Playing in their first league game of the season, the Acalanes Varsity Softball team came out with a purpose as the Dons defeated the Concord Bears 14-3 on Monday afternoon.  The game was moved up to Monday to avoid the predicted rain on Tuesday and the Dons swung the bats early and often to score 4 runs in the first inning, 1 run in the second, 6 runs in the third, and 3 in the 4th inning leading to the victory that ended in the 5th.   

Emme Young collected three hits in four at bats from the leadoff position.   After the Dons had a 1,2,3 inning in the top half of the first, Young smashed a ground ball down the right field line on the first pitch.  Later in the inning, Esa Orman had a single to load the bases for Santana Tamayo, who hit a hard ground ball to short to drive in the first run of the game.   Maya Shoenhair then followed with a sacrifice fly to right to put the second run across the plate for the Dons.   Later in the same inning, Lana Cerejo had a clutch 2 out hit to RF to score two more runs to go ahead 4-0 after the first inning.  

Shoenhair stepped into the circle first for the Dons and pitched 3 scoreless innings, allowing only 2 hits, striking out 3 and walking 2.   Cerejo then came in to slam the door shut to close out the game pitching the final 2 innings.   

The Dons blew the game wide open in the bottom half of the third.  Tamayo got things going with a single off the third baseman.  However, the Dons then quickly had two outs, but as was the story of this game, clutch 2 out hitting was critical.  Cerejo got on with a single between the first and second baseman.   Lulu Levy then came up and smashed a line drive to right scoring two runs on 2 outs.  Vanessa Choi then drew a walk to put more pressure on the Bears.  Young reached on an error, Riley Zirkel walked and then Orman hit a towering fly ball to center that fell in to bring in the final 2 runs of the inning to put the Dons up 11-0.

The defense also played well in the game with 2B Avery Robb making several key plays along with SS Zirkel and 3B Tamayo holding down the left side of the infield.   RF Levy had a highlight play throwing out a runner at 1st base to Gabby Huerta, while Choi, Young and Lauren Foster also made several plays in the OF.  On the final play of the game, 1B Nicole Parlett made the final out on a hard ground ball and calmly stepped on first base for the final out to secure the win for the Dons.