mjackson@escalontimes.com
Playing their way to a perfect league season so far, Escalon completed the first round of Trans-Valley League action at 7-0. But the going won't be easier the second time through, as everyone now will be gunning to knock off the league-leading Lady Cougars.
"We had two big wins this week," coach Dianne Teixeira said.
The girls were at Modesto Christian and took a 5-4 win there on Wednesday, April 1 and then earned a 2-0 win Thursday at Hughson.
"Wednesday at Modesto Christian, they (MC) started the scoring, got the first run in the fourth and added three more in the fifth," Teixeira said.
That put the varsity Lady Cougars in an unusual position, having to come from behind, trailing 4-0 entering the top of the sixth.
"We got two in the sixth," Teixeira said of chipping into the MC lead.
Lounette Jackson singled and Caitlin Brooks homered over the fence to make it a 4-2 game.
The contest came down to the seventh, with Escalon taking the lead in its final at bat of the day.
"In the seventh, Morgan Eisenga got on on a bobbled ball, Casey Schmidig had a single and then Rachel Frasier, with one strike, homered over the fence to score them all, her first homer."
Brooks, on the mound, walked one and allowed a single in the bottom of the seventh, but three plays in the infield for outs settled the contest in Escalon's favor.
"There's always this rivalry with Modesto Christian, they just really wanted to win and it was an awesome thing to see, not give up, just get back in it run by run," said Teixeira.
Escalon had five runs on seven hits with one error; Modesto Christian had four runs, eight hits and three errors.
Brooks had 16 strikeouts, handcuffing plenty of MC hitters.
"I would say that was the biggest win this season," Teixeira said of the satisfying victory. "Everyone was up and talking, Jordon (Costa) was a motivator for us that day."
Casey Schmidig had two singles, Frasier had a homer, Brooks had a homer to pace the offense.
Playing back-to-back days, the girls went to Hughson on Thursday, April 2.
They struck for both runs in the second inning. Brooks singled, Kattie Schmidig singled, Costa singled to drive in Brooks and Breanna Brodie sacrificed Schmidig over with an out. Noelle Bellino followed with a sacrifice fly RBI to make it 2-0.
Brooks struck out four but got plenty of solid support behind her in the field, especially from the left side.
"Lounette Jackson at third, Sam Lorigo at short, Noelle Bellino in left, they were kept busy," Teixeira said.
Escalon had two runs, seven hits and one error. Hughson had no runs, three hits and one error.
Brooks was 2-for-3, Costa was 2-for-3 and collecting single hits were Casey Schmidig, Kattie Schmidig and Brodie.
That puts the girls at 7-0 in league, 17-1 overall.
"Now we're starting the second round and we just have to keep hitting, not let up," Teixeira said of keeping the win streak going. "We need to see the ball, hit the ball, be patient at the plate and swing at strikes."
The girls were slated to play at Riverbank on Tuesday, after The Times went to press and will be home to battle Modesto Christian on Thursday, April 9 at 4 p.m.
"We just have to take each game, maintain our focus," Teixeira said.
Playing their way to a perfect league season so far, Escalon completed the first round of Trans-Valley League action at 7-0. But the going won't be easier the second time through, as everyone now will be gunning to knock off the league-leading Lady Cougars.
"We had two big wins this week," coach Dianne Teixeira said.
The girls were at Modesto Christian and took a 5-4 win there on Wednesday, April 1 and then earned a 2-0 win Thursday at Hughson.
"Wednesday at Modesto Christian, they (MC) started the scoring, got the first run in the fourth and added three more in the fifth," Teixeira said.
That put the varsity Lady Cougars in an unusual position, having to come from behind, trailing 4-0 entering the top of the sixth.
"We got two in the sixth," Teixeira said of chipping into the MC lead.
Lounette Jackson singled and Caitlin Brooks homered over the fence to make it a 4-2 game.
The contest came down to the seventh, with Escalon taking the lead in its final at bat of the day.
"In the seventh, Morgan Eisenga got on on a bobbled ball, Casey Schmidig had a single and then Rachel Frasier, with one strike, homered over the fence to score them all, her first homer."
Brooks, on the mound, walked one and allowed a single in the bottom of the seventh, but three plays in the infield for outs settled the contest in Escalon's favor.
"There's always this rivalry with Modesto Christian, they just really wanted to win and it was an awesome thing to see, not give up, just get back in it run by run," said Teixeira.
Escalon had five runs on seven hits with one error; Modesto Christian had four runs, eight hits and three errors.
Brooks had 16 strikeouts, handcuffing plenty of MC hitters.
"I would say that was the biggest win this season," Teixeira said of the satisfying victory. "Everyone was up and talking, Jordon (Costa) was a motivator for us that day."
Casey Schmidig had two singles, Frasier had a homer, Brooks had a homer to pace the offense.
Playing back-to-back days, the girls went to Hughson on Thursday, April 2.
They struck for both runs in the second inning. Brooks singled, Kattie Schmidig singled, Costa singled to drive in Brooks and Breanna Brodie sacrificed Schmidig over with an out. Noelle Bellino followed with a sacrifice fly RBI to make it 2-0.
Brooks struck out four but got plenty of solid support behind her in the field, especially from the left side.
"Lounette Jackson at third, Sam Lorigo at short, Noelle Bellino in left, they were kept busy," Teixeira said.
Escalon had two runs, seven hits and one error. Hughson had no runs, three hits and one error.
Brooks was 2-for-3, Costa was 2-for-3 and collecting single hits were Casey Schmidig, Kattie Schmidig and Brodie.
That puts the girls at 7-0 in league, 17-1 overall.
"Now we're starting the second round and we just have to keep hitting, not let up," Teixeira said of keeping the win streak going. "We need to see the ball, hit the ball, be patient at the plate and swing at strikes."
The girls were slated to play at Riverbank on Tuesday, after The Times went to press and will be home to battle Modesto Christian on Thursday, April 9 at 4 p.m.
"We just have to take each game, maintain our focus," Teixeira said.
