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Second Title In Two Years For Varsity Softball
Win
Pitcher Chardae Hoskins starts the celebration after catching a line drive to end the game at Arnaiz Softball Complex on Saturday, with first baseman Molly Brown coming in. Escalon won its second straight blue banner with a 6-0 win over Hilmar. - photo by Marg Jackson/The Times

With a Saturday afternoon victory over Hilmar on May 19, the Escalon Lady Cougars claimed the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 5 softball banner.

It was the second consecutive title for the varsity softball squad. The win capped a busy week on the diamond, as the girls defeated Hilmar on Wednesday, got past Linden on Thursday in extra innings and then faced off with Hilmar again for the section crown in an all-Trans-Valley League final.

On Saturday, Escalon took a 6-0 win off the field, with Chardae Hoskins on the mound and Bella Strach leading the offense with a two-RBI double in the first inning, Lexy Underwood driving in a pair with a fifth inning single.

Hilmar had runners on in several innings but could never get the big hit with runners in scoring position to break through. Hoskins notched 14 strikeouts on the day.

Head coach Art Brooks said he knew this year’s team had the capability to repeat as Section champs, as they had great chemistry and plenty of talent.

“They’re starting to get a taste of winning now,” Brooks said. “That’s good for the program.”

Look for the full story on the run to the Section title in the May 23 issue of The Times.