Coyotes’ softball falls to top team in state
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune
Madera shortstop Kailea Ricks tags out a Clovis North runner trying to head back to second in the fifth inning Thursday.
The Madera Coyotes softball team hung with one of the top teams in the state, but couldn’t maintain it for the full seven inning during a 13-1 loss to Clovis North at Zimmerman Field.
The Broncos scored 10 runs in the fourth and fifth innings to produce the mercy-rule victory Thursday afternoon.
The Coyotes cut the lead down to two at the end of three innings, but the Broncos took advantage of Madera miscues to score six unearned runs in the fourth and tacked on four more in the fifth for the victory.
Madera pitcher Alexis Galvan allowed nine runs, but just two were earned in 3 2/3 innings. She struck out three and didn’t’ walk a batter.
Madera was held to just two hits by Clovis North ace Ryan Maddox, who struck out seven and walked two.
Brianah Hamilton and Leilani Moreno recorded the hits and Meah Avila scored the lone Madera run.
Galvan recorded two quick outs to open the game, but a single up the middle and a double that got by the Madera leftfielder gave the Broncos the early 1-0 lead.
Clovis North added two more runs in the third, but the second was unearned. A single and stolen base put a runner at second. An error and a single loaded the bases. The Broncos’ No. 3 hitter singled up the middle off a diving Kailea Ricks’ glove for two runs.
Galvan settled down and retired the next three batters.
Madera seemed to be getting some momentum with a run in the third. Jocelyn Medina drew a walk after nine-pitch at-bat. Moreno, who hit a game-ending home run the day before, reached on a bunt single to put two runners on.
Ricks laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance pinch-runner Avila to third and Moreno to second. Nevaeh Galvan put down a safety squeeze to drive in Avila for a run. However, the next batter grounded out to end the inning.
From there, the Coyotes were shut down. They only got a two-out walk from Hamilton over the final two innings.
The first two batters for the Broncos in the fourth reached on an error. The third batter reached on a fielder’s choice when the throw to force out a runner at third was late to load the bases.
After a strikeout, Maddox doubled down the left field line to drive in two. A sacrifice fly drove in another run for the second out. The Broncos got a single and then a two-run line-drive home run for a 9-0 lead.
Kaylynn Powell came in relief and got a groundout. She allowed four runs on six hits in the fifth to finish out a 13-1 loss.
