Over the past two seasons, Haley Gilham has proven herself to be one of the top pitchers in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Chico State softball team will lean heavily on the junior right-hander throughout the 2017 season, and her success in the circle during the opening week of play—three wins, two complete games and a shutout at the Desert Stinger Tournament in Las Vegas—has to make the Wildcats feel confident about their chances this year. Gilham's pitching prowess makes her the latest Wildcat of the Week.
Gilham allowed just two earned runs in 19 innings of work (a 0.74 ERA) and struck out 11 batters to help the Wildcats go 5-0 on the weekend. For her efforts, the Norco product was named to the Desert Stinger All-Tournament team.
Gilham went the distance in Friday's season opener, beating Augustana (S.D.) 3-2, then followed up with a complete game five-hitter Saturday against Cal Baptist, blanking the Lancers 2-0. Sunday Gilham scattered three hits over five shutout innings as the Wildcats beat Montana State-Billings 9-0 in six innings.
With her three "W's" over the weekend, Gilham now has 36 victories in her Wildcat career. Just one week into her junior year, Gilham already ranks seventh on Chico State's all-time wins list.
Gilham and the Wildcats open CCAA play this weekend, traveling to Arcata for Friday and Saturday doubleheaders against defending conference and NCAA West Region champion Humboldt State.
