Jaramillo’s eye aids Eldorado softball win

Eldorado’s softball team was too eager at the plate and ran itself into outs on the bases in the first six innings Thursday.

It was only fitting that a patient walk in the top of the seventh saved the day for the Sundevils.

Megan Jaramillo’s 11-pitch walk allowed Cheyenne Schindler to knock home the winning run with an infield single as Eldorado rallied for three runs in the seventh to nip host Chaparral, 5-4.

“We played terrible, but the girls pulled their hearts out of their chest pockets and made it happen,” said Sundevils coach Lisa Sykes, whose team has won seven of eight to climb to 10-11 overall, 5-2 in the Northeast League for a second-place tie with Rancho and Valley.

“Megan’s walk was crucial. She’s a seasoned batter and a seasoned player.”

The Sundevils pounded out 10 hits in the first six innings, but had a runner caught stealing and two more thrown out by Chaparral left fielder Destini Hover. Eldorado also had six fly ball outs.

A few timely hits, a costly error by the Cowboys (5-7, 3-4), and Jaramillo’s walk nullified the miscues of the first six innings.

With one out in the seventh, pinch hitter Jammie Gouveia reached on a throwing error. Kayla Nasife and Ashley Jarzombek followed with singles just through or over the infield to pull the Sundevils within 4-3 and put runners at first and second.

After a foul out, Gabriela Trillo tied the game with a solid single to center field, chasing home Nasife.

Jaramillo, after flying out in her first three trips, fouled off five straight pitches with a 3-2 count before taking the 11th pitch, loading the bases and passing the baton to Schindler.

“Megan has a tendency to look for the big hit,” Sykes said. “That at-bat shows how much she’s maturing.”

Schindler lined a shot off the shoe of Chaparral’s second baseman to score Jarzombek, who closed out the game in the seventh with two strikeouts and a pop out. Jarzombek pitched a four-hitter and struck out 10, overcoming six Eldorado errors.

“She pitched well. She’s our only pitcher, and we’ve been wearing her out,” Sykes said.

Jarzombek, Schindler and Trillo each had three of Eldorado’s 14 hits.