SUNRISE SOFTBALL: Rams edge Cougars in wild finish

With her team deadlocked in a scoreless tie, Rancho softball coach Amanda Zunno knew it was time to make something happen.

It took two risky calls, but her decisions paid off when Jahnae Davis-Houston scored from third on a wild pitch in the eighth inning to give the Rams a 1-0 victory over Coronado in Thursday’s Division I Sunrise League winners’ bracket final game at Foothill.

Cougars pitcher Tatum Spangler and Rancho’s Sam Pochop were nearly unhittable through seven, but Zunno saw an opportunity when Davis-Houston hit a sharp one-out single up the middle in the eighth.

“We had faith in our players that they would capitalize on an opportunity at some point,” Zunno said. “It’s a long game, and I knew we’d get a chance.”

Gianna Carosone followed Davis-Houston’s hit with a walk, and Zunno gambled by having Pochop bunt the runners over.

“She’s a multitalented player,” Zunno said. “She always gets the bunt down.”

With two outs and a two-strike count on Tiare Lee, Spangler bounced a pitch that got away from Coronado catcher Basia Query. Davis-Houston hesitated, but Zunno sent her sprinting for home anyway. The throw to the plate was barely late, and the Rams stormed the field in victory.

“I told my players when they came up to bat that if they got on base, they needed to be ready for a wild pitch,” said Zunno, whose squad has struggled at times to score. “So even with the delay, Jahnae made it happen.”

Spangler suffered the loss despite striking out 11 while holding the Rams (26-7) to three hits.

Things might have wound up differently for the Cougars’ ace had her team not squandered an opportunity in the fourth. A Rancho error and a walk gave Coronado (26-9) two runners with no outs.

But Pochop, who struck out 14 while holding the Cougars to a first-inning single, worked out of the jam with an infield fly and two strikeouts.

“Sam has been our captain and leader both on and off the field,” Zunno said. “When it comes down to a big game, we want the ball in her hands.”

The Rams also blew two middle-inning opportunities, but Pochop said she never was worried.

“We’re not the strongest offensive team,” she said. “So I knew I had to stay strong and trust my defense.”

The victory earned the Rams a bye on Friday. Coronado will play an elimination game against Foothill (25-9) or Liberty (20-9) at 4:30 p.m.

Foothill 11, Basic 1 — Jazmine Dukes went 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, and three RBIs to help the Falcons beat the Wolves in five innings.

Bailey Cunanan gave Basic a 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the first, but Dukes tied it with a solo homer in the bottom of the inning, and Foothill never looked back.

Haleigh Olive went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer to help the Falcons, who took control with three runs in the second inning. Teammates Alexia Campbell and Kylie Becker added two hits apiece.

Cunanan had two hits for the Wolves (15-19).

Liberty 12, Silverado 2 — Morgan LaNeve went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple and three RBIs to help the Patriots cruise past the Skyhawks in five innings.

Silverado scored a run in the first, but Liberty took over with three in the bottom of the inning. Three Silverado errors in the third helped the Patriots break it open with five runs.

Breanna Alvarez went 2-for-2 with two RBIs to help Liberty, and teammate Jessica Meza went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI.

Megan Johnson had two of Silverado’s three hits and drove in both runs for the Skyhawks (13-17).