Weather forced a cancellation of Friday’s road game at Mountain House for Escalon, with the varsity Lady Cougars softball squad getting just one game on the books this week. That game, they defeated Hilmar on the road, taking a 10-0 win but doing most of the damage in their final at-bat.
“We arrived late to the game,” quipped head coach Art Brooks.
His team get a run in the first, one more in the fourth, two in the fifth and then poured it on with a six-run seventh inning.
“It was pretty quiet but once we got to the seventh we exploded,” Brooks noted of his squad.
Pitching, Chardae Hoskins got the start and went six innings, striking out 12 while allowing three hits and three walks.
“Offensively, Mackenzie Duval went 4-for-5 with two runs batted in, Molly Brown was 3-for-4 with two runs batted in,” said Brooks. “Chardae went 2-for-4, Ashley Duval went 2-for-4 and we also got hits from Hailie Webster and Nicole Luis.”
In the seventh inning, Escalon got things started with a walk to Natalie Arnold, followed by a steal and a Molly Brown RBI double. Hoskins had an RBI single in the inning, as did Luis and Ashley Duval.
Hoskins, who went six strong, was spelled for the bottom of the seventh by Brown, who closed it out for the Lady Cougars.
Friday’s game at Mountain House was called off due to weather; afternoon rain prompted the postponement though midafternoon sun probably could have dried things out enough to play. The game was rescheduled for Tuesday, April 26 at Mountain House, after The Times went to press. The girls will be at home to host Riverbank today, Wednesday, April 27 at 4 p.m. and then go to Hughson for a Friday, April 29 contest.
Junior Varsity
At Hilmar for the Wednesday, April 20 contest it was a 16-2 win for Escalon’s JV girls in a run-shortened five inning game.
“Kylee DuBois pitched the first two innings with three strikeouts and giving up no hits,” said coach Malinda Walker. “Bella Strach pitched three innings with seven strikeouts.”
Host Hilmar got their two runs in the third inning. Escalon got on the board with eight in the first, one in the second, five in the third and two more in the fourth.
“One of our main goals for each game this season has been to score early, and we have been succeeding in that which helps lift the energy for the rest of the game,” Walker noted.
Leading the way with an outstanding offensive day was Priscilla Nowling, 3-for-4 with two singles and a triple. Kiara Ancheta also went 3-for-4 with three singles and two runs batted in.
“Other big hits on the day, in a power hit rally in the third inning, a leadoff single from Kylee DuBois, followed by Maddie Kimble with a double, then back-to-back triples by Bella Strach and then Priscilla Nowling,” Walker said.
The road win over the Lady Yellowjackets puts Escalon at 3-0 through the first round of TVL play at the JV level. This week, they were scheduled to travel to Galt for a non-league game against Liberty Ranch on Tuesday, April 26 after The Times went to press and start second round TVL action on the road at Hughson on Friday, April 29.
