PALO ALTO – When Lauryn Selvaraj smacked the ball deep into the outfield, it was obvious she was guaranteed a double. But after the Santa Clara defender had trouble corralling the ball, the Gunn senior motored ahead for a triple.
And when it was clear a throw into the plate wouldn’t get there in time, an alert Selvaraj turned on the jets and sprinted across home plate for an inside-the-park home run.
Great hitting, alert baserunning, and some iffy fielding by the other team led to a lot of smiles in the dugout in a blowout victory. Everything went right for scorching-hot Gunn, which run-ruled visiting Santa Clara 14-3 in five innings and won its 13th game in a row.
“We’re putting in a lot of work in practice, and we’re really seeing that come out in the games,” Selvaraj said.
Gunn is better known for being one of the top public schools in the state than for its teams’ athletic prowess.
But the Titans softball program has quietly been a solid team in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League El Camino Division for several years, winning at least 10 games in league in each of Alan Lundberg’s first three seasons as coach, and are on pace to do that again.
Postseason success is the next step.
Gunn High head coach Alan Lundberg talks to pitcher pitcher Ruth Jaquette #18 as they gather on the mound for a timeout during their game against Santa Clara High at Henry M. Gunn High School Calif., on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Gunn won the game 14-3. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
“It’s time for Gunn to make some noise,” Lundberg said after his team outscored opponents 51-8 during the week.
The No. 8 seeded Titans made a little “noise” when it defeated No. 1 Silver Creek in the Division III Central Coast Section playoffs last season, but that was a surprise to the team, which lost in the next round.
At a school where excelling in the classroom is the top priority and many of his players will miss practices to take AP classes, Lundberg shared his perspective on the role of sports in his student’s lives.
“I view this as something that’s competitive, but it’s also a respite from the pressures of the school,” Lundberg said. “We’re trying to have fun.”
With the team having been a perennial contender in the league, and a giant-slayer in last year’s playoffs, Gunn’s players are well-regarded by opponenents.
Their classmate’s respect is what they’re seeking now.
Gunn High pitcher Ruth Jaquette #18 throws against Santa Clara High during their game at Henry M. Gunn High School Calif., on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Gunn won the game 14-3. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
“Our softball program has been good for the last three years and most people don’t know that,” pitcher Ruth Jaquette said, with Selvaraj adding, “I feel like we’re looked down on because we’re not one of the bigger sports.”
Any Gunn student that made it out to Thursday’s game would have come away impressed.
Gunn and Santa Clara traded runs in the first inning as leadoff hitters Chloe Boyes and Selvaraj each scored to make it 1-1 at the end of the first.
But once Gunn’s bats got going, there was no stopping a team that is now 5-0 in Santa Clara Valley Athletic League play. The Titans scored three runs in the second, seven in the third, and three more in the fourth.
Selvaraj hit a triple and that inside the park homer, and No. 9 hitter Allison Novick was 2 for 3 with four RBIs. Sophomore Izzy Grimmer had three hits, and speedy centerfielder Aarushi Kumar and Violet Hayes each had two hits and two runs.
“We make productive at-bats and everyone does their part in our offense,” Jaquette said. “That’s what leads to our really-high scoring games.”
Santa Clara played three sophomores and four freshman, and the fresh-faced Bruins showed their resolve after going down big. They continued to fight and put up great at-bats against a tough matchup in senior Jaquette, who gave ace pitcher Selvaraj the day off in the circle.
Gunn High shortstop Makena Smith #88 tags out Santa Clara High’s Madelyn Rea #4 during their game at Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Gunn won the game 14-3. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Madelyn Rea and Priscilla Medina had an RBI for Santa Clara, and sophomore Genevieve Valdez scored a run while Averie Lopez and Jordyn Guzman both had hits.
“One of them was having a hard time in the field, but she picked it up (by the end) and she made a couple of plays. That’s all I’m asking for from these girls,” Santa Clara coach Julie Kawamoto said. “We had three girls in there that don’t usually start, so I’m proud of them.”
Gunn’s players say they are taking the season one game at a time. But it’s clear that adding another league championship is expected.
“We have a really good shot at our league, and I think we can do pretty well in CCS too,” Selvaraj said while looking at the “2021 SCVAL Champions” banner in centerfield. “We hold ourselves to a high standard because we know we can win another one of those.”
