Escalon’s varsity softball girls got two games in at the NorCal Tournament in Tracy this week before rain washed out the competition.
They played both games on Thursday, April 5, during their Spring Break week.
“On Thursday we got some rain during the second game, and there was no joy in Mudville,” said head coach Art Brooks.
The varsity girls fell 5-2 in the opener against Patterson and then took a 5-4 loss in the nightcap against Merced.
Opening up with the Tigers in a 3:30 p.m. contest on Thursday, the Lady Cougars got the lead with a run in the second but Patterson came back with five runs in their next at bat to take the lead for good.
In the second inning, Hailie Webster got on base and Bella Strach moved her over on a hit and run that also saw Strach reach base safely. After a double steal, Malia Babasa put down the squeeze bunt to get Webster in from third.
A tough inning defensively for Escalon saw the Lady Tigers get the lead and then Strach homered in the sixth to cut the lead to 5-2.
“We threatened, loaded the bases in the seventh but then hit into an inning-ending double play,” Brooks said.
Chardae Hoskins was on the mound and went five innings, allowing just one hit, walking three and striking out six in taking the hard luck loss. Strach came on in relief, going one inning and notching a strikeout.
Meeting Merced in a 7:30 p.m. contest, there was some rain falling but not enough to halt play. Merced scored two runs in the first; Escalon tied the game in the second and took the lead in the third.
Molly Brown was on the mound and allowed seven hits, struck out six and walked two.
After seeing their opponent score two in the first, Escalon answered in the second inning, Strach getting the offense going with a double. Lexy Underwood ripped an RBI single and took second on the throw home, Priscilla Nowling bunted her over and Underwood scored on an RBI single from Babasa.
Singles from Hannah Boyd and Strach along with a double from Brown saw two runs cross the plate for Escalon in the third.
“Then Merced scored one in the fifth and two in the sixth,” Brooks said of the team taking a 5-4 win off the field from the Lady Cougars.
Action was slated to continue in the NorCal tourney on Saturday but was rained out.
Only one score was reported for the JV girls at the NorCal Tournament, as they lost a 15-0 contest to Kimball.
This week, the varsity girls were scheduled to play a make-up game at Mountain House on Monday, April 9 and host Modesto Christian on Tuesday, April 10, with both games played after The Times went to press. They have a league bye on Thursday and travel to Riverbank on Wednesday, April 18 for a 4 p.m. contest.
