Complete game advances Coyotes past Broncos
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune The Madera Coyotes softball team awaits Camile DeAnda (00) to touch home plate after her solo home run in the third inning of Wednesday’s 11-3 Div. I first round playoff victory over Clovis North.
The Madera Coyotes softball fired on all cylinders and played a complete game in an 11-3 victory over the Clovis North Broncos in the first round of the Div. I Central Section playoffs at Zimmerman Field.
The fifth seeded Coyotes completely overwhelmed the 12th seeded Broncos on Wednesday. The Coyotes outhit the Broncos 16-7 and kept the pressure on the bases from the first inning to the last.
“It’s a great time of year to put everything together,” head coach Judy Shaubach said. “Kaylee gave a great performance on the mound. She was a little shaky in the first inning, but was nails after. I told her to trust our offense and we’ll get those runs back. Our offense was huge. They were down early and didn’t blink an eye. They went after it.”
Dawson tossed a complete game and allowed just one earned run. She allowed two runs in the first, but retired 11 of 12 batters at one point.
The Coyotes’ No. 2-6 hitters — Camile DeAnda, Tayah Hernandez, Valerie Ornelas, Sofia Perez and Joslynn Davis — each had two or more hits and combined for all 11 runs and seven RBIs. DeAnda hit two doubles and a home run while scoring three runs. Hernandez scored three runs and Perez drove in three.
“Camile was huge,” Shaubach said. “I challenged her today. I told her to have a great game and she came up nails up for us. Sofia had a good day at the plate. Our slappers put the ball on the ground. When we put the ball on the ground, we’re a dangerous team. I loved how we attacked the game today. I loved how our infielders were getting their eyes under the ball and making plays. Our outfield was nails today, diving all around.”
The Coyotes played Friday in Bakersfield against No. 4 seed Stockdale, who was a 10-0 winner against No. 13 seed Centennial-Bakersfield on Wednesday.
“The kids in the dugout were in the game,” Shaubach said. “Everyone was doing their roles. We had a young lady come up from JV and did a nice job. It was a complete game for us. It hasn’t happened all season.”
An error followed by a two-out home run gave the Broncos the early 2-0 lead.
With one out in the bottom of the first, DeAnda ripped a ball off the shortstop’s glove and hustled into second for a double. After a strikeout, Ornelas singled to left to drive in DeAnda. Ornelas advanced to second on the throw to the plate.
Perez followed with another shot off the shortstop’s glove for a single while pinch-runner Sarah Walter came in to score to tie the game.
After going down in order in the second, the Coyotes scored three runs in the third inning.
DeAnda led off the inning by sending a 1-0 pitch over the left-centerfield fence for her third home run of the season.
Hernandez kept the rally going with an opposite field single to left. She stole second and went to third on a passed ball. Hernandez scored on an Ornelas single up the middle.
Perez put down a sacrifice bunt, but the Clovis North second baseman missed the throw. Pinch-runner Walter scampered to third on the play. Pinch-runner Neveah Montes stole second.
Davis singled up the middle to drive in Walter and advance Montes to third. Mikayla Arrieta hit a grounder to short. Davis broke for third. The Clovis North shortstop caught Montes off of third. Montes was eventually tagged out in a rundown while Davis advanced to third and Arrieta went to second.
After a strikeout, Mikayla Ruiz reached on an infield single to drive in Davis for a 6-2 lead.
The Coyotes added two more runs in the fourth. DeAnda led off with a double to left-center. She went to third when Hernandez reached on an error.
On the first pitch to Ornelas, Hernandez stole second, but the pitch was wild and DeAnda scored and Hernandez advanced to third. After a groundout, Perez singled up the middle to drive in Hernandez for a 8-2 lead.
While the Coyotes’ offense was hitting on all cylinders, Dawson was doing her best to keep the Broncos off the bases. From the second through the sixth inning, Dawson allowed just four baserunners and just one to second base.
However, she got some help. With a runner at first in the third, Clovis North sent a ball to right center. Brooks hustled to right field and made the catch with a dive to keep the runner at first. Dawson got out of the inning with a pair of strikeouts.
With one out and a runner at first in the fourth, Clovis North sent a ball to the left-centerfield gap. Davis raced over and made a diving catch to keep the runner at first. Dawson got out of the inning with a grounder to Perez at third.
Madera put the game away in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Hernandez singled to left to start the rally. After a pop out, Perez singled up the middle and Hernandez came in to score.
Davis and pinch-hitter Haley Perez singled to load the bases. Sofia Perez scored on a wild pitch to Brown and Brown singled up the middle to drive in Davis for an 11-2 lead.
The Broncos got a one-out double in the seventh inning, but Brooks threw out a runner at the plate after a single. Another single drove in a run in front of Ruiz’s one-hop throw to the plate. Dawson ended the game with a groundout. to Montes at third for the 11-3 victory.
