Stallions softball shows resilience in loss
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera South shortstop Savaanah Garcia makes the throw to first to try to complete a double play during Wednesday’s loss to Sanger.
The Sanger Apaches softball team capitalized on a Madera South Stallions error and used timely hitting to score three runs in the top of the fifth inning for a 3-0 County/Metro Athletic Conference victory at Madera South.
Madera South pitcher A.J. Martinez pitched well over seven innings, allowing two earned runs, but an untimely error and a lack of production in batter’s box ultimately cost the Stallions.
However Madera Stallions head coach Peter Gallegos said he was proud of his team.
“The girls showed a lot of heart and intensity,” he said. “I’m proud of our girls.”
After the error that broke the deadlock, Gallegos said his team’s response was important. “Things like that happen but they turned it around,” Gallegos said. “They realized they made a mistake and they moved on. That’s why I’m so proud of them.”
The team combined for only five hits, and managed one extra base hit — a double from Erica Valdez.
After giving up a double to lead off the second inning, Martinez recorded a groundout before centerfielder Aleecia Rosel brought the Stallion faithful to their feet with a dead-eye throw to catcher Makenna Nevarez, who withstood a tough collision at the plate to get the second out.
The next Sanger batter singled, but Martinez struck out the next batter to end the inning.
Madera South’s Maria Leal reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the third and advanced to second. She went to third on a forceout, but was left stranded.
The Stallions and Apaches headed to the bottom of the fourth after Rosel made a catch near the wall to rob the Apaches of extra bases.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Apaches put together consecutive good at bats to put runners on second and third. A hit and an error drove in two runs for Sanger. A dropped fly ball put runners at second and third.
Another Sanger run scored on a late throw on a grounder.
The Stallions responded with two hits in the bottom of the fifth, but their scoring threat was stopped after a double play ended the inning.
The Stallions went down in order in the final two innings for the 3-0 loss.
