Lathrop put up five early runs Wednesday, only for visiting Pacheco to come back hard and fast and take the Western Athletic conference softball game, 18-7.
“In our post-game huddle, we were talking about how we have kind of accepted the fact that we are not always going to win games and things are not always going to go our way,” Spartans coach Stephanie Maestretti said. “But we will control what we can.
“In our last game we held Ceres to three runs over three innings, which is huge for us. and today we got up, 5-0. We came out swinging, getting on base and doing what we needed to do. and that was wonderful.”
The first five batters reached and scored for Lathrop (0-8 WAC, 1-12 overall) in the bottom of the first for a 5-0 lead. Ish Uppal (RBI) and Athena Gurrero singled followed by an Amorett Contreras single, scoring Uppal. Lylli Avila (3 for 4, RBI, two runs) singled in Gurrero with Contreras, Avila and Isa Paniagua (double) all scoring on bases-loaded walks. Shelby Aquino finished with two RBI.
“Being patient at the plate is key,” Avila said. “You go back and forth between fast pitchers and slow pitchers, so you have to learn patience.”
Pacheco coach Charlie Pikas used this game to evaluate girls in different positions.
“We gave some different pitchers a chance to work,” Pikas said. “And a couple of girls got to swing the bat that hadn’t got to swing it much.
“We tried to play clean defense. No matter who is in the other dugout, we wanted to work on cleaning up our defense and we achieved that.”
Leadoff batter Abi Pikas led the Panthers (6-3, 8-10) with an outstanding 6 for 6 outing, scoring three runs. Arissa Ruiz added the big bat, going 4 for 6 with a home run, three RBI and four runs.
The Spartans travel to Los Banos on Tuesday to face the Tigers at 4 p.m.
Junior varsity
Pacheco 26, Lathrop 9
Allana Lewis went 4 for 4 with an RBI to pace the Spartans offense which came alive late with six fifth-inning runs.
Lathrop’s Morgan Penko (two RBI) and Genesis Contreras were both 2 for 3 while Layla Sprayberry (RBI) and Pia Calub were both 2 for 4. Giselle Mejia added an RBI.
Penko chased down a fly ball doubled up a Panthers runner at second base. The Spartans nearly converted a double play into a triple play, but the throw for the third out was a little late.
