Stallions get win at Union tournament
Tyler Takeda/The Madera Tribune
Madera South’s Gianna Rodriguez rips a two-run double in the first inning of Tuesday’s 4-1 victory over the Mendota Aztecs at the Washington Union Softball Spring Classic. Rodriguez also scored a run in Madera South’s only win of the tournament.
EASTON — The Madera South Stallions battled through the rain and wind at the Washington Union Softball Classic this week and came away with a victory in four games.
After a tough one-run loss to McLane-Fresno on Monday, the Stallions had to wait five hours for their next game against Monache-Porterville, a 6-0 loss through the rain and wind.
The Stallions came back with a victory over Mendota on Tuesday, but lost to host Washington Union-Easton later in the day, 8-4.
Madera South will resume County/Metro Athletic Conference play at Madera on Tuesday for a 5:30 game and then play at Bullard on Wednesday.
Madera South 4, Mendota 1
Although the Stallions were outhit, 6-3, in the game, they scored four runs in the first two innings and made it hold up the rest of the way for their lone win of the tournament.
Gianna Rodriguez had the big hit with a two-run double. Nozomi Sandoval and Alejandra Bermudez added hits for the Stallions.
Anna Garcia tossed the first two innings and allowed a run on three hits. Mariah Williams finished out the game without allowing a run. She struck out seven, walked two and allowed three hits.
The Stallions got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning. Jessica Garcia led off by reaching on an error and then stole second and third
Isabel Del Rio battled in her at-bat, fouling off five pitches in a row before drawing a walk and then stealing second.
Rodriguez hit the second pitch she saw over the center fielder’s head for a double to drive in both Garcia and Del Rio.
Rodriguez advanced to third on a groundout by Williams. Anna Garcia also had a long at bat before groundout out on the 10th pitch. However, Rodriguez scored for a 3-0 lead.
The Aztecs pushed over a run in the second with two singles, a sacrifice and another single to cut the lead to two.
Madera South answered with a run in the bottom of the second. Sandoval led off with a single up the middle and stole second. She went to third on a groundout by Bermudez. Brianna Velasquez laid down a sacrifice bunt to drive in Sandoval for a 4-1 lead.
Madera South had a chance to add to its lead in the fourth when Bermudez reached on a bunt single. She collided with the first baseman on the play and Zuleyka Rios came in to pinch run. However, Rios was later thrown out trying to steal third.
Velasquez drew a walk and advanced to third on wild pitches. However, the next two batters were retired.
Williams reached on an one-out error in the fifth. Pinch-runner Vania Montano advanced to third on a sacrifice by Anna Garcia, but was left stranded.
Bermudez drew a one-out walk in the seventh and stole second, but was thrown out on a dropped third strike passed ball trying to advance to third.
Although Mendota had three hits against Williams, she seemed in control for most of the game. She allowed just two runners to reach second and struck out the side in the fourth. Sandoval threw out two runners trying to steal second in the final five innings to lift the Stallions to the win.
Washington Union 8, Madera South 4
The Stallions took a break before facing the host team in the second game on Tuesday. They allowed six runs in the first three innings, but kept battling and outscored the Panthers 4-2 over the final three-and-a-half innings.
Williams led the Stallions’ offense with a pair of hits. Sandoval, Jessica Garcia and Del Rio also had hits for the Stallions.
Williams tossed a complete game with 116 pitches. She struck out 10, allowed 10 hits and eight runs, but six were earned.
The Panthers got on the scoreboard with three runs in the first inning. A swinging bunt followed by back-to-back one-out doubles drove in a pair of runs. After a popout, a single down the right field line drove in the third run of the inning.
The Panthers added to the lead in the third with a walk, single and a hit batter. A groundout, wild pitch and a passed ball scored three more runs for a 6-0 lead.
Madera South answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Del Rio singled with one out and stole second. She advanced to third on a bad throw back to the pitcher.
Emma Howe was hit by a pitch and stole second. Del Rio scored on a wild pitch to Williams with Howe advancing to third. Howe came in to score on another bad throw to the pitcher to cut the lead to four.
The Panthers came back with a pair of runs in the fourth after a one out double and single. A passed ball and an error allowed two runs to score for an 8-2 lead.
Madera South added runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Sandoval led off the fourth with a bunt single and went to third on a throwing error. She scored on Jessica Garcia’s infield single.
Garcia stole second while Bermudez walked. After a groundout, Velasquez put down a bunt to advance the runners 60 feet. Del Rio walked, but the next batter struck out with the bases loaded.
Williams led off the sixth with a single to left. Rodriguez walked and pinch-runner Montano advanced to second.
Sandoval grounded out on the eighth pitch of the at-bat to advance the runners to second and third. Garcia grounded out to drive in Montano with Rodriguez advancing to third. The next batter grounded out to end the inning.
A pair of walks put Stallions at second and third with one out in the sixth, but they couldn’t advance.
The game was called after six innings because of the time limit.
Monache 6, Madera South 1
For four innings, the Stallions battled through the rain and wind to keep pace with the Monache Marauders.
However, Monache pushed over four runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to record a 6-0 victory on Monday.
Madera South was limited to just one hit — a single by Anna Garcia in the third. However, they had plenty of baserunners. They drew a walk, were hit by pitches twice, reached on an error twice and on a dropped third strike.
The Stallions left six runners on base, including three in scoring position.
Monache closed Monday’s game by retiring 10 of Madera South’s last 11 batters for the win.
