Flames’ rally falls short
MORADA — Lodi High softball coach Michelle Souza feels that the race toward the Tri-City Athletic League’s four playoff spots will begin in the third round of league play next week.
But the Flames’ got a taste of just how tough that race may be with Wednesday’s 9-6 loss under cloudy skies at Arnaiz Softball Complex.
St. Mary’s (5-1 in the TCAL, 9-1), which suffered its only loss of the season to Lodi at the Lodi Softball Complex on March 26, held a 7-1 lead going into the top of the sixth inning. That’s when the Flames’ bats heated up for three hits and cut the Rams’ advantage to 7-5.
“They were out to beat us,” Souza said. (But) we finished. I’m happy with that.”
Lodi’s Johnna Schroeder (2-for-3) singled to start the sixth inning. Then Alyssa Pinto walked and moved to second and Schroeder to third when Shelby Katzakian was hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded, pinch-hitter Haley Price made the Rams’ defense pay the price with a high-flying double that went near the left fence that drove in Schroeder and Pinto.
Katzakian made it 7-4 when she touched home plate on a grounder. The Flames’ second extra-base hit of the inning came off the bat of Marissa Fabian, scoring Price.
In the bottom of that inning, St. Mary’s made it 9-5, thanks to three singles from Alex Preston, Abigail Parises and Danielle Vasquez. During that time, Lodi resident and winning St. Mary’s pitcher Carley Morfey was hit by a pitch, and scored on one of the three singles.
Lodi had three hits in the top of the seventh inning, but could only muster one run in its bid from a comefrom-behind victory. Pinto (2for-2, scored twice) singled and scored on Danielle Pfenning’s single. Katzakian also had a single in the frame for the Flames, whose rally ended with Katzakian left on the bases. Lodi six runners on the base in the game.
“We’re still there,” said Souza, whose Flames are battling St. Mary’s, Tracy, Lincoln and West for the four playoff spots. “We just need
to clean some things up.”
St. Mary’s, clinging onto a 3-1 lead, gained an edge on the Flames in the bottom of the fourth inning. That’s when Morfey launched the ball over the left field fence for a 3-run homer. Teammates Ariel Johnson (walk) and Alicia Orosco (single) were on the bases when Morfey clubbed her home run.
“They were just the better team on base running and executing at the right time,” said Souza of St. Mary’s.
Lodi scored its first run of the game in the top of the fourth frame. Harlie Litton
walked, moved to second on Schroeder’s single to left field and moved to third on a throwing error by Morfey, who was trying to gun down Litton at third base. The ball went into the Rams’ dugout, which allowed Litton to touch home plate.
The Rams scored two runs in the second and one in the third on a combined five base hits. One of those hits included one from Morfey in the third.
The Flames finished with 10 hits in the game. The Rams had 12 hits. The hitting was something Souza was pleased with. But base running errors in the second inning that led to two outs — despite a St. Mary’s throwing error — burned the Flames in the end.
“I think the first couple of innings
with the base running killed us,” Souza said. “We have been aggressive; that’s what we ask them. And we have to be smart.”
Lodi concluded the second round of league action against cross-town and league rival Tokay at the Lodi Softball Complex on Monday. Then the third round begins for Lodi, Tokay (1-7 in the TCAL, 7-8) and the rest of the league.
“That’s where it gets tight,” said Souza of the league race. “That’s when you have to play the best ball you can. It doesn’t matter who you play. That’s where you’ve got to finish.”
Contact reporter Mike Bush at mikeb@lodinews.com. Follow on Twitter: @MBushLodiSports.