Merced High continued their domination of the CCC on Tuesday, May 5th, when they traveled to Buhach Colony High and defeated the Thunder in a 12-2 rout. The Bears have cruised through the league this season with an undefeated record while scoring an average of nine runs per game during that span.
The Bears got going early behind the offensive power of shortstop Antonia Lejarde. The junior hit a double to the right field fence and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Madison Cabral to give the Bears a 1-0. Later in the third inning, she hit a solo home run to capitalize a four-run fourth inning. Lejarde finished the game 3-3 with three runs scored and a pair of RBIs.
Lejarde’s teammate, Macey Saucedo, also hit a home run for the Bears. The Bears’ leadoff hitter kept the pressure on the Thunder, going 2-4 with 3 RBIs that included a two-run homer in the fifth inning. Saucedo’s three RBIs were matched by teammate Mariah Higarera who finished 2-2 at the plate.
Buhach Colony was able to answer in the bottom of the second inning after freshman Aubrey Trindade got a hit along the left field line. A single from Kodie Stevens-Hoffman later brought Trindade home for the Thunder’s first run. Lesli Gutierrez later scored a run after a Merced error.
On the defensive side of the diamond, Bears starting pitcher Annalise Ramirez finished the game with another win for the Bears and seven strikeouts across three innings pitching. The Bears’ ace allowed just one earned run, which has been par for the course for Ramirez this season. The pitcher now sports a 1.05 ERA, according to Maxpreps.com.
Merced sophomore Abigail Rosa was able to finish the game for the Bears after taking over in the fourth inning. Rosa forced a fly ball to left field on a full count that Liliana Meneley caught for the final out.
After the game, junior shortstop Antonia Lejarde said Merced’s focus is to “just hit the ball, stay consistent, and just keep the energy up in the dugout and on the field.” Lejarde credits the dugout energy as a big reason why the Bears have played so well, “There’s no way that you could be down when everyone’s around you yelling and screaming. We just have a good connection through that.”
With the win, Merced moved to 10-0 in CCC play and will host the El Capitan Gauchos on Thursday, May 7, for their final game of the regular season. Buhach Colony will stay home to welcome the crosstown rival Atwater Falcons on the same day.
- Photos by Grace Gallegos. ↩︎
