The Madera Coyotes softball team overcome spring break blues to record a 4-1 victory over the Selma Bears in a non-conference game at Zimmerman Field.
The Coyotes scored four runs in the first two innings and Kaylee Dawson held off the Bears for the victory.
“Kaylee threw real well for us,” head coach Judy Shaubach said. “We’ve been working with her on a change-up and she used it effectively today.”
Dawson allowed five hits and struck out five without issuing a walk.
Taylor Brooks and Mikayla Arrieta each had two hits for the Coyotes.
“We did well when we worked the count, but we didn’t do a good job of making good contact when we swung at the first pitch,” Shaubach said.
The Coyotes got on the board with a two out, nobody on rally in the first inning. Valerie Ornelas started the rally with a double to left-centerfield.
Pinch runner Mariah McMillon advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a wild throw to third.
Madera took control of the game with three runs in the second. Hollee Brown led off the inning with a single up the middle. She went to second on a single from Arrieta.
Gennahlyn Sanchez drew a walk to load the bases. After a popout, Joslynn Davis hit a drag bunt down the third base line.
Pinch-runner Mikayla Ruiz scored when the Selma catcher missed the throw from third for a 2-0 lead.
Brooks singled to left to drive in Arrieta and Camile DeAnda flew out to deep left to drive in Sanchez for a 4-0 lead.
The Coyotes put it into cruise control from there. After allowing the game’s lead off batter to reach, Dawson retired the next 13 batters in a row into the fifth inning.
Meanwhile, the Madera offense had three hits — singles from Brown and Arrieta and a double from DeAnda — over the final four innings, but couldn’t push over a run.
Selma got on the scoreboard in the seventh inning with a lead-off double, a ground out and a two-out single. Dawson struck out the next batter to end the game.