SUNRISE REGION: Error helps Gators get revenge
In its season opener, Green Valley’s softball team made a costly throwing error that led to a 2-0 loss at Las Vegas.
On Tuesday, the Gators got a little revenge.
Kristina Nelson’s throwing error led to both Gator runs in the seventh inning as Green Valley opened Sunrise Region tournament play with a 2-1 victory against the host Wildcats.
“Wow, talk about deja vu,” Green Valley coach Lauren Taylor said. “The first time we threw the ball away and that was the difference. However, Kristina (Nelson) was so dominant against us, we had a hard time just putting the ball in play.”
Nelson retired the first 17 Green Valley batters, 13 by strikeout, before allowing a two-out single to No. 9 hitter Chelsea Perez in the sixth inning.
Green Valley (15-10) finally struck in the seventh.
With one out, Cori Sutton walked. Fenixx Henderson followed with a sacrifice bunt back to Nelson. The Wildcat pitcher threw wildly to second, and the ball rolled all the way to the outfield fence. A return throw to the infield got away, allowing both Sutton and Henderson to score.
The Wildcats (19-12) didn’t quit, getting back-to-back singles from Taylor Price and Cierra Turner with one out in the bottom of the seventh. However, Kristine Pasion struck out, and Mariel Hundley tapped back to the Henderson in the circle to end the game.
Las Vegas got on the board first, with a single run against Henderson in the third.
With two outs, Ashly Westgarth singled and stole second. After Jasmina Salas walked, Nelson ripped a single to left, scoring Westgarth for the 1-0 lead.
“Fenixx kept us in the game,” said Taylor, whose team will face Foothill (23-7) in a winners’ bracket semifinal at 3 p.m. today at Foothill. “She always battles every time she goes to the mound. It wasn’t the best game we ever played, but we will take the win just the same.”
Henderson scattered seven hits and fanned seven in raising her record to 12-7.
Las Vegas will meet Chaparral (7-11) in an elimination game at 3 p.m. today at Coronado.
Foothill 9, Chaparral 2 — At Foothill, Palmer Bosanko went 2-for-3 as the Falcons topped the Cowboys.
Lauren Lesniak was 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI for Chaparral.
Coronado 4, Rancho 3 — At Coronado, winning pitcher Danielle Amato singled home Haley Harrison with the winning run as the Cougars (20-11) scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to come back from a 3-0 deficit and down the Rams (10-14-1).
Alyssa Ayers stroked a two-run double to get Coronado on the board, and Harrison followed with her second hit of the day, a game-tying single.
Coronado will meet Basic (15-9) in a winners’ bracket semifinal at 5 p.m. today at Foothill.
Rancho also committed two costly errors in the seventh.
Ashton Orlan had a triple, and Brandy Marlett hit a double for Rancho, which will meet Eldorado (23-5) in an elimination game at 5 p.m. today at Coronado.
Basic 10, Eldorado 4 — At Eldorado, winning pitcher Tiana Tapuala had three hits, including a two-run homer, and drove in four runs as the Wolves surprised the Northeast League champion Sundevils.
Marissa Ross added three hits, including two doubles, and an RBI, and Leah Causey doubled twice for Basic, which scored all 10 of its runs with two outs.
Cheyanne Schindler and Keelyn Pacheco each had three hits for Eldorado.