Hitting can be contagious.
Proof of that occurred at Wednesday's clash between Ripon High and visiting Hilmar, two of the top softball teams in the Trans-Valley League.
The Indians won it convincingly in six innings 11-1, further cementing their place atop the standings while extending their season-long winning streak.
Along the way, they pounded out four home runs, including two by third baseman Lilly Mejia.
"That was my first time hitting two (round-trippers) in a game," she said.
Pitcher Sydney Thompson, who was fresh off throwing a shutout in a 1-0 win at Livingston on the previous day, helped her cause with a long home run. Myra Toledo also homered, ending the game an inning early with a two-run bomb that enacted the 10-run stoppage rule.
"We were able to relax a little by getting those early runs," coach Robert Vernon said.
The first-place Indians (7-0 TVL, 11-0 overall) jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the first of Mejia's two-run homers in the first inning.
Rhylee Magazinovic also scored after drawing a lead-off walk.
Ripon opened the second playing small ball, with Caitlyn Campbell executed a bunt single followed by Toledo's sacrifice bunt. Campbell scored on a throwing error.
The Indians weren't done just yet.
Small ball turned to long ball on Mejia's second two-run jack. Thompson followed that up with a solo blast to left, giving her team an early 6-0 advantage.
Hilmar got a run back in the third. Madison Fontes scored on a fielder's choice.
Ripon added a run in the fifth — Toledo delivered a one-out triple to right and freshman shortstop Magazinovic plated her with single to right — and closed out the game in the sixth on Toledo's two-run bomb.
Prior to that, Bianca Toledo had an RBI triple, scoring Sydney Vernon to make it 9-1.
She came home on the home by Myra Toledo.
"It was exciting for me to watch a game like this," Robert Vernon said. "Our hitting was contagious."
Thompson, who was the winning pitcher, registered most of her outs on grounders.
"She pitches to contact and has a real good change up," Vernon said. "But she's also deceptive, making it hard for batters to square around."