Coyotes stumble out of tourney
Tyler Takeda/The Madera Tribune
Madera shortstop Lealani Ricks makes the long throw across the diamond for an out during Monday’s loss to Stockdale.
VISALIA — In conclusion to the rained out Redwood Preseason Tournament, the Madera Coyotes softball team struggled during a 4-0 loss to the Stockdale-Bakersfield Mustangs at Redwood-Visalia High School.
The Coyotes managed just four hits in the loss, but still finished with a 3-1 record in the tournament. Monday’s game was originally scheduled for Saturday, but was rained out.
Sydney Hornbuckle handcuffed the Coyotes with three strikeouts and no walks. She retired the side in order in three innings.
Meanwhile, the Mustangs ambushed Madera starter Alexis Galvan with two runs on three hits in the first inning — a triple and two doubles.
Stockdale added two runs on two more doubles in the fifth inning.
Joslynn Davis kept up her hot hitting in the tournament. She had a hit against Stockdale and batted .583 in the four games.
Lealani Ricks led the Coyotes with a .615 batting average. She also drove in a team-high seven runs, including a bases-clearing triple against Redwood.
Erika Perez, Valerie Ornelas and Neveah Montes each had hits against the Mustangs.
Madera had a runner in scoring position in just two innings.
Ornelas led off the second with a single and went to second on an error. She went to third on a bunt, but was stranded with two outs.
In the third, Montes reached on a one-out bunt single. Perez singled and Davis grounded out to put runners at first and third. However, Tayah Hernandez hit a host shot down the first base line, but the line drive was snagged for the final out of the inning.
Over the next four innings, the Coyotes had just one baserunner.
Madera continues play today in the Preseason Tournament of Champions in Sacramento.
