LODI BEATS TOKAY IN SOFTBALL
There were 15 runs fueled by 19 hits and two walks.
That was just in the fifth inning between Lodi and Tokay in Wednesday’s Tri-City Athletic League cross-town and rivalry softball game at the Lodi Softball Complex.
The bulk of the inning belonged to Lodi, which posted a wild 13-8 victory over Tokay. The win ends the Flames’ season, while the Tigers have two make-up league games to play today and Monday.
The game was tied 1-1 entering the fifth inning when Tokay (3-10 in the TCAL, 10-13 overall) scored three times for a 4-1 advantage with two outs. Tiger third baseman Aliah Cisneros beat out an infield single that was followed by another base hit from Kayly Pau. Jasmine Marquez, pinch-running for Cisneros, and Pau scored when leadoff hitter Simone Medeiros tripled to right field. Medeiros came home when Mia Misasi singled to center field for the third run.
“For four innings, we played strong,” said Tokay coach Aaron Misasi. “We had the momentum.”
Then Lodi (5-10 in the TCAL, 8-17) displayed an offensive fireworks showcase in the bottom of the inning with one out. Freshman Ashlee Toy didn’t toy around with her time in the batter’s box, as she singled to right field, and had another hit later in the inning. Then the Flames had 10 consecutive hits from Bailey Correia, Shelly Featherston, Sam Amarante, winning pitcher Danielle Pfennig, Rylie Brooks, Allisa Yabumoto, Meagan Gonzalez, Courtney Steckman and Toy’s second hit. Correia, along with Amarante and Pfennig, clubbed doubles.
“We opened doors after (the fourth inning),” said Lodi coach Michelle Guardado. “We have been a hitting machine, and it showed. They executed.” Misasi added, “They (Lodi) just got up and put a lot of hits together, hit the ball well. They just showed more heart, character and desire. They were the better team today.”
The Flames continued to smash the ball with two outs in the inning. Three of the next four batters in Featherston, Amarante and Brooks singled, with Pfennig reaching first base on a walk. By the time the Tigers recorded the third out, Lodi scored 12 times for a 13-4 lead.
Tokay scored four runs off one hit in the top of the sixth inning. Hailey Schindler walked, followed by Elizabeth Arnaiz and Cisneros being hit by pitches. All three scored thanks to a Flames’ in-
field throwing error. Pau, who ran the base paths on the Lodi error, touched home plate on Medeiros’ single to center field.
Lodi went down 1-2-3 in its final chance in the bottom of the sixth. Tokay made its lastditch effort in scoring in the top of the seventh with one out. Lozano doubled to left field, and Marquez pinch-ran for the junior. Marquez moved to third on a grounder for the Flames’ second out. Schindler walked, but her and Marquez were left stranded when Featherston, who pitched the final two innings for Pfennig, struck out the next Tiger batter for the Flames’ victory.
Tokay tied the game in the top of the fourth inning. Medeiros was hit by a pitch and scored on Misasi’s double to left field.
Lodi scored its first run in the bottom of the second frame. Pfennig led off with a double down the third base line. Then with one out, scored on Yabumoto’s single to right field.
Aaron Misasi was proud of Lozano, who has been in the circle in all of the Tigers’ games this season, going the distance.
“Ariana stood out there, no matter what the score was,” said Misasi of Lozano. “She’s got a lot of character and heart.”
Guardado loses only three seniors in Steckman, Gonzalez and Amarante. The remaining 12 players on the 15-player squad consists of six juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen. The coach feels in 2018, Lodi will be one of the top contenders in the TCAL.
“This is what you should expect next year,” Guardado said.
Leading hitters for Lodi were Armarante, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI and scored twice, and Brooks also going 3-for-4. Toy, plus Correia, Featherston, Pfennig and Yabumoto had two hits each. The Flames finished with 17 hits. Pinch-runner Dessa Zavala scored twice, including pinch-running for Pfennig.
Tokay’s attack, which was seven hits, had Medeiros going 2-for-3, and Mia Misasi 2-for4. Pau and Marquez scored twice.