Lily Gonzales provided all the offense Sierra High’s softball team needed in its Valley Oak League season finale against visiting Manteca Friday.
Gonzales led off the bottom of the first with a home run and finished 3 for 4 with two runs driven in and two others scored in a 4-0 victory.
CeCe Nevarez was 3 for 3, and Shelby Shirron chipped in a hit and a run.
Kaitlyn Perkins tossed three shutout innings, scattering four hits while striking out three. She was relieved by Nevarez, who tossed the final four for the win. Nevarez got nine straight outs before giving up back-to-back, two-out singles in the final frame.
The game-saving play for Sierra (14-2, 20-2 overall) came in the top of the third with Manteca runners on first and second. The Buffaloes threatened to slice into Sierra’s 2-0 lead with a base hit to right, but Jessica Montiel gunned down the runner at home for the final out.
“That was a textbook play, just the way you practice it,” Sierra coach Bill Faulkner said. “That really took the wind out of their sails. Then CeCe came in and just shut them down.”
Ketner coasted through her seven innings of work, turning in eight strikeouts to no walks and five hits. She was spotted an early lead, as East Union erupted for five runs in the first inning.
Kailee Nuding and Ashley Cook (double) were each 3 for 4. Alisya Hoffman and Stephanie Cooke (four RBIs) each finished 2 for 3.
“Jackie was in control the whole game,” EU coach Ron Kackley said. “We played a great defensive game, and the girls came to play ball tonight.”
Gonzales led off the bottom of the first with a home run and finished 3 for 4 with two runs driven in and two others scored in a 4-0 victory.
CeCe Nevarez was 3 for 3, and Shelby Shirron chipped in a hit and a run.
Kaitlyn Perkins tossed three shutout innings, scattering four hits while striking out three. She was relieved by Nevarez, who tossed the final four for the win. Nevarez got nine straight outs before giving up back-to-back, two-out singles in the final frame.
The game-saving play for Sierra (14-2, 20-2 overall) came in the top of the third with Manteca runners on first and second. The Buffaloes threatened to slice into Sierra’s 2-0 lead with a base hit to right, but Jessica Montiel gunned down the runner at home for the final out.
“That was a textbook play, just the way you practice it,” Sierra coach Bill Faulkner said. “That really took the wind out of their sails. Then CeCe came in and just shut them down.”
East Union 9, Ceres 2
The Squires (14-2, 20-7) ended the season on a high note with a terrific all-around effort led by pitcher Jenny Ketner.Ketner coasted through her seven innings of work, turning in eight strikeouts to no walks and five hits. She was spotted an early lead, as East Union erupted for five runs in the first inning.
Kailee Nuding and Ashley Cook (double) were each 3 for 4. Alisya Hoffman and Stephanie Cooke (four RBIs) each finished 2 for 3.
“Jackie was in control the whole game,” EU coach Ron Kackley said. “We played a great defensive game, and the girls came to play ball tonight.”
— Jonamar Jacinto
