Coming in to the playoffs overlooked and underrated, Escalon’s varsity softball girls took that underdog role to the top of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 5 bracket, coming home with the coveted blue banner on Saturday, May 23.

Heading to Cosumnes River College for the 10 a.m. D5 title game, the number seven seed Lady Cougars defeated the number five seed Casa Roble Rams, 5-1.

Escalon had a rough start to their preseason – missing several players still involved in basketball playoffs – but started to put it all together as the Trans-Valley League season went along. They also peaked at the right time, taking care of business in the postseason. Head coach Lexy Underwood said the energy in the dugout for the Saturday morning game was positive and upbeat, with all players engaged in every pitch.

After leaving a runner stranded on second in the top of the first – Madi Babasa reaching on a leadoff double in an eight-pitch battle at the plate – Escalon then fell behind 1-0 as Casa Roble scratched across a run in the bottom of the first. The Rams held that lead until an RBI double from Babasa drove in Lauryn Siegel in the top of the fifth, tying the score.

In the sixth, Tenley Adams rapped a one-out double and then scored on an RBI double from Lizzy Allan to give Escalon the lead. They would go on to add three insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a two-run triple from Babasa and a sacrifice fly from Kyla Holback.

Starting pitcher Adams hit double digits in strikeouts and retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh as Escalon celebrated its first softball section title in several years.

The win was a full circle moment for first year varsity head coach Underwood, with the last Section title for the softball team coming in May, 2019 when she was a senior playing for Escalon and the girls defeated Linden, 11-6.

Look for the complete game story and photos of the Section title victory in the May 27 issue of The Times.