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The College of the Redwoods softball team played for the first time since 2024 over the weekend, and it was an impressive return to action. 

After having to cancel last season because of injuries and medical clearance issues, the CR women returned at the David “Hawk” Wilder Memorial Tournament in Glendale and dropped just one of their four games, finishing 2-1-1.

Redwoods opened with a big 20-5 win over Cuesta, and followed that with a 20-1 loss to Glendale and a 6-6 tie with Imperial Valley, before closing out the weekend with a 9-1 win over San Diego City.

“This weekend was a great early test for us against tough competition, and I loved the way our group competed from pitch one to the last out,” said head coach Micaela Harris, who got her first win with the program against Cuesta.

“We showed we can put pressure on teams offensively. We were aggressive on the bases, we worked quality at-bats, and we had different people step up in big moments.”

As a team, Redwoods hit .324 and stole 15 bases, while freshman pitcher Mackenzie Dean went 2-0, and, according to her coach, helped keep her team in games throughout the weekend with an ERA of 2.89.

Emily Gomez and Jordyn Hattery led the charge at the plate and combined for 14 RBIs over the four games.

“We also saw some areas we need to tighten up, especially defensively and in our situational awareness,” Harris said. “But it’s exactly what you want out of opening weekend, especially because for some of the older girls it has been over a year since they last played.

“Mackenzie gave us steady innings and confidence in the circle, and Emily and Jordyn delivered big-time hits when we needed them.

“Overall, it’s a strong start and a great foundation to build on.”

In game one, Redwoods scored 15 runs in the fourth inning to take control of a tight game and never looked back.

The bottom of the lineup impressed with Dean, Gomez and Carlee Harper combining for five of the team’s 11 hits, while scoring eight runs and driving in seven.

Dean pitched four innings for the win, with Kailey Wheelock finishing the game in relief, while Maeghan Hampton had a game-ending double play.

Game two against Glendale was a tough one, with Harper and Lily Cunningham getting the only two hits of the day.

Game three against Imperial Valley was called after six innings due to a time limit.

Gomez drove in four of CR’s runs on two hits, including a three-run double in the opening inning and an inside-the-park home run in the fifth.

In the same inning, Hattery also had an inside-the-park home run, while Bailee Box singled and would reach home plate on the same play on an outfield error.

Wheelock pitched the entire game for a no-decision.

The CR women closed out tournament play strong with a big win over San Diego, thanks to a six-run sixth inning.

The big inning included a bases-clearing triple by Hattery, who also scored on the play thanks to a San Diego error, while Grace Turgeon led the team at the plate and finished with three hits.

Gomez, Cunningham and Tsinte Steinruck each had multiple hits in the win, with Gomez also providing one of the highlight defensive plays of the weekend.

The CR freshman dove down the third-base line to snag a hard-hit grounder, before popping up and throwing to first to get the runner out.

In the circle, Dean allowed just one run in six innings for her second win of the weekend.

Redwoods will be back in action this weekend, playing a doubleheader at American River on Friday.