With a scheduled bye on Wednesday, the varsity Lady Cougars had just one Trans-Valley League game this week, hosting Riverbank on Friday, April 5.

Even that game was a little in doubt, as some rain moving through the area early Friday afternoon threatened to postpone the contest. But they did get it in and Escalon ran away with it, shutting down Riverbank in a run-shortened 21-0 contest.

“It started raining pretty good,” explained head coach Art Brooks. “But we were able to get the field ready.”

Bella Strach got the start on the mound for Escalon and carried a perfect game into the fifth inning, striking out 14.

“They only put one ball in play and Bella only yielded one walk with two outs in the fifth,” Brooks said.

The walk was the only base runner of the day for Riverbank, the visiting Lady Bruins unable to get anything going offensively.

Escalon, on the other hand, roared out to a fast start with 10 runs in the first inning. They went on to add eight more in the second, one in the third and two in the fourth before closing out the game by setting the Lady Bruins down in the top of the fifth.

“Lexy Underwood and Hannah Boyd were each 3-for-4, Hannah had a home run and three RBI,” said Brooks.

Strach helped her own cause with two hits and three RBI on the day, while Hailie Webster went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Marissa Gonzalez had a two hit day as well.

“Getting one hit each were Malia Babasa, Sage Davis, Brooke Davis, Brooke Campbell, Ariel Astabie and Kiara Ancheta,” Brooks said.

Riverbank does not field a JV team, so the junior varsity girls did not have any games this week.

Action for both squads will see them hosting Ripon on Wednesday, April 10 and then they have a make-up of a previously postponed game against Livingston on Friday, April 12. Start time for each contest is 4 p.m.