Lindsey Walljasper and the Sierra High softball team are playing as well as they’ve played all season, and their timing couldn’t be any better.
The Timberwolves produced their second consecutive blowout victory on Tuesday afternoon, routing Central Catholic 15-1.
The final scoreboard stood in stark contrast to their first meeting on March 19, a 4-0 victory for Sierra.
A budding Walljasper was the difference. She pitched her fourth no-hitter of the season, allowing just three base runners in a 10-strikeout masterpiece. The Raiders reached base via a hit batter, walk and error.
“Lindsey has been throwing really well. She’s doing what we’ve asked her to do and that’s don’t give up the big play, don’t give up big runs and let the defense work,” head coach Vic DeAnda said. “She’s doing very good for a freshman.”
Walljasper — the younger sister of Ally Walljasper, now a standout pitcher at nationally-ranked LSU and a four-time All-Area MVP — also launched a home run and had three RBIs.
“Offensively, she helped out a lot,” DeAnda said. “She contributed quite a bit. It’s good to see her bat coming around.”
It was one of two home runs by the Timberwolves, now 13-3 and 7-2 in league after a pair of mercy-rule victories to start the week.
Julie DeAnda went 3 for 4 with a three-run home run. Kendelle Messersmith also had three base hits, while Tayler Moss went 4 for 4 with a triple.
The Timberwolves have scored 28 runs in their last two games, including a 13-1 shellacking of Kimball on Monday. The tear has come after a frustrating 11-4 loss at Oakdale on April 2 in which Sierra committed three errors and failed to capitalize on nine hits.
“The bats right now, we’re hitting the ball really, really well,” DeAnda said. “They’re starting to see the ball good. I couldn’t ask for anything better than that going into the East Union game. It’s a big game, so this is a good time for us. Our bats are coming alive and it will help us out a lot.”
The Timberwolves host the Valley Oak League-leading Lancers on Thursday. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
DeAnda said it was important for his club to bounce back the way they have after the loss to the Mustangs, especially with East Union visiting campus.
Led by Oregon-bound outfielder Cherish Burks (.576, nine extra base hits) and a stable of quality sophomore arms, the Lancers (16-1) are ranked No. 1 in the section and 15th in the state.
East Union is hitting better than .500 as a team and sits atop the league standings at 7-0, one game ahead of Oakdale and two games clear of Sierra.
“It was important for us” to bounce back, DeAnda said. “They could have left their heads down and not played the ball game like they should be playing it. Instead, they’ve come out and hit the ball well. They’re playing really a lot better on defense and we’ve put ourselves in position we need to be in.”
Manteca 14, Lathrop 1
Sophomores Haighley Kissee and Tawny Deerinck blasted the biggest of Manteca’s 12 hits in Tuesday’s rout of visiting Lathrop (0-6, 6-9).
Kissee legged out a double and a triple while driving in five runs. She was also the winning pitcher, tossing a mercy-shortened two-hitter. Deerinck belted a home run and a double.
Morgan Miramontes finished 2 for 2 with a pair of doubles. Sierra Martinez, another sophomore, was 2 for 4 with two RBIs. The Buffaloes are now 5-2 in the VOL and 12-4 overall.
East Union 11,
Weston Ranch 0 (5)
Mikayla Bongi and Delaney Pamplin combined for a two-hit shutout at Weston Ranch.
Samantha Owen had a triple among her three hits for East Union (6-0, 16-2). Alexis Erich was 2 for 2 with a triple, and freshman Izabella Owen added two more hits to the barrage.
Sophomore
Manteca 15, Lathrop 1
Koryn Menasco finished a perfect 4 for 4 from the plate and was also the winning pitcher.
Daniel Burch (triple) and Ashley Peace clubbed three hits apiece, and Eli Murrieta hammered a double in her lone at-bat.
Sierra freshman racks up 4th no-hitter