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Gusts don’t cool off Sierra’s hot bats versus Lathrop
Lathrop-Sierra softball
Sierra's Anna Dickinson (4) forces Lathrop's Alina Fuentes (16) at second. - photo by Dave Campbell

Sierra put up five runs in the bottom of a windy sixth inning Friday, which offset a five-run Lathrop seventh as the host Timberwolves totaled 14 hits in a 12-5 non-league softball win. 

The Timberwolves went up 6-1 after three innings behind some big bats in a pair of three-run frames in the first and third.

Erica Tovar had the biggest bat for Sierra, going 3 for 4 with a double, triple, two RBI and three runs.

“I was kind of ahead on the ball a bit,” Tovar said. “But I was OK with the outcome.

“We let down a little bit but we were still able to come out on top.”

Angelinah Olivarez was also 3 for 4 with two RBI, scoring two runs.

“I felt good at the plate,” Olivarez said. “I was able to get some good, solid hits.”

Breanna Tyler (3 for 4, RBI, double, run), Jessenia Beltran (2 for 2, triple, RBI, two runs) and Anna Dickinson (2 for 4, two runs, double) rounded out the Timberwolves attack.

Sierra may have had the big bats early, but the Timberwolves also kicked the ball around a bit early on with five total errors in the second, third and fourth innings.

“Those errors remind us that even though some players think we are being redundant in practice, we need to do our fundamentals over and over and over,” Timberwolves coach Mike James said.

“And that’s not just in fielding — we made some subs and it got a little close only because of base-running decision making.

“That will all get better with reps, and this is only our second game of the year and it will all get better with reps and we’ll be fine.”

Lylli Avila, Jasmine Smith and Lilliana Velasquez each had an RBI single in the four-run fifth for Lathrop (1-3) with Ariana Fuentes belting an RBI double. Alina Fuentes got the rally going with a one-out double. Shelby Aquino doubled and scored for the Spartans. 

This was the second game in as many days between the two teams with Sierra (2-0) winning 11-1 on Thursday.

“The score was much better and we looked much better all the way around than on Thursday,” Spartans coach Stephanie Maestretti said. “There wasn’t much we could do about the wind, but we have to make the plays when we can.

“We made the plays when we could and that was great, but unfortunately they had runners on when the wind kicked up. We got some runs back on the wind as well and I like the fight.”

Tuesday at 4 p.m. Sierra travels to Ripon and Lathrop opens Western Athletic Conference play Wednesday at Ceres at 4 p.m.

 

Junior varsity

Sierra 12, Lathrop 0

Allana Lewis posted an unassisted double play for the Spartans.

Gisele Mejia and Pia Calub combined on another double play for Lathrop. Tiba Sameer and Anna Velasquez played well on defense for the Spartans and Velasquez contributed inside the chalked circle.