TRACY — After an opening-round mercy-rule loss Friday in the NFCA Nor Cal Leadoff Softball Classic, East Union rebounded with three mercy-rule wins of its own, including two shutouts Saturday at the Tracy Softball Complex.
The Lancers brought home the consolation trophy as East Union downed Lincoln of Placer County 10-0 in four innings in the consolation final. Earlier Saturday, they routed Mt. Eden, 14-0.
“After our first game the girls had to do a gut check,” Lancers coach Matt Cooper said. “After a chewing they did a talk among themselves. We made some changes and the girls challenged each other and this is what happens when a team picks itself up.”
“In that first game we were just flat. We had opportunities in the first and second innings and they made some amazing plays and took out momentum away. We threw three pitchers at them and they just kept throwing the bat at the balls and finding holes. Not much you can do about that. We were switching pitches up and defense up the whole time and it just wasn’t going our way.”
Caliyah Lopez (2 for 4, two RBI, run) started out the game for East Union (9-5) with a bunt single and in her last at-bat she singled in Lea Alstadt for the walk-off mercy-rule run.
“I enjoy being the leadoff batter,” Lopez said. “Sometimes I feel the pressure but I am doing it for my team and to get on base.
“I get to pass the bat to our other player and I am going up there confident trying to get the runs in.”
Layla Molina led the Lancers attack from the plate and in the circle, going 2 for 3 with a home run, a ground-rule double, two RBI and two runs. She gave up one hit and retired the other 12 batters she faced, striking out two.
“I haven’t been hitting the ball very well,” Molina said. “But I was really seeing it today.
“It was nice that I got back into it today.”
Lydia Allgaier went 2 for 2 with a sacrifice bunt, including a line drive that ricocheted off of the pitcher, bringing up Lopez for her game-ending hit.
“I feel bad about that last hit,” Algaier said. But it feels good to win the trophy.”
Makenzie Nervis went 3 for 3 with an RBI and a run for East Union and Dianne LaFuentes belted an RBI double and scored two runs.
In the consolation semifinal win over Mt. Eden of Hayward (7-3), Molina walked the first batter she faced before retiring the next nine in a row, striking out six. Makayla Simpson came on to pitch the fourth and final inning, striking out the side in order.
“I had all my pitches,” Molina said. “I was throwing strikes.
“I walked my first batter, but other than that I shut everyone else down.”
Algaier had the monster bat, going 3 for 3 an RBI, a double and a triple.
“I’ve been working on my own,” Algaier said. “I have worked really hard on my batting because I have been messing up a lot and I even got a bunt down.”
Lopez went 2 for 3 with a double, triple and three runs, LaFuente doubled and knocked in five runs and Kylee Gann doubled and scored a run.
The Lancers host Sierra on Tuesday afternoon at 5.
