- Bears pitcher Annalise Ramirez now has 103 strikeouts on the season after striking out 9 Cougars.
- Ramirez currently ranks 7th in California with a 0.34 ERA.
- The victory sets up a showdown with Atwater who is currently undefeated in league play.
The Merced High School softball team traveled across town to face rival Golden Valley High in the Bears second league matchup of the season. The Bears are viewed as a major contender in the CCC this year while the Cougars are still looking to find their stride.
Merced wasted no time setting the tone in the top of the first. Freshman Macey Saucedo reached base and worked her way around the bases before scoring on a bunt from Antonia Lejarde. That early pressure continued throughout the inning as the Bears were able to take an early 1-0 lead after the first inning.
The Bears added to their lead in the second through patience and smart baserunning. Abigail Rosa reached on a hit to the outfield and advanced to second after a defensive error. A passed ball allowed her to move to third, and although the next batter struck out, Saucedo executed a bunt that brought Rosa home. Shortly after, Lejarde reached base and later moved into scoring position. Another wild pitch allowed Saucedo to come home, extending the lead to 3-0.
The third inning helped Merced stretch their lead even more. Mariah Higareda drove a triple down the right field line and was quickly brought home on a hit from Ava Waldron, extending the lead to 4-0. While the offense continued to build the lead, Annalise Ramirez dominated from the pitching rubber, striking out all three batters she faced in the bottom half of the third inning.
The fourth inning became the turning point for the Bears. Saucedo sparked the rally with a triple to the outfield, and then took advantage of a catcher error to steal home. Lejarde was hit by a pitch and quickly stole second and third on consecutive plays. Madison Cabral drove in a run with a hit, while Higareda followed with a single that moved runners into scoring position. Abigail Rosa delivered a key moment with a triple to right field, bringing in multiple runs and breaking the game wide open. Even after a pitching change by Golden Valley, the Bears continued to capitalize. By the end of the inning, Merced had scored eight runs, extending the lead to 12-0.
The Bears would add six more before the game ended after the fifth inning as the Cougars were unable to manage any runs. The Bears’ Abigail Rosa led the team with three RBIs and three runs scored as she went 2-3 at the plate with a double and a triple. Leadoff hitter Macey Saucedo scored three runs while going 2-2 from the plate with a walk and an RBI.
As good as the offense was for the Bears, the pitching was equally dominant. Bears’ starting pitcher Annalise Ramirez struck out nine batters over four innings allowing no runs and no hits. Her only flaw was a lone walk in the second inning. She reached a major milestone during the game, surpassing 100 strikeouts on the season. She now has a total of 103 strikeouts in only 62 innings pitched.
The final score read 18-0 after the mercy rule came into play, reflecting complete control by Merced on both sides of the game. Behind dominant pitching from Ramirez and a successful inning from Rosa, the Bears never allowed Golden Valley to generate a scoring opportunity.
Merced sophomore Abigail Rosa emphasized that confidence and improved hitting were key focuses coming into the game, “We just wanted to hit a lot better compared to last game, and we just needed to be confident and know that we could do it.” That approach clearly translated on the field as Rosa reflected on her performance, saying, “My hitting was good, and I feel like I had good endurance throughout the whole game.” Looking ahead, she shared, “Our goal is just to play as hard as we can and just do the best we can, no matter what.”
With the win, Merced improves to 2-0 in league play, while Golden Valley falls to 0-2. Next up, the Bears will travel to face Atwater on April 14 at 4:00 p.m. in what is sure to be a highly anticipated CCC matchup. Meanwhile, the Cougars will begin their spring break tournament against Orange Vista on April 6 at 5:30 p.m.
- Photos by Grace Gallegos. ↩︎
