Kicking off their schedule with a 10-0 win, the varsity softball girls then compiled a 3-1 record at the Ceres Tournament, winning four of their first five games this season.
Head coach Art Brooks returns for another season and said the squad came out strong against Livingston in their season opener, winning 10-0.
“We got them with the 10-run rule, won it in five innings,” Brooks explained
Getting multiple hits were Jordan Roberts, 2-for-2 with a run scored, Mady Costa was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Also, Honda Hernandez was 1-for-3 with two runs scored and two driven in, Haley Yandell had an RBI and a run scored. Kristin Beckman had an RBI and Yandell was the winning pitcher, going all five innings. She allowed three hits, three walks and struck out six.
Then it was on to Rainbow Fields for games in the Ceres Tournament, starting out with a 5-0 win over Turlock.
“Ashley Schuurman threw a no-hitter, six innings pitched with four strikeouts,” Brooks said.
Notching the hits were Lexi Prim, Schuurman, Yandell and a triple from Beckman.
“We played Patterson next and we lost 5-3,” Brooks said of the team’s first loss. Roberts pitched and took the loss, but the Lady Cougars got a triple from Beckman, RBIs from Stacy Stewart, Prim and Yandell and hits from Marisol Diaz-Morales and Schuurman.
The next game was a 22-1 win over Grace Davis, the game only going four innings and the varsity girls erupting for a ton of offense.
Melissa Mullins paced the hit parade with three hits including two doubles and three runs batted in. Beckman had three hits and two RBI, as did Yandell. Kymi Tompson had four runs batted in, Costa went 2-for-3 and adding one hit each were Hernandez, Schuurman and Roberts.
“Haley Yandell was the winning pitcher, she gave up four hits and struck out six, didn’t walk anyone,” Brooks said.
In the tournament finale against Johansen, the girls were 10-0 winners, getting the bats going once again.
Costa, Beckman and Schuurman each had two hits, with Diaz-Morales, Hernandez and Kylie Burriss adding one hit apiece as well. Beckman, Schuurman and Hernandez all had triples on the day. Winning pitcher was Schuurman, striking out eight in four innings, allowing one hit and one walk with no runs.
“I was kind of worried about all the rain but we got the games in,” Brooks said of the squad getting in plenty of work this week.
They are scheduled to play Calaveras today, Wednesday, March 12 and then start the Trans-Valley League schedule at home tomorrow, Thursday, March 13 against Riverbank.
That will be a varsity game only, as Riverbank and Modesto Christian do not have JV softball teams this season. Game time is 4 p.m.
