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Varsity Softball Wins One, Loses One In League Play
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JV player Tulsa Carnes connects on a double in Wednesday afternoon action, April 10, on the home field against Ripon. The young Lady Cougars went on to win the game, 11-1. Marg Jackson/The Times
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Sending the ball toward the plate is Bella Strach, pitching on April 10 against the visiting Ripon Lady Indians. Escalon fell in this game but came back on April 12 to take a win over Livingston. Marg Jackson/The Times

Falling in the first game of the week, Escalon’s varsity softball girls got a win in game two, splitting their contests in Trans-Valley League play.

They fell in a 3-1 decision to Ripon in April 10 action at home. Bella Strach got the start on the mound and allowed just three hits, walked six and struck out 11 Lady Indians.

Ripon jumped on top with an early run and Escalon’s only run came on an RBI single by Brooke Campbell after a double by Sage Davis in the third to tie it at 1-1.

“We had runners in the fifth, sixth and seventh,” head coach Art Brooks said, adding that the team just couldn’t get the big hit when they needed it while Ripon cashed in with two more runs.

Sage Davis had a pair of hits in the contest, Marissa Gonzalez and Strach each added doubles with Lexy Underwood and Hailie Webster notching one hit apiece.

Friday, the varsity girls were back on the home field and took a come-from-behind win over Livingston. The final was 4-3 in Escalon’s favor, with Strach again on the mound. This time she struck out nine, walked five and allowed just two hits.

The visiting Lady Wolves struck first, taking a lead in the third inning.

“They cleared the bases with a three-run triple,” Brooks said.

That put the host Lady Cougars into a 3-0 hole and they got one run back in the sixth to trail 3-1.

In their final at bat, Sage Davis connected on a solo home run to make it a 3-2 game. Gonzalez then walked and Brooke Davis went in as a pinch runner. Hannah Boyd got the call to pinch hit and worked out a walk, putting runners at first and second

“Malia Babasa came in and got the big hit,” Brooks said. “She hit a walk-off double that scored two.”

The home team managed just five hits total on the day, with Sage Davis getting two of them.

“Livingston is pretty solid, they have a good little pitcher who was able to keep everything outside, it was hard to hit her,” Brooks added.

This week, the varsity girls will be at Hughson on Wednesday, April 17 and host Hilmar on Thursday, April 18.

Senior Day will be observed on Thursday as well, with pre-game honors for Hailie Webster, Bella Strach, Lexy Underwood, Marissa Gonzalez, Kiara Ancheta and Leticia Gutierrez. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.

 

JUNIOR VARSITY

The young Lady Cougars crafted an 11-1 win over visiting Ripon in Wednesday, April 10 action.

“Maddison Hagglund had five strikeouts on the mound and was dominant on the mound the whole game,” said coach Kristin Beckman. “Soleil Gouzenne went 2-for-3 with two singles, Kelly Kroon recorded a double for the game and Tulsa Carnes went 3-for-4 with a double, single and a two-run home run.”

Friday the girls hosted Livingston and put away the visitors in a 21-2 contest.

“Tulsa Carnes had 14 strikeouts and went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a single,” noted Beckman.

Gouzenne went 4-for-5 with four singles, while Kroon, Ryilee McNulty, Lupe Tapia and Mya Scott all had singles, Adrianna Marrufo went 2-for-3 with two singles and a walk, Alexis White was 2-for-4 with two singles on the day.

The JV girls will be on the road at Hughson for an April 17 game and then host Hilmar on Thursday, April 18.