MNLL softball swept by Turlock
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune
Madera National’s Jordan Anaya gets a hit to lead off the second game against Turlock National in the Valley Section Championship game on Saturday.
With just two teams in the 12-under Valley Sectional Softball Championships, the Madera National 11-12-year-old All-Star team had an easy path to the championship game.
However, Madera National faced against a veteran Turlock National team and lost both sides of a doubleheader by a combined 24-8 score Saturday at Madera’s Town and Country Park.
Turlock induced the mercy rule in the first game with a 10-0 victory. In the second game, Madera National kept the game close, but succumbed to a 14-8 loss.
Madera National combined for 12 hits in the two games, but early deficits made it the hill too tall to overcome.
In the first game, Madera National had just four hits and also allowed just four hits.
Jillian Villalobos led Madera National with two hits. Dallas Chavira and Cianna Chavez got the other hits.
Madera National couldn’t get its offense going. They had two baserunners in the first two innings, but one was erased trying to steal. Madera National loaded the bases in the third with a single by Chavez, a missed force out on a fielder’s choice by Juliana DeLuna and a single by Villalobos. However, a pop up and a strikeout ended the threat.
For the second inning in a row, Madera National loaded the bases in the top of the fourth. After a lead-off walk and a forceout, Bella Lopez reached on an error and Jaiden Garcia was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Ella Schoettler hit a pop fly in the infield. The ball found the ground, but the infield fly rule was called and Schoettler was out. However, Chavira tried to score from third and was tagged out at the plate to end the inning.
Turlock National put the game away in the first inning. The first eight batters reached base. After a lead-off single, the next four batters were walked. A single, fielder’s choice and another walk drove in five runs on just two hits.
Mylah Avila came in relief and allowed a run in the next three innings before Turlock put the game away in the fourth.
After a groundout, Turlock received six walks and a hit batter to score three runs for a 10-0 walk-off victory.
After a break, the two teams battled a little closer in the second game with Avila in the circle. Turlock National scored in every inning for the 14-8 victory to win the championship.
Turlock banged out 16 hits in the win while Madera National was held to eight.
Villalobos, again, led the offense with three hits, two runs scored and two RBIs. Avila scored a pair of runs to help the offense. Dallas Chavira added two more hits.
Turlock National scored after two were out in the first. An error and a two-run single gave them a 3-0 lead.
Madera National came right back in the bottom of the inning. Jordyn Anaya led off with a single and went to second on a wild pitch. Avila reached on an error and Anaya came in to score.
After a line drive out, DeLuna was hit by a pitch and Chavira singled home Avila. Gianna Chavez was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but a strikeout ended the inning.
Turlock came back with four runs on four hits in the second for a 7-2 lead.
However, Madera National still didn’t go away. Garcia led off with a walk. After a strikeout, Villalobos doubled to left field to drive in Garcia. The Turlock left fielder misplayed the ball and Villalobos raced around the bases to score to cut the lead to 7-4.
Turlock added a run in the third and three more in the fourth for an 11-4 lead.
However, Madera National added four runs of their own in the fourth. Akira Ayala led off with a walk. After a strikeout, Bella Lopez singled. Villalobos singled to left to drive in Ayala. Avila followed with another single and an error allowed both Lopez and Villalobos to score. Avila came in to score on three wild pitches to cut the lead to 11-8.
A change in Turlock pitchers kept Madera National off the scoreboard over the final two innings.
Turlock added another run in the fifth and two more in the sixth for the 14-8 victory
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