Notre Dame-Watsonville softball

 The Spirits will look at the second half of the Gabilan Division season as a redemption tour, starting today when they visit once-beaten Watsonville.
 While a league title would be a stretch at this point, Notre Dame is still a program capable of making another extended run into the postseason.
 Perhaps going 10 days between games gave the Spirits a chance to rediscover their confidence, as they produced 50 runs during a recent four-game winning streak.
 That collective team slump seems to have disappeared. And the timing couldn't be better against a Watsonville team that blanked Notre Dame in its first meeting.
 After opening the season with 12 straight wins, the Spirits were just 2-3 before embarking on their recent run at the Nor Cal Classic in Tracy.
 Julia Keaton, Aly Gomonet and Lauren Pullara all hit well in the tournament, with Alexia Torculas and Logan Riggenbach packing a punch at the plate.
 No one has a livelier arm than Jessica Rodriguez, who has shut down a lot of opponents this fall for the 18-1 Wildcatz, who are off to the programs best start ever.
 Watsonville's only setback this season was a 5-4 decision to reigning Gabilan Division and Central Coast Section Division I champion San Benito.