2024 Season in Review – COD Softball

Under the tutelage of second-year head coach Kelli Finan, the Roadrunners Softball team ended the 2024 with a 6-18 overall record and a 4-8 conference record, finishing fourth in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference. They were rewarded with the 4 Second Team selections (Jaylene Ramos, Arissa Gonzalez, Victoria Talamantes & Rebecca Perez) and an Honorable Mention (Rubi Borjas).

You can find the complete IEAC All-Conference List HERE

The Roadrunners had some notable games in the 2024 season including, facing the Santa Barbara City Vaqueros for the first time since 2013 and facing the Grossmont Griffins of La Mesa for the first time since 2019, splitting a double header. Desert also traveled to Taft for the first time in program history, defeating the Cougars for the first time since 2007.

Right-handed pitcher and first baseman Victoria Talamantes (La Quinta H.S.) was named Second Team All-Inland Empire Athletic Conference (IEAC) finishing the season as the ace of the squad in the circle. Tossing 96.2 innings pitched and 69 strikeouts, which gave her an average of 5 strikeouts per 7 innings pitched, good enough for 42nd in the state. The 5-foot 6 freshman was named the COD Student Athlete of the Month (January) and compiled 8 games with 5 strikeouts or more in a game. Her best performance of the season arrived on the last day of the season, where she struck out 11 over 8 innings in a 2-1 win at San Bernardino Valley on April 23.

Right-handed pitcher and first baseman Arissa Gonzalez (Thermal Coachella Valley) was also named Second Team All-IEAC finishing the season leading the team in hits (35) and batting average (.422). The 5-foot 4 freshman was named the COD Student Athlete of the Month (March) and had 11 multi-hit games, including 5 games with 3 hits or more. Her best game of the season was a 5 for 5 day on the back-half of a double header at Taft on March 2.

Catcher Jaylene Ramos (Yucca Valley H.S.) was also named Second Team All-IEAC finishing the season as the team leader in extra base hits, hitting seven doubles and four triples, and leading the team in walks (12) and on base percentage (.471). The 5-foot 2 freshman was named the COD Student Athlete of the Month (April) finishing second on the team in batting average (.375) and tied for second on the team in hits (27). April was a great month for Ramos, where she had hits in all 7 games in the month, including two doubles and three triples. She had a career high 4 for 4 day on April 12 in a win on the back-half of a double header at home against Victor Valley.

Shortstop Rebecca Perez (Palm Springs H.S.) was also named Second Team All-IEAC finishing the season tied for first in doubles (7) and tied for second on the team in hits (27). The 5-foot 5 freshman finished third on the team in batting average (.342) and had 8 multi-hit games, including 3 in a row in the month of April.

Center fielder Rubi Borjas (Thermal Coachella Valley) was named Honorable Mention All-IEAC finishing the season with 18 hits and 8 runs batted in. The 5-foot 7 sophomore was the lone returner on the 2024 team and made some amazing defensive catches in the outfield over the course of the season.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Darbie Catalfamo Photography.