LODI SOFTBALL EVENS SERIES VS. TOKAY
Lodi wins 12-2 in second of three meetings between rivals
Lodi High had an early offensive outbreak, a standout pitching performance and timely defense on its side in Thursday’s Tri-City Athletic League and cross-town softball game against rival Tokay.
All of those components led to the Flames posting a 12-2 win over the Tigers in six innings at the Lodi Softball Complex. The make-up game that was originally scheduled to be played Monday at the Arnaiz Softball Complex but postponed because of rain/field conditions ended after six innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.
Lodi (3-7 in the TCAL, 6-14) didn’t waste time in getting its bats going in the top of the first inning. Flames leadoff hitter Ashlee Toy reached first base on a Tokay infield error. Bailey Correia and Shelby Featherston had back-to-back singles. All three crossed home plate, thanks to a grounder, another Tiger error and a single by winning pitcher Danielle Pfennig for a 3-0 lead.
“I think it helped with our confidence,” said Lodi coach Michelle Guardado. “Each game we have improved. Each girl has noticed that it takes a team to win the game. We’re playing a great defense behind our pitcher.”
Pfennig added, “You always have to have a strong first inning.”
The Flames added their fourth run in the top of the second frame. Allisa Yabumoto singled to centerfield and scored on Corriea’s double. After a quiet third inning, Lodi made it 5-0 when Toy reached first base on a fielder’s choice and scored on Correia’s triple to left field.
The Flames’ bats heated up again in the top of the fifth that led to a 9-0 advantage. Four hits from Toy, Samantha Amarante, Pfennig, Rylie Brooks and Allisa Yabumoto contributed toward the Flames’ offense.
Tokay (3-7 in the TCAL, 9-10) scored its only runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Mia Misasi singled and Aliah Cisneros doubled to left field. Tiger centerfielder Keala Brown singled in the frame for three hits that trimmed the lead to 9-2.
“Big difference from the last time we played,” said Tokay coach Aaron Misasi, whose Tigers beat the Flames 6-3 on March 29. “We’ve been kind of a roller coaster this season; we play a good game here, two bad games ... they (Lodi) came to play us. They out played us in every facet of the game; pitching, hitting, defense. They looked strong, ready to play. I tip my cap to them. They outplayed us by a mile.”
But in the top of the sixth, Lodi added three more runs that would amount to the final score. A triple by Pfennig, along with a double from Amarante and single by Rylie Brooks set the tone, plus a walk to
Harlie Litton.
“Everybody is trying to play really hard,” Pfennig said.
Back-to-back walks to Jenna Schneider and Brooke Graddy in the bottom of the sixth gave the Tigers some hope. But with one out, Pfennig had a say in the final two outs with a strike out and fielding a grounder for the win.
“We couldn’t do much today,” Misasi said.
In the circle, Pfennig was on fire for the Flames. Using her drop pitch on either the first pitch to a Tigers’ batter, if not for the third strike, the sophomore went the distance and gave up only four hits and struck out seven Tokay batters. The Flames’ defense recorded a dozen groundouts and pop flies.
“Because it was moving good,” said Pfennig on relying her drop pitch most of the game.
Guardado added, “Every game she’s been going a little bit longer. That’s what we expected at this time (of the season). She’s doing a phenomenal job out there. Our defense is playing great right now. (Pfennig) is excited that we’re playing defense for her, and that makes her more powerful. I’m excited for her.”
Leading hitters for Lodi, which had 14 hits, was Pfennig and Correia each went 3-for-4. Pfennig also had 3 RBIs. Toy didn’t toy around with her plate appearances, going 2for-3 and Meagan Gonzalez 2-for-4.
Brown had two of the Tigers’ four hits. Graddy, along with Simone Medeiros and Cisneros, had a hit each.