The varsity softball team headed to Pinole Valley High School on a warm Monday afternoon this week to take on the undefeated (4-0) Lady Spartans. The Dons came away with an impressive 10-7 win to push their record to 4-1 and establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with this season.
The girls came out in their road blue uniforms facing a pitcher who had 42 strikeouts in 27 innings with only 2 walks in her first 4 games of the season. Senior centerfielder Emme Young got things started with a triple to left field to lead off the game. Emme eventually scored on a wild pitch to give the Dons an early 1-0 lead. She had another outstanding game at the plate with 4 hits (including 2 triples), 2 runs scored, 2 runs batted in and a stolen base.
#2 Emme Young
The Spartans tied the game in the bottom of the first before Acalanes came up in the top of the 2nd inning. Junior pitcher Maya Shoenhair led off with a single up the middle. After an out, sophomore shortstop Riley Zirkel laid down a nice bunt that was thrown past the first baseman and into right field. It scored junior pinch runner Avery Robb and put the momentum back in the Don’s dugout. Sophomore second baseman Gabby Huerta was then hit by a pinch before Emme plated Riley and Gabby with her second triple of the game. The girls held Pinole Valley defensively in the bottom of the 2nd inning, so the score stayed at 4-1 after 2 frames.
#16 Riley Zirkel
Maya led off the 3rd inning with another single. Again, Avery came in to run for her and again she scored. Freshman catcher June Natal knocked her in with a single to right field to push the lead to 5-1. June had another strong game behind the plate and offensively with 3 hits and 3 runs batted in.
#1 Maya Shoenhair
The girls added 2 more runs in the 5th frame when sophomore third baseman Santana Tamaya doubled to knock in a run. She also eventually scored that inning to push the Acalanes lead to 7-1. Santana had another outstanding game, playing a rock solid third base to go with 2 hits, 2 runs scored and 2 runs batted in.
# 21 Santana Tamayo
The Dons added 3 more runs in the 6th inning, highlighted by senior first baseman Esa Orman’s triple to right field to score Emme from first. She also later scored that inning. Esa has also played some all-world defense at first base over the last several games. She has solidified the young infield.
First baseman Esa Orman
Maya Shoenhair pitched a complete game for the girls in blue, going 7 full innings with 4 strikeouts. She gave up some meaningless late runs that tightened the final score, but Maya looked in control for most of the contest.
Left fielder Vanessa Choi & Center fielder Emme Young
The real difference in the game was defense. The Lady Spartans recorded 5 errors. The Dons had 0, again. The aforementioned Esa and Santana looked great, Riley did her thing at shortstop, the outfield (Emme Young, Vanessa Choi and Lauren Foster) caught everything that came their way and sophomore second baseman Gabby Huerta made 6 clean plays in the infield to help preserve the win.
Second Baseman Gabby Huerta
Stay hot Dons! The squad has 2 more games this week, but mother nature may not allow that to happen. On Wednesday they travel to Piedmont (weather permitting) to take on the Highlanders at 4pm before they square off with the Mount Diablo Lady Devils on Thursday at 4pm in Concord.
