Stallions struggle with shell of team
Tyler Takeda/The Madera Tribune
Madera South’s Taylor Valerio delivers a pitch during Saturday’s loss to the Exeter Monarchs at the Tulare Easter Classic.
The Madera South High School prom helped drain the Madera South Stallions softball team on the first day of the Tulare Easter Classic with two losses.
Mt. Whitney recorded a comeback victory over the Stallions in the first game Saturday morning and the depleted Stallions lost the second game to the Exeter Monarchs at Tulare Western.
The Stallions were without five starters and used junior varsity fill-ins during the two losses.
After a 6-4 victory to the Edison-Fresno Tigers the day before, Madera South head coach Peter Gallegos was hoping to use the momentum into Saturday.
The Stallions, who were scheduled to play at 10 a.m, got a last minute change in times and had an 8 a.m. game against the Mt. Whitney Pioneers.
The Stallions jumped out to a 5-1 lead thanks to a triple and two RBIs from Elena Garcia and a double and two runs scored from Savaanah Garcia.
However, the Pioneers scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning for an 8-5 victory.
With little time for rest and regroup, the Stallions battled the Monarchs.
Madera South scored first when lead-off batter Savaanah Garcia drew a four-pitch walk. Elena Garcia doubled Savaanah Garcia to third and she scored on a Taylor Valerio groundout.
Elena Robles hit a soft grounder to the pitcher. Elena Garcia broke for the plate and was thrown out.
From there, the Stallions had just three baserunners over the next four innings.
Exeter came back in the bottom of the first inning, sending nine batters to the plate. Madera South starter Anna Garcia didn’t record an out and allowed the first four batters to reach base with a single, triple, sacrifice bunt with an error and a four-pitch walk.
Valerio came in and allowed two more runs in the first and Exeter led 6-1.
The Monarchs added two more runs in the second and five unearned runs in the third inning for the 13-1 lead.
Valerio retired the side in order in the fourth, but the Stallions got a two-out single from Trinity Chavez and she was thrown out trying to steal second to end the game.
