But for Canyon softball, it was one of the first times the entire squad has really been together.

The Cowboys got seven strong innings from sophomore pitcher Hayley Bottino, but defensive miscues and lapses at the plate proved too costly in a 6-0 loss to Oxnard on Wednesday at Canyon High in the Cowboys' first game of the season.

"We really haven't had a full team at practice yet," said first-year Canyon head coach Dwain Whalen. "It's not an excuse. We made some errors, and the girls know we didn't make the routine plays."

With players coming over from soccer and basketball, as well as fighting various illnesses, Whalen said the team is still getting into the softball groove.

The chemistry is there, however, Bottino said.

"We are more of a team (from last season)," she said. "We communicate with each other and we know each other's strengths and weaknesses."

Bottino struck out five while pitching a complete game for Canyon (0-1). Of the six runs scored by the Yellowjackets (1-0-1), only three were earned.

At the plate, Cowboys center fielder Jenny Wunderlich finished 2-for-4, catcher Brittany Williams was 1-for-3 and Miranda Simonet and Taylor Anderson each went 1-for-2.

But it was Oxnard that got on the board first.

With the bases loaded in the top of the second inning, Yellowjacket Julia Garcia's ground ball was misplayed, allowing Samantha Carmona to score. One batter later, Oxnard's Bryana Dorado singled home Kayla Mochizuki and Ariana Lopez for a 3-0 lead.

It was all Yellowjacket starting pitcher Dalilah Ramirez needed.

Ramirez got the start in place of No. 1 pitcher Alexis Edwards, who pitched 12 innings in a 1-1 tie with Valencia on Monday.

Ramirez struck out five batters in the complete-game shutout.

"At any other high school in Oxnard, she would be a No. 1," said Yellowjackets co-head coach Albert Pilpil.

Still, the Cowboys loaded the bases in the second and fifth innings but couldn't get the hit they needed.

It's a problem that could soon fix itself, Whalen said.

"It's just a matter of time," he said. "It's the timing and getting the at-bats against live pitchers."

Oxnard went up 4-0 in the third off of an RBI single by Garcia, which scored Carmona.

In the fifth inning, Carmona's single brought in Kathryn Pilpil, when Canyon's errant throw went into center field for a 5-0 advantage.

The Yellowjackets added their final tally in the sixth when Leilani Tupua got caught up in a run-down on the third-base line, and the ball was misplayed at the plate.

The Cowboys did turn multiple double plays and drove several balls deep into the outfield, showing signs of run-scoring potential.

"It was good to see where our team stands and what we need to work on," Bottino said.