Hornets rally for win
CALIPATRIA — The Calipatria High softball team worked to overcome an early 2-0 deficit and a 7-4 deficit in the third inning to defeat Escondido Charter 12-8 here on Tuesday afternoon.
The No. 9 White Tigers came into town to face the No. 8 Hornets in a CIF-San Diego Section Division IV play-in game, with the winner advancing to the double-elimination playoff tourney.
“I was a bit nervous,” said Hornet starting pitcher Jackie Vega.
The sophomore went on to earn the win, giving up 10 hits and recording three strikeouts.
“My team stayed up the whole game and stayed positive and that really helped,” Vega continued.
In the second inning, the Hornets scored four runs to take a 4-2 lead, with Alyssa Romero getting the offense going after opening with a triple.
The White Tigers did not drop their heads, however, and answered back with three runs in the top of the third to take a 7-4 lead.
Despite the shaky inning, defensively, the Hornets also found an offensive spark in the bottom of the inning and tied the game 7-7.
The White Tigers answered with one run in the top of the fourth to take the lead once again, forcing the Hornet offense to dig deep once more in the bottom of the inning.
Similar to Romero in the second inning, the Hornets opened the bottom of the fourth with a lead-off triple, this time from catcher Sadie Chavez.
“Sadie can slap, hit, drag bunt and if she gets on base, it’s almost a for-sure steal,” said Hornet head coach Melissa Snyder. “Having a lead-off hitter that is so versatile definitely helps. She had that double in the first inning and even though we didn’t score, I think it helped the other girls see that they could rock this pitcher.”
Chavez’s triple ignited the Hornet offense that went on to take a 10-8 lead and eventually a 12-8 advantage in the bottom of the sixth.
The Hornets then tightened up on defense and worked to hold the White Tigers scoreless in order to seal the win.
“It wasn’t our prettiest or most solid win, but these girls love playing at home and they weren’t going to let (Escondido Charter) come in and take them out,” Lerno said.
Lerno also commended her young pitcher for working through a few kinks in order to finish the game.
“What I loved about Jackie (Tuesday) was that even though it wasn’t her best day, she continued to fight,” Lerno said. “She kept working.”
With the win, the Hornets advance to the double-elimination tourney and will return to action on Thursday traveling to face No. 1 seed Coronado.