- El Capitan hit a walk-off single in the 8th inning to end a game that included five lead changes.
- The Gauchos have won back-to-back games as they make a final push for the playoffs.
- The Tigers have lost their last three league games.
The El Capitan High softball team found some payback against a Los Banos Tigers team that defeated them earlier this season by beating the Tigers 9-8 in extra innings on Tuesday, May 5th. The Gauchos on the brink of a possible playoff berth needed the win to keep their chances strong.
The Gauchos scored the first run in the bottom of the 1st inning and added another run during the 2nd inning to take an early 2-0 lead. However, later in the 3rd inning, Los Banos took control with a bases loaded double from Audrey Ornelas that tied the game, and an RBI groundout from Mikayla Arista that gave the Tigers the lead.
The Tigers were just getting started as they added to their lead in the 5th inning with three more runs. Mikayla Arista, once again, blasted a double that brought in two runs and advanced to third base on the throw. She came around to score for the Tigers and increased the Tigers lead to 6-4.
Things didn’t change from there until the 7th inning when Los Banos gained two more runs to increase their lead to 8-4. Just when it appeared as if the momentum was all Los Banos, El Capitan started their inning with three straight hits. All of a sudden, it was the Tigers who were feeling the pressure as the Gauchos chipped the lead to three runs with two runners on and no outs. Back-to-back groundouts with a runner at third pinched the Tigers’ lead down to one run with two outs in the last inning. This set the stage for the El Capitan seniors Ava Arriaga, who worked a walk to first base, and Lucca Jorgenson who smacked a double to send Arriaga to third. A wild pitch to the next batter tied the game in the 7th inning.
The 8th inning became very competitive as Los Banos was up to bat first. El Capitan’s Ellery Hunter, who had pitched the whole game, stayed in to complete the 8th inning. The Gauchos’ defense was strong and they retired the Tigers in order.
After seven innings and four lead changes, the Gauchos finally had a chance to seal it. With two outs and Maci Tighe at first base, Tasha Dickey singled to send the runner to second base. The next hitter, Emma Derichsweiler, singled to right field, allowing Tighe to score for the Gauchos and win the game 9-8.
After the game, El Capitan’s head coach Crystal Ruiz spoke about the meaningful win, “My girls fought back really hard to take that win and that’s all that I could ask for today, especially on Senior Night.” The Gauchos season has been up and down, but after three straight losing seasons, the Gauchos are putting together a competitive team under second-year head coach Ruiz, who is enjoying the progress, “I would choose them over and over again for the players they showed us today where they just gave it their all.”
On May 7, El Capitan will have their final game of the regular season on the road at Merced High. The Tigers will end their regular season by heading back to Los Banos to host Golden Valley High.
- Photos by Yoanna Morales. ↩︎
