Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

The Los Gatos softball team retired the No. 22 jersey of Jill Peckler, who died last year in a car accident. Judy Peckler, Jill's mother, hugs one of her daughters former teammates, Tara Mills, as another teammate, Jessica Accord, stands alongside.

Wildcats retire Peckler's jersey

By Dick Sparrer

It was a day for memories, and a day for dedication. The players and coaches in the Los Gatos girls' softball program were sharing memories of teammate Jill Peckler, who died in a car accident last year.

And they were honoring Jill's memory with a special dedication--the Wildcats retired her No. 22 jersey in a special ceremony prior to their league game against Wilcox.

Jill's mother, Judy, and her sister, Jennifer, were on hand for the special event, along with many of her teammates from the 1993 Los Gatos team that won the Central Coast Section championship.

"She was the finest first baseman I've ever coached," said Gatos head coach Jerry Garza of Peckler.

Peckler's jersey was framed along with her medals and other bits of memorabilia and presented by Garza to Judy Peckler.

But the dedication didn't end with the ceremony. The Wildcats then took the field and came through with an inspired effort to defeat previously unbeaten Wilcox 4-0.

Chiara Grabill tossed the shutout for the Wildcats, scattering eight hits along the way.

Courtney Radonich and Grabill slapped two hits apiece to lead a six-hit attack for the Cats.

Gatos broke the game open with a four-run rally in the third inning, and Grabill did the rest.

The right-hander ran her season pitching record to 5-1. The Wildcats are 8-3 for the year and 2-1 in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

In other local softball action, Leigh opened the year with a split in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.

The Longhorns blanked Presentation 4-0 but lost a 1-0 heartbreaker to Leland to open the week.

Kim Rose flipped a four-hit shutout to lead the 'Horns to the win over the Panthers. Cora-Lee Rogers singled and doubled to lead the offensive assault for Leigh.

Leigh, 1-1 in league and 5-6 for the year, had opened the week losing the 1-0 nod to Leland. Rose hooked up in a pitcher's duel but was tagged with the tough loss when Leland broke up a scoreless tie with a run in the eighth.

Rogers had two hits for the Longhorns.