Senior pitcher Angelina Martinez recorded seven strikeouts while scattering just six hits in the circle and drove in a run in the batter’s box, but it was not enough to propel Ripon to victory on its senior night Tuesday afternoon.
The Indians fell 2-1 to Hughson, which remains undefeated in Trans Valley League play.
“We really wanted to get this one for our seniors,” Ripon head coach Tanner Jordan said. “In the end, we made a few errors that prove costly in a close game that we just couldn’t overcome.”
Ripon (7-3 TVL, 16-7 overall) came into the showdown with first-place Hughson (9-0, 16-3) with an outside chance at capturing at least a share of the TVL crown. With Tuesday’s loss, the focus for Ripon shifts to the postseason. The Indians are in position to earn one of the three automatic berths in the TVL and currently sit fifth in the Sac Joaquin Section Division V rankings on MaxPreps.
“This game by no means defines our season,” Jordan said. “Some really big goals we set out for ourselves as a team when this season started are still on the table, now it’s a matter of digging deep and battling back.”
Things started well for Ripon, as Martinez mowed down the first nine Huskies she faced while striking out three.
“Angie was really, really good,” Jordan said. “She did a great job keeping them off balance, and we played some good defense behind her early on, which gave us a great chance.”
Martinez would help her own cause in the bottom of the first inning after some small ball. Senior shortstop Addison Naranjo (2-2, 1 run) led off with an infield hit, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and stole third base with two outs and Martinez stepping in. Martinez drove a Kylie Tangney pitch back up the middle for a hit to score Naranjo to score a valuable first run in what was sure to be a low scoring affair.
The junior Tangney settled in for the Huskies for the remainder of the game, allowing just one more hit and zero runs to go along with 13 strikeouts in her seven innings on the rubber.
“Their pitcher (Tangney) is really good; we knew we needed to get to her early,” Jordan said. “But credit to her, she settled in and we weren’t able to take advantage of a few chances we had later in the game.”
The Huskies would get to Martinez in the top of the fifth. After a leadoff hit by Tangney, Martinez struck out the next batter and got a fielder’s choice to get to two outs. Ruby Ramont then reached on an Indians error, setting up first and second with two down for the top of the Hughson lineup.
Leadoff batter Presley Wells (1-4, RBI) lined a single to left to tie the game. One batter later, sophomore Peyton Moring (2-4, RBI) hit a ball back up the middle, scoring the go-ahead run for the Huskies.
“We’ve played really good defense all year long but sometimes it just takes one mistake,” Jordan said. “They took some good at-bats after the error but that is what good teams do.”
Pitching with the lead for the first time, Tangney went on to retire six of the last seven Indians to complete the victory for Hughson.
Indians have two games before postseason play to help them get back on track. Ripon will head across Maple Avenue to take on Ripon Christian on Tuesday, May 5 before finishing up TVL play at Hilmar two days later.
“We’ve done enough to position ourselves in a good place for the playoffs,” Jordan said. “We’ll get back to doing the little things right next week and hopefully make a big run at a section title.”
