Every inning was a chance to battle for the Madera South Stallions softball team and that’s what they did.
Although the scoreboard read 6-0 for the Bullard-Fresno Knights, it didn’t tell the whole story.
Madera South faced a superior Knights team, who is consistently in contention for the the County/Metro Athletic Conference title, and they showed just how potent they could be.
The Stallions went down a run in the first inning and couldn’t dig themselves after the Knights tacked on three more runs in the third and two in the seventh.
Bullard limited the Stallions to only three hits, but it was the little things the team did that kept Madera South in the game — good defense, solid pitching and, above all, a never quit attitude.
“I was happy because of the fight,” Madera South head coach Peter Gallegos said. “That’s our goal. That’s a very good team over there. They are very competitive and loaded, but we’re competing. These girls are stepping up and doing whatever they need to do.”
Pitcher A.J. Martinez was solid for the Stallions. The senior worked her way around trouble and gave the Knights all they could ask for, making them earn every run.
Martinez allowed seven hits, and, besides allowing two home runs, had a strong outing.
“That’s our senior and we know when we put her in the circle, we are getting a positive performance,” Gallegos said. “We know that we are solid there. She is a great young lady.”
In terms of offense, the Stallions had a tough time getting anything going. Bullard pounded the strike zone all game, forcing the Stallions into tough outs and strike out eight times.
Madera South had only three hits — one each from Savaanah Garcia, Taylor Valerio and Erica Valdez.