Rams break out bats to rally past Cougars
Rancho’s softball team hasn’t been known for its offensive prowess in recent seasons.
With one of the state’s most successful pitchers in the circle, opponents tend to focus much more on how to beat the Rams than how to keep them from scoring.
But Rancho showed on Monday, it can be explosive.
The Rams erupted for four runs in the sixth inning to rally for a 5-3 win in a battle for first place in the Division I Sunrise League at Coronado.
“The players make the adjustments when they need to and help each other out,” said Rancho coach Amanda Zunno, whose team improved to 15-6, 10-0 in the Sunrise. “They help each other, and it has just exploded offensively. The mental focus is much better. Having that focus has helped us.”
Rancho, which entered averaging 10.1 runs per game in league play this year compared to 6.7 rpg in league games last year, started slowly.
Coronado starter Ashley Ward retired the first 11 Rams in order before Gianna Carosone broke through with a double off the left-field wall.
“Everyone was so anxious, and they were ahead of themselves,” Zunno said. “We talked about making adjustments.”
By the third trip through the batting order, the Rams found their stride.
Lili Gutierrez began the sixth-inning rally with a walk, and Jahnae Davis-Houston followed with an infield single.
Carosone drove in both runs with a triple into right-center, giving Rancho a 3-2 lead. One out later, Tiare Lee singled to left to make it 4-2.
After a popout, Kat Anthony and Yvette Sanchez both singled up the middle to make it 5-2.
Coronado (16-5, 8-2) got a run back in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly, but junior hurler Sam Pochop kept the Cougars at bay. Pochop finished with a six-hitter and struck out eight.
“They become confident, but not to the point where they can relax,” Zunno said of playing with the lead late. “These girls know they have to play to the last out, no matter what. Sam keeps the ball around the strike zone to give us a chance.”
Carosone and Lee both went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for Rancho, which holds a two-game lead at the midway point of Sunrise play.
“It’s really important because with the girls playing so well, we want to keep that play at top-notch,” Zunno said. “It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, we wan’t to keep that confidence and play at an elite level.”
Jaiden Johnson was 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs for Coronado.
Contact reporter Bartt Davis at bdavis@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5230.