JAMBOREE: Gaels find something to build on with tie

Bishop Gorman’s softball team has played from behind in all 10 games this season, and the first nine ended in defeat.

Thanks to quality at-bats from the top of the lineup and a lot of determination, the Gaels finally found a different result Thursday, even if it wasn’t quite the one they wanted.

Gorman rallied from a 4-0 third-inning deficit to finish in a 5-5 tie with Tech in the Spring Jamboree at Majestic Park. The game was called because of a time limit.

“It’s not what we wanted, but it’s much better than where we were,” Gaels coach Kevin Smith said. “The big key was our girls fought all the way to the end.”

Gorman (0-9-1), which lost to San Fernando (Calif.) 8-0 in its first pool game Thursday, was outscored 101-27 in its first nine games. The Gaels’ roster has only two returning letter winners.

“There has been a lot of learning in every inning for this team,” Smith said. “We don’t have a lot of girls who have played many games.”

Things didn’t look good for the Gaels when they faced a four-run deficit and Tech fireballer Amanda Roark, who struck out six of Gorman’s first nine hitters.

Consecutive two-out singles by O’Sheyon Rollins, Alexandria Gordon and Gracie Martinez pulled the Gaels to within 4-2 in the third.

After Tech (8-4-1) scored in the top of the fourth, the same trio of Gorman hitters triggered another two-out rally in the fifth. Rollins singled, Gordon tripled, and Martinez singled to trim the lead to 5-4. Martinez then scored the tying run on a triple by Miranda Robles.

“The top of the order did a lot of damage for us,” Smith said. “To be able to come back against a good pitcher is big for our confidence.”

The Gaels had a chance to win in the bottom of the seventh, putting two runner on base with no outs. Roark made a nice play on a bunt to force a runner at third base, then retired the next two batters on a popout and a grounder.

Roark finished with 13 strikeouts. Tech’s Nicole Lesniak went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run, and Lauren Lesniak went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

 

San Fernando (Calif.) 8, Bishop Gorman 0 — The Gaels managed only two hits and never recovered from a 4-0 first-inning deficit.

San Fernando (Calif.) 7, Tech 0 — Tech fell behind 3-0 in the first inning and couldn’t battle back. The Roadrunners had only six hits.

Palo Verde 10, Rancho 0 — Melissa McCormick and Tori Fenton combined on a six-inning perfect game as the Panthers blasted Rancho.

McCormick, who retired the first 15 batters, also went 4-for-4 with two home runs, two doubles and six RBIs. Fenton retired the final three batters.

Cheryl Iddings was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Danielle Hearn went 1-for-2 with a double, two runs and a RBI for Palo Verde.

Palo Verde 10, Maranatha (Calif.) 2 — McCormick tossed a two-hitter and went 4-for-4 with a double, a triple, a home run and three RBIs to lead the Panthers to the win.

Maranatha (Calif.) 13, Rancho 2 — The Minutemen dealt the Rams their second defeat of the day.

Pahrump Valley 17, Faith Lutheran 9 — Miranda Monje was 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and three RBIs as the Trojans pounded out 17 hits and took advantage of 11 errors by Faith Lutheran.

Taylor Ball was 3-for-5 with four RBIs, and Becca Gamble went 2-for-5 with a double, three runs and four RBIs for Pahrump.

Maya Barnes was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs, and Ashley Green was 2-for-4 with a double for the Crusaders.

El Camino Real (Calif.) 9, Pahrump Valley 3 — El Camino Real scored seven runs in the top of the first inning on its way to the win.
Gamble was 3-for-3 with a double for the Trojans.

El Camino Real (Calif.) 34, Faith Lutheran 0 — El Camino Real scored early and often in a three-inning rout of Faith Lutheran.

Centennial 3, Marshall (Calif.) 3 — Mikayla Djordjevic’s two-run double with two outs in the top of the seventh inning allowed Centennial to tie the Mighty Barristers.

Mia Acuna was 2-for-4 with a run for the Bulldogs.

Centennial 8, Eldorado 0 — Jessica Cooper tossed a one-hitter with eight strikeouts and one walk to lead the Bulldogs past the Sundevils.

Shantel Scarlett ripped a two-run homer, and Kylie Bartlett added two singles for Centennial.

Ashley Jarzombek’s second-inning double was Eldorado’s lone hit.

Centennial 16, Faith Lutheran 0 — Cooper and Djordjevic combined on a no-hitter, and Centennial plated nine runs in the top of the first inning to cruise past the Crusaders.

Cooper struck out nine and didn’t allow a walk in four innings.

Djordjevic went 2-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs, and Taylor Huntly and Alyssa Hotman each went 3-for-4 for the Bulldogs.

Marshall (Calif.) 9, Eldorado 2 — Marshall scored the final eight runs of the game to down the Sundevils.

Jessika Sandoval was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs for the Mighty Barristers.

Megan Jaramillo was 1-for-3 with a double and a run for Eldorado.

Winslow (Ariz.) 3, Bonanza 0 — Catcher Alex Teed finished 3-for-3 to lead the Bengals, who came up short in a pitchers’ duel.

Bonanza starter Courtney Spencer held Winslow to seven hits, but the Bengals were unable to recover after surrendering a pair of unearned runs in the first two innings.

Bonanza 11, Canyon Springs 1 — Jessica Delp went 2-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs to lift the Bengals past the Pioneers in six innings.

Nicolette Lind went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple and two RBIs to help Bonanza, which had nine extra-base hits. Spencer tossed a three-hitter to earn the win.

Winslow (Ariz.) 18, Canyon Springs 2 — Victoria Rivera hit a two-run double in the fourth, but the Pioneers fell to Winslow in a five-inning rout.

Winslow collected 13 hits in the game and took advantage of 10 errors by Canyon Springs.