a perfect drag bunt.

In the decisive sixth inning, Murphy led off with a single and was pinch ran for by Katie Jaques, who stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Jenny Federico drove her in with a double. Alas, who scored four times, drove Federico in with a single, bringing up Nykka Bocanegro in what would normally be a bunting situation. She talked Tolero into letting her hit and she responded with a two-run homer that cleared the fence by 20 feet. Schulze then ripped one of her two triples, and she scored on a single by Jamie Parque.