Stallions open with two wins
Tyler Takeda/The Madera Tribune
Madera South’s Savaanah Garcia runs past the Corcoran catcher to score a run during Saturday’s 14-0 victory at the Kerman Easter Classic.
KERMAN — The Madera South Stallions softball team did what they were supposed to do to open the Kerman Easter Classic.
The Stallions outscored Sunyside-Fresno and Corcoran 24-0 with domination head coach Peter Gallegos was expecting.
“It felt great to get the two wins,” he said. “We worked to get ready for this tournament. We need to come out the way these girls are capable of. Everything is starting to come together for them. Their talent is starting to shine.”
Stallions pitchers Taylor Valerio and A.J. Martinez only allowed three hits, combined, in the two games. Valerio struck out two and allowed just three base runners. Martinez as just as dominant. She recorded 10 strikeouts and allowed two baserunners.
“Our pitchers are working hard in practice,” Gallegos said. “We are working to where we can go. We’ve never done the greatest here. We know what we can do with the opportunity.”
The Stallions continued with the tournament Monday against Fresno and Coalinga. They finish the tournament Tuesday with the time determined how they finished in pool play. Madera South 10, Sunnyside 0
Valerio set the tone on the mound and cruised through her five innings of work allowing her offense to catch up. She retired 14 straight batters before allowing a pair of singles in the fifth inning.
The Stallions scored a run in the first and put the game away with nine runs in the third.
Madera South sent 13 batters to the plate in the third inning while nine different Stallions scored in the game.
Aleecia Rosel opened the inning with a single. Savaanah Garcia was hit by a pitch and Erica Valdez singled to load the bases. Jessie Maciel flied out to shallow left and Rosel came in to score.
Valerio reached on an error to drive in two runs. Kaylee Nevarez reached on a fielder’s choice. Miranda Moles drove in Valerio and Nevarez with a single. Monique Martinez reached on an error and Jocelyn Ochoa was hit bya pitch.
Rosel reached on an error as Moles came in to score. Garcia singled home Martinez and Ochoa while Valdez’s single drove in Rosel with the ninth run of the inning and 10th run of the game to invoke the 10-run mercy rule after the fifth inning. Madera South 14, Corcoran 0
While A.J. Martinez was cruising through the Corcoran batting order allowing just two base runners, the Stallions’ offense was busy.
Martinez struck out the side in the first, second and fourth innings.
Garcia and Valdez scored first inning runs to open the scoring. Madera South sent 15 batters to the plate in the second inning.
Moles led off the inning with a walk. Rosel doubled to right-center field. Margarita Rascon singled home Moles while sending Rosel to third. Rascon advanced to second on the throw.
Garcia reached on an error to drive in Rosel while pinch-runner Kristin Valenzuela advanced to third.
Valdez hit a bouncer to the pitcher. Corcoran’s pitcher caught Valenzuela off of third for the first out of the inning. A wild pitch put runners at second and third. Maciel doubled to left-center to drive in Garcia and Valdez.
Valerio reached on a fielder’s choice, but Maciel was safe at second. After a strikeout, Martinez drew a walk to load the bases.
Moles cleared the bases with a double to right center to drive in Maciel, Valerio and pinch-runner Christina Maahs.
Moles went to third on a wild pitch and Rosel drew a walk. Rascon singled to right to drive in Moles. Garcia was hit by a pitch to re-load the bases. Valdez reached on a fielder’s choice as pinch-runner Valenzuela scored on an throwing error for a 10-run inning.
The Stallions closed the scoring with two more runs in the first with, again, Garcia and Valdez scoring runs. Valerio and Martinez hit run-scoring singles for the 14-0 victory.
