The Alhambra Bulldogs softball team came to Acalanes on Tuesday, April 18th for an afternoon game at the Acalanes Softball Field.  The Softball Varsity Dons were looking to build off their momentum after a blowout victory last week and came away with a huge win by defeating the Bulldogs 4-3.

Thanks to a strong start on offense, bold defense and great pitching the Dons were able to hold on to a 4-3 lead and keep the Bulldogs scoreless for the last five innings.  After falling behind 1-0 heading into the bottom of the first inning,  Acalanes scored 2 runs on a clutch 2 out single by Sophia Alvarado in the bottom of the first inning.  Alvarado was able to crush an 0-2 fastball right up the middle to score Emme Young and Hailey Stripling for the Dons to snatch back the lead.    

Alhambra came right back in the second inning to score 2 runs on their own clutch 2 out hit, However, once again the Dons came right back in the bottom of the inning.   Emmi Cronin and Lauren Foster got the rally going, and then the Bulldogs decided to intentionally walk Stripling to load the bases.   The strategy backfired as Esa Orman scorched a single up the middle to bring in Cronin and Foster to take the lead back 4-3.    

The run by Foster proved to be the winning run as the Dons held the 4-3 lead for the rest of the game.   Maya Shoenhair got the start for the Dons and she lasted all seven innings, needing only 80 pitches for the complete game.   She scattered six hits to allow three runs while striking out one and walking zero.

The Defense for the Dons made several highlight plays led by the infield with Orman behind the plate catching, Alvardo at 1B, Cronin at 2B, Avery Robb at 3B and Stripling anchoring the team at SS.  In the outfield, the Dons had Luly Levy in LF, Young in CF and Foster in RF.  The play of the game occurred in the 5th inning, the Dons pulled off an incredible double play after Robb knocked down a hard line drive, stayed with it and threw to second and then on to first for the last out of the inning.   

It was a team effort as Foster, Cronin, Alvarado, Orman, and Stripling each managed one hit to lead the team in hits while Cronin led the team in defensive assists and Robb made several key plays in her best defensive game of the season.   

The Dons have 2 more games this week as they host Concord High School, Wednesday the 19th and go on the road Thursday at Northgate.  Let’s Go Dons!