Los Medanos College hasn’t had an active softball team this season, and for some students, that absence hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“I feel like it was really unfortunate to the softball program,” said LMC student Caymen Sargent, whose sister plays softball. “I miss watching the games.”
Softball hasn’t been officially removed from the school’s athletic programs, but according to Athletic Director Martin Storti, the lack of participation across multiple schools in the Bay Valley Conference, including LMC, Contra Costa College, and Diablo Valley College, led to a pause in competition.
“All three schools didn’t have enough student athletes to participate,” Storti explained. “They had to submit a form to the state saying they couldn’t compete this year.”
LMC has struggled to maintain a consistent team in recent years. The last head coach resigned to focus on a new full-time job and graduate school. Since then, the college hadn’t actively recruited until recently hiring a new coach, Alicia Ramirez, who’s now working hard to rebuild the team from the ground up.
“She’s been out at high schools, tournaments, and doing everything she can to recruit for next season,” Storti said.
While overall interest has been low, Storti said he has seen small signs of potential. “There was one student who mentioned it to a math teacher, and that email came to me,” he said. “Other than that, it’s been rare.”
Still, some students believe interest could grow if the program received more attention. “I think we can spread more awareness for softball and get it running again,” Sargent said. “I’d definitely support bringing it back.”
Funding is another major challenge. Storti said LMC, like many community colleges, struggles with limited athletic budgets. “Most colleges don’t support programs to the level they should,” he said. “We’re trying to do more fundraising and bring in sponsorships.”
Despite the financial challenges, Storti stays focused on the bigger picture, shaping student athletes’ futures. “Not everyone’s going to go pro,” he said. “So we push the idea of academics first, go to class, get your work done, have a plan B.”
For now, LMC’s softball future depends on two key factors: student interest and strong recruitment. With a new coach and some early support, there’s hope that the team could return next year.
