In a rain-shortened week, Escalon's varsity Lady Cougars got only one game in on the softball diamond this week, playing against Riverbank at home on Friday, April 23. The tough contest saw the home team come away with a 2-0 win.
"Their pitcher is decent but we had a couple of good hits," explained Escalon coach Dianne Teixeira. "And they made a couple of mistakes."
Neither team, however, could get much going as Riverbank's Carlye Avey and Escalon's Caitlin Brooks forged an old-fashioned pitcher's duel for more than five innings.
Brooks struck out 15 batters on the day and did not give up any hits. She allowed one walk and hit one batter, but two base runners was the extent of the offensive threat the visiting Lady Bruins could muster against the Cougars.
Escalon was just as frustrated, unable to get a run until the bottom of the sixth.
Teixeira said her team traditionally has trouble against the Riverbank squad and Friday's game was no different.
They finally pushed two runs across the plate in the sixth and rode those two runs to the win.
Jen Shipley got on base to lead things off, then was bunted to second by Rachel Frasier. Shelise Hatfield came through with an RBI double to make it 1-0 and Brooks also doubled, driving in Hatfield for the 2-0 lead.
For the game, Hatfield was 2-for-3 and Brooks had two doubles. The girls had six hits total.
Rain played havoc with the girls' schedule, as they were not able to play their scheduled Tuesday contest and had to reschedule the Thursday game with Riverbank.
"This week, we'll have three games, depending on the weather," Teixeira said, noting that the forecast calls for rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, which could impact the schedule once again.
The girls were slated to travel to Ripon for a game on Tuesday, April 27 and then host Ripon Christian on Thursday before going back on the road for a make up game at Modesto Christian on Friday, April 30.
The JV girls did not have a game during the week, as only a few Trans-Valley League squads field JV teams this year.
"Their pitcher is decent but we had a couple of good hits," explained Escalon coach Dianne Teixeira. "And they made a couple of mistakes."
Neither team, however, could get much going as Riverbank's Carlye Avey and Escalon's Caitlin Brooks forged an old-fashioned pitcher's duel for more than five innings.
Brooks struck out 15 batters on the day and did not give up any hits. She allowed one walk and hit one batter, but two base runners was the extent of the offensive threat the visiting Lady Bruins could muster against the Cougars.
Escalon was just as frustrated, unable to get a run until the bottom of the sixth.
Teixeira said her team traditionally has trouble against the Riverbank squad and Friday's game was no different.
They finally pushed two runs across the plate in the sixth and rode those two runs to the win.
Jen Shipley got on base to lead things off, then was bunted to second by Rachel Frasier. Shelise Hatfield came through with an RBI double to make it 1-0 and Brooks also doubled, driving in Hatfield for the 2-0 lead.
For the game, Hatfield was 2-for-3 and Brooks had two doubles. The girls had six hits total.
Rain played havoc with the girls' schedule, as they were not able to play their scheduled Tuesday contest and had to reschedule the Thursday game with Riverbank.
"This week, we'll have three games, depending on the weather," Teixeira said, noting that the forecast calls for rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, which could impact the schedule once again.
The girls were slated to travel to Ripon for a game on Tuesday, April 27 and then host Ripon Christian on Thursday before going back on the road for a make up game at Modesto Christian on Friday, April 30.
The JV girls did not have a game during the week, as only a few Trans-Valley League squads field JV teams this year.
