Winter, spring teams change perceptions

The softball and men's basketball teams are picking up where they left off in 2009-10.

The teams finished with arguably their best seasons in recent memory with a combined record of 29-36 that year. But in 2010-11, they posted a combined record of 2-48 — a flabbergasting .040 winning percentage — as they returned to their losing ways.

This season, however, the two Comet programs have exceeded low expectations set by the previous year's teams.

The men's basketball team earned a spot in the Regional Tournament and advanced to the second round.

Its season ended ugly, however, losing 95-60 to No. 1-seeded City College of San Francisco.

But the Feb. 25 defeat is no reason for the Comets to hang their heads. After all, the basketball team was scraping the bottom of the Bay Valley Conference barrel last year, finishing 2-20.

After three straight double-digit mid-season BVC losses, the squad made a relentless playoff run, winning nine consecutive games.

CCC (21-10 overall, 9-3 in BVC) won at least 20 games for the first time in coach Miguel Johnson's tenure, but a BVC title eluded the group.

Starting with a six-point win over Los Medanos College, the Comets went 10-2 to end the season and showcased their smothering man-to-man defense, allowing an average of only 59 points per game.

During its final stretch of 2012 games, the squad lost only to No. 5 Yuba College and No. 1 ranked CCSF.

The CCC softball team was in even worse shape last season than the basketball team.

In 2011, the squad battled personnel issues which forced it to forfeit or cancel a large majority of its games. Couple that with a roster full of softball rookies and it is obvious why the team lost all of its 28 games.

This year's team (4-8 overall), however, has amazing batting statistics.

The Comets account for the top four batting averages in the BVC.

CCC also leads the conference with a .385 team batting average, 102 runs, 130 hits, 24 doubles, 14 triples, 11 home runs and 38 stolen bases.

Sophomore outfielder Myeshia Ellison leads the team.

Her .564 batting-average leads the conference and she shares the BVC home run lead (3) with fellow-Comet Summer Cayton, whose batting average is .417.

Kelsey Leintz's .543 average is second to Ellison. Three-sport athlete Lynn Iosua and Monique Martell are tied for third in the BVC, batting an even .500.

Overall, for CCC, this athletic year has already been quite successful.

Five squads — men's and women's soccer, football, softball and men's basketball — have all surpassed their prior season's win totals.

Expectations have been raised for Comet athletics, the men's basketball team and the softball team are just the latest to join the trend.