Diamond Runners take third at World Series

SAN DIEGO — The Diamond Runners 18U travel softball team competed in the Triple Crown World Series here last week and finished in third place in the Silver Division.

The tournament began on Tuesday with pool play, where the local team went 1-3, which determined their spot in bracket play.

After pool play the local team was placed in the 24team Silver Bracket, where it opened up against the South Bay Patriots with a 2-0 win.

In their next game, the Diamond Runners suffered a loss to Nevada Hot Shots, 5-1, sending them into the loser’s bracket, where they won three straight games.

The squad recorded wins against the Central Cal Dirtdogs, 5-4, So Cal Firecrackers, 3-1, and Nevada Hot Shots, 4-1, to advance to the Silver Championship Bracket.

In the quarterfinals the team recorded a win over Ridge Meadows Pride, 5-1, and in the semifinals fell to the Jets Gold, 8-4.

Sadriena Rodriguez led the team in the circle picking-up five wins, pitching 56 innings with 17 strikeouts.

Offensively she had eleven hits with two doubles and three RBIs.

Danielle Burgos also helped the team in the circle, pitching 12 innings, earning one win and tallying five strikeouts.

At the plate, Burgos had fourteen hits with four doubles and eight RBIs.

Also for the team, Victoria Cruz had 12 hits with two triples and six RBIs, Savannah Contreras had nine hits with two triples and five RBIs and Natalie Lopez had eight hits with two doubles and two RBIs.

Giselle Padilla had six hits with a double and one RBI, Daisy Varela had five hits with a triple, a double and two RBIs and Haylee Garcia had five hits with a double and one RBI.

Additionally, Emily Tellez had three hits and a RBI and Ella Hoyt and Vanessa Ferrel each had a hit.

This was the final travel-ball tournament for three of the team’s local high school graduates including Burgos, Lopez and Padilla.

Burgos and Lopez graduated from Calexico High, while Padilla graduated from Brawley Union High.

Each will be moving on to play at the next level, while continuing to further their education.

Burgos will be attending Arizona Western College in Yuma, Lopez will be heading to Springfield, Missouri, where she will be attending Drury University and Padilla will be attending Imperial Valley College.

The Diamond Runners organization is looking to fill the open spots. Interested prospective players can call 760-791-1817 for an individual workout.