Coyotes run around San Joaquin Memorial
The Madera Coyotes softball team had a good time inflating its season statistics in a resounding 20-2 victory over the San Joaquin Memorial-Fresno Panthers at Zimmerman Field.
The Coyotes banged out 15 hits and got a grand slam from Sofia Perez to close out the scoring in Friday’s County/Metro Athletic Conference victory.
Perez had a strong day, going 4-for-4 with four runs scored, two doubles, a grand slam and drove in seven runs. Valerie Ornelas hit a double and a triple. Taylor Brooks and Tayah Hernandez each drove in three runs.
Along with Ornelas and Perez, Hernandez and Mikayla Ruiz each had more than one hit. Mariah McMillon scored three runs from the lead off spot.
Felicity Rocha picked up a victory. She allowed two runs, both unearned, on one hit in three innings. She struck out two. Kaylee Patlan pitched two perfect innings in relief.
The Panthers surprised the Coyotes in the top of the first inning taking advantage of a pair of errors to score two first inning runs.
The Coyotes came back to send nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the inning. Perez drove in Camile DeAnda with a double. Perez scored on an error. Pinch-runner Brooks and Ruiz scored on the same wild pitch.
Madera sent eight batters to the plate in a four-run second inning. McMillon and Hernandez scored on Perez’s second double of the game. Perez came around to score on a bunt single from Ruiz. Brooks, who came in for Ruiz after she was injured at second base in a collision, scored on a sacrifice by Neveah Montes for an 8-2 lead.
The Coyotes put the game away in the third by sending 16 batters to the plate and scoring 12 runs, all with two outs in the inning.
Hernandez singled home McMillon. Ornelas doubled home Hernandez and Perez scored on an error on the same play. Ornelas also ran around the bases for a “Little League” home run.
After a change in pitchers, Brooks drew a walk and scored on a wild pitch. Montes singled and Gennahlyn Sanchez doubled. Kaylee Patlan reached on an error to score Montes. McMillon singled home Sanchez and Hollee Brown reached on an error to score Patlan.
Hernandez drew a walk to load the bases. Four pitches later, Perez laced a ball over the left-centerfield fence for a grand slam and a 20-2 lead.
Ornelas tried to match Perez, but fell just short for a triple and was stranded after leaving the base early while the Coyotes cruised to the victory.
