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Gilford tosses shutout for Panthers in opener
By Dick Sparrer
Cassie Gilford barely skipped a beat.
The Prospect girls softball star won a place on the all-league first team in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League after a sensational junior season for the Panthers.
And in her first game as a senior? She threw a two-hit shutout to lead Prospect to a 9-0 non-league victory over Cupertino.
Gilford is one of three returning all-leaguers at Prospect this spring, and the three have head coach John Melvin looking forward to a big year for his Panthers.
"We should have a competitive season," said Melvin, whose squad posted a 13-12 record a year ago.
Gilford and junior Randi Gillespie are each back after winning all-league first team honors last spring. The two superstars share the pitcher-shortstop positions for the Panthers.
Junior Stephanie Nichols is back after winning all-league honorable mention plaudits in 2001, and junior Heather Stevens returns to the field after being sidelined with a back injury last year. Stevens was a starter as a freshman for the Panthers.
Gilford helped Prospect get off to a fast start with the shutout against Cupertino. Nichols homered and drove in two runs in the win and junior Brooke Holan doubled. Gillespie also knocked in a couple of runs in the win.
Gilford doubled and singled twice and was the winning pitcher for the Panthers in a 9-4 win over Silver Creek a day later.
Stevens singled and tripled to plate three runs, and Nichols singled and tripled to knock in a pair. Gillespie doubled and singled for the Panthers.
Prospect will open Santa Teresa Division play this week when the Panthers head to Willow Glen on March 14, 3 p.m.
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Campbell, California
