Softball - CIF Sac-Joaquin

The Patterson High School softball team had two massively important Valley Oak League games over the past week.

First, the Tigers visited Sierra High School last Thursday. The Tigers offense was unstoppable throughout the night.

Miranda Pena got things rolling in the top of the first inning with a one-out double. Isabelle Lopez drove in Pena with a single to center field to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead right out of the gate.

Madison Trinta drew a lead-off walk in the top of the second inning. She then stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Sophia Vannatta got on base with a groundball to the pitcher. Sierra’s pitcher opted to hold Trinta at third base rather than get the out, and Vannatta advanced to second base.

Olivia Dallimore grounded out to second base, but got an RBI as Trinta was able to score. Jazmine Isom then reached first base on an error which also allowed Vannatta to score, making it a 3-0 ball game.

Elizabeth Zavala then hit a leadoff single in the top of the third inning to keep momentum going for the Tigers. Lopez came up next and reached base on an error. Sophia Renteria was able to advance the runners, putting them both in scoring position. Reese Valentine then singled to center field, driving in Zavala and advancing Lopez to third base. Vannatta then single to right field, bringing in Lopez and advancing Valentine to third base.

The fourth inning would be the only scoreless inning of the night for the Tigers, but the offense came back alive in the fifth.

Trinta got a one-out single to kick things off. She then advanced to third following a passed ball and an error. Valentine doubled to center field, driving in the run and extending Patterson’s lead to 6-0. Vannatta then reached on an error, advancing Valentine to third base.

Isom then reached base on an error, which also allowed Valentine to score Patterson’s seventh run of the night.

In the bottom of the fifth, Sierra’s offense showed signs of life. Two doubles drove in Sierra’s first run of the night, breaking the Tigers’ shutout and making it 7-1.

Patterson answered back in the top of the sixth though. Zavala drew a leadoff walk. Renteria then drew a walk of her own. Both advanced a base on a wild pitch before Zavala scored on an error by the Sierra catcher. Trinta then picked up a walk of her own, putting runners at first and second base.

Mariah Martinez loaded the bases with a walk of her own after Renteria and Trinta each stole a base. At that point, Sierra made a pitching change.

Vannatta was the first batter to face the new pitcher, reaching first base on an error. Renteria scored in the process. Sophia Dominguez hit a sacrifice fly to right field allowing Trinta to score Patterson’s 10th run of the game. Isom then walked to load the bases once again, but they’d be left stranded to end the inning.

Sierra scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth, making it 10-3.

Despite giving up a couple of runs, the Patterson offense continued rolling in the top of the seventh inning. Lopez drew a one-out walk before Renteria singled to center field. Both advanced into scoring position following a wild pitch. Trinta grounded out, but picked up an RBI in the process as Lopez scored on the play.

Martinez drew a walk, putting runners on the corners for Vannatta. Vannatta singled to center, driving in Renteria and moving Martinez to second base.

Dominguez singled on a single to the shortstop, allowing Dominguez to score the Tigers’ 13th and final run of the night.

Sierra added one more run in the bottom of the seventh, but they were overall not a match for the Tigers who walked away with a decisive 13-4 victory.

Then on Tuesday, the Tigers hosted the undefeated Central Catholic Raiders. Central Catholic got out to an early lead, scoring a run in the first inning.

The Tigers answered back in the bottom of the second inning when Miranda Pena hit a leadoff home run, the first of her high school career.

Central Catholic pulled away from that point on, but the Tigers got back on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning. Elizabeth Zavala, Isabelle Lopez and Miranda Pena each got a single to load the bases for Sophia Renteria who drove in Zavala with a single of her own.

Ultimately though, the Tigers would end up falling to the Raiders with a final score of 7-2.

The Tigers will head to Oakdale on Thursday to face the Oakdale Mustangs who currently sit second in the Valley Oak League before visiting East Union on Tuesday.

PHS Softball Plays Two Important League Games