Garcia powers Stallions to blowout
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera South’s Savannah Garcia reaches up for one of her three hits to lead the Stallions to a 13-1 victory over San Joaquin Memorial on Friday.
Seven innings is the rule for softball in the County/Metro Athletic Conference. However, for some teams like Madera South, the game can be wrapped up in the first few innings.
Friday’s matchup with the San Joaquin Memorial Panthers-Fresno showed just how deadly Madera South can be after they feasted on the Panthers to the tune of 11 runs in the second and third inning, combined for a 13-1 victory.
Savaanah Garcia led the charge with a stellar afternoon. She finished the day with three hits, three runs and four RBIs, including a triple. Her ability to get on base, along with her defensive efforts gave Madera South the upper hand.
Her aggressiveness on the base paths was key as well. She was three-for-three on stolen bases. Although Garcia might’ve taken the plaudits, Madera South was locked in. Aleecia Rosel and A.J. Martinez combined for four hits, two runs and an RBI.
Jocelyn Ochoa scored two runs with a hit and an RBI.
On the scoresheet, eight RBIs were recorded for a Stallions player. The other five runs crossed the plate due to errors, walks and hit-by-pitches.
After their loss Thursday to Buhach Colony in comeback fashion, the Stallions took some confidence in this win against Memorial.
“I was happy the way we bounced back from the game last night. It was a heartbreaker, but you know I’m glad they bounced back,” Madera South head coach Peter Gallegos said. “Here at South, our team is nothing but professionals. That’s what we preach to these girls.”
After taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Madera South took advantage of poor pitching in the second inning.
San Joaquin Memorial missed its spots in terms of pitch location all afternoon.
Eliana Tovar got on base before Ochoa drove her in, which started a chain reaction for the Stallions. Although Madera South were locked in at the plate, the Panthers continued to make poor pitches. Rosel then worked her way on base to set up Garcia.
She stepped up and knocked in Ochoa and Rosel on a single. Martinez followed her lead and collected an RBI of her own.
Before the Panthers knew it, Madera South had a 5-0 lead, which only grew after the Panthers got out of the inning. However, the damage was done, and Madera South was on track for a mercy-rule victory. The second kind of game the Panthers have been a part of in the last two weeks.
The third inning didn’t get any smoother for the visitors. The Stallions’ batting order started off the same way in both the second and third innings.
The bottom half of the order came up and they started the fire. Ochoa and Rosel got on base by a hit-by-pitch and a single. They set the table for Garcia who came in and sent a single to left field for an RBI.
The Panthers responded with four errors in the bottom of the third, giving three straight free passes, including an RBI for Taylor Valerio.
It was a night that featured aggressive hitting by Madera South, but more importantly, poor pitching by the Panthers.
