SUNRISE REGION: Unheralded hitters help push Cougars past Falcons

Alex Battest and Nicole Hardy aren’t names that often strike fear in the hearts of Coronado’s softball opponents.

The Nos. 8 and 9 hitters in the Cougars’ lineup had combined to drive in only 17 runs this season prior to Saturday’s Sunrise Region final.

But with the Cougars in need of a spark after a first-game loss to Foothill, Battest and Hardy became run producers and helped Coronado become a region champion for the first time since 2006.

The duo went a combined 4-for-6 with two doubles and six RBIs as the Cougars outlasted Foothill 12-5 in the decisive game at Bishop Gorman.

“The two of them have struggled all year, but we know they have had it in them,” said Coronado coach Melissa Krueger, whose team advanced to the Class 4A state tournament which begins Thursday in Reno. “It was just a matter of time before they came through for us.”

Foothill’s 5-4 win in the opener forced the teams to play a deciding game in the double-elimination tournament, and Coronado (23-12) appeared to have control, building a 6-2 lead with a four-run fourth inning.

But the Falcons (27-9) chipped away, trimming the lead to 7-5 on Aricia Dami’s RBI single in the bottom of the sixth. Foothill put the potential tying runs on base in the sixth, but Coronado pitcher Danielle Amato got a fly out to end the threat.

Still, the Falcons, who have made a habit of losers’ bracket comebacks to win Sunrise tournaments, had momentum until Hardy and Battest stole it back.

Each player drilled a two-run double in the seventh, allowing the Cougars to pull away.

“I knew it was going to be a battle. Foothill, this is their thing,” Krueger said. “But we battled. We’ve been through a lot this season, and these kids just never quit.”

Haley Harrison added three hits and three RBIs, and Alyssa Ayers was 3-for-5 for Coronado.

Amato, who threw 109 pitches in the first game, tossed another 114 to win the second game, allowing nine hits.

“Danielle has been doing that all year,” Krueger said. “You can’t ask for anything more out of a player. She knew her team had her back.”

Amato and Foothill hurler Alex Petrolia went the distance in each game. Petrolia, who tossed 13 innings Friday as Foothill won twice to stay alive in the tournament, threw 260 pitches Saturday.

In the opener, Foothill did all of its scoring in the top of the first inning and held on to force the second game. Petrolia tossed a six-hitter for the Falcons, who got two doubles from Lauren Penksa.