Competing in four games over two days, dodging the bad weather, Escalon's varsity softball girls had a very respectable 3-1 mark in action at the NorCal Classic in Tracy.
"It was done with bracket play, we were in the Gold bracket, which was the second highest one," explained coach Dianne Teixeira, who was overall pleased with the play of her team.
They got in two games on Thursday and two more on Saturday.
Against Ceres in the opener on Thursday, April 12, it was a 10-4 victory.
Escalon jumped on the Bulldogs for five runs in the first, adding two more in both the second and sixth, and a single run in the fourth. Ashley Schuurman got the start on the mound and pitched well, giving up a single run in the third and three in the fourth.
Schuurman was also effective at the plate, with a pair of doubles and two RBIs.
Anastasia Rodriguez had a hit and drove in two runs, while the rest of the hits for the Lady Cougars were primarily singles, but came at the right time.
"We were just on it," Teixeira said of putting together a solid game.
In Thursday's second game, the varsity girls prevailed with a thrilling 2-1 win over Davis. Marissa Dominguez got the start and allowed just four hits, crafting one of her best outings. Davis had one run on four hits with five errors. Escalon had two runs and six hits and played flawlessly in the field.
Nicole Bianchi scored both runs, getting on with a single in the first inning and moving to second on a bunt by Kristin Beckman, coming in to score on a Lexis Prim double. In the seventh, Bianchi and Beckman singled, with Prim then notching the RBI single, Bianchi coming in to score.
In Saturday action, April 14, the varsity girls fell in the opener to Kimball by a 14-3 decision.
"It was one of those games, we had a bunch of errors," Teixeira said.
Offensively, Amber Brady and Bianchi had singles, Schuurman had a double. Dominguez pitched but was victimized by some of the errors behind her.
Putting that game behind them, the girls finished off their run with a 4-2 victory over Franklin of Elk Grove.
Two runs came in the fourth inning, a single by Prim and a two-run homer from Rodriguez. In the fifth, Brady reached on an error, Bianchi singled, Beckman had an RBI single and Bianchi later scored on a passed ball.
Schuurman pitched and Franklin capitalized on a couple miscues but Escalon was able to hold on for the win.
Rain did force some juggling of the brackets but Teixeira said she was satisfied with the 3-1 mark against the competition they faced.
She was especially happy with the play against Davis, beating one of the best pitchers they have seen this season.
"Now we get ready for the second half," she said, noting that the team gets back into Trans-Valley League action this week.
The girls are looking to win more games in the second half than they did the first time out, eager to secure a playoff spot.
They have a bye today, Wednesday, April 18 but will be in action at Riverbank on Friday, April 20.
"It was done with bracket play, we were in the Gold bracket, which was the second highest one," explained coach Dianne Teixeira, who was overall pleased with the play of her team.
They got in two games on Thursday and two more on Saturday.
Against Ceres in the opener on Thursday, April 12, it was a 10-4 victory.
Escalon jumped on the Bulldogs for five runs in the first, adding two more in both the second and sixth, and a single run in the fourth. Ashley Schuurman got the start on the mound and pitched well, giving up a single run in the third and three in the fourth.
Schuurman was also effective at the plate, with a pair of doubles and two RBIs.
Anastasia Rodriguez had a hit and drove in two runs, while the rest of the hits for the Lady Cougars were primarily singles, but came at the right time.
"We were just on it," Teixeira said of putting together a solid game.
In Thursday's second game, the varsity girls prevailed with a thrilling 2-1 win over Davis. Marissa Dominguez got the start and allowed just four hits, crafting one of her best outings. Davis had one run on four hits with five errors. Escalon had two runs and six hits and played flawlessly in the field.
Nicole Bianchi scored both runs, getting on with a single in the first inning and moving to second on a bunt by Kristin Beckman, coming in to score on a Lexis Prim double. In the seventh, Bianchi and Beckman singled, with Prim then notching the RBI single, Bianchi coming in to score.
In Saturday action, April 14, the varsity girls fell in the opener to Kimball by a 14-3 decision.
"It was one of those games, we had a bunch of errors," Teixeira said.
Offensively, Amber Brady and Bianchi had singles, Schuurman had a double. Dominguez pitched but was victimized by some of the errors behind her.
Putting that game behind them, the girls finished off their run with a 4-2 victory over Franklin of Elk Grove.
Two runs came in the fourth inning, a single by Prim and a two-run homer from Rodriguez. In the fifth, Brady reached on an error, Bianchi singled, Beckman had an RBI single and Bianchi later scored on a passed ball.
Schuurman pitched and Franklin capitalized on a couple miscues but Escalon was able to hold on for the win.
Rain did force some juggling of the brackets but Teixeira said she was satisfied with the 3-1 mark against the competition they faced.
She was especially happy with the play against Davis, beating one of the best pitchers they have seen this season.
"Now we get ready for the second half," she said, noting that the team gets back into Trans-Valley League action this week.
The girls are looking to win more games in the second half than they did the first time out, eager to secure a playoff spot.
They have a bye today, Wednesday, April 18 but will be in action at Riverbank on Friday, April 20.
