Vikings get revenge on Wildcats in IVL softball opener
The Holtville Viking softball team opened Imperial Valley League play Wednesday night with a 5-0 victory over the host Brawley Wildcats in early post-spring break week action.
In IVL baseball action Brawley and Imperial also picked up wins, while the Calexico High Bulldog baseball and softball teams continued to hold onto first place in the Desert League.
After dropping a tournament game recently to Brawley in Las Vegas, Holtville’s softball team rebounded in Wednesday’s matchup by scoring two runs at the top of the first inning and never looking back.
“It was a good game. We got off to a good start and jumped on it,” said Holtville Coach Melissa Snyder. “It’s great to have the last at bat as the home field advantage, but I think if you can utilize being the visitor and score first it is a great advantage, too.”
Holtville would add another run in the third and two more in the fifth to back winning pitcher Kalli Strahm, who gave up just four hits and no walks while striking out a batter in seven innings of work.
“Scoring in the first was good pace-setter for us, “Snyder said. “Producing the two-run lead was comforting to us to go out on defense knowing that one, we can score, and two our pitcher had some breathing room against a good team.”
Offensively for Holtville, Kamryn Walker went three-for-three, including a double and a run scored, while Kinzie Toth and Brooke Strahm each singled. Strahm also picked up an RBI.
The Central Union Spartan softball team opened IVL play at home on Tuesday night by scoring two runs in the bottom of the third inning and adding a run in the fourth to post a 3-0 win over the Southwest Eagles.
Tonight in IVL softball action, both Central (109-1, 1-0 IVL) and Holtville (14-7, 1-0 IVL) will be going for their second league wins in Holtville while IVL defending champion Brawley (15-7, 0-1 IVL) will travel to Southwest (617, 0-1 IVL). Both games are at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday night in Desert League softball, Calexico (15-7, 4-0 DL) remained undefeated in league action. The Bulldogs traveled to Caliipatria, where they downed the Hornets 12-2. Meanwhile, the Imperial Tigers (9-12-1, 3-1 DL) kept their hold on second place by defeating Palo Verde by a score of 15-3 in Blythe.
In IVL baseball action, Brawley took over first place by one game over Southwest with a 3-1 victory at Ed Wiest Field on Wednesday night.
The game was a pitching duel between Brawley senior right-hander Angel Brodel, who went six innings and struck out 11 Eagles while surrendering just the one unearned run, and Southwest junior righty Hugo Tafoya, who struck out seven.
“Both teams played well, and it was a pitcher-driven game,” Brawley Coach Pedro Carranza said. “Statistically speaking, good pitching will stop even great hitting.”
Two Brawley errors staked Southwest to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the Wildcats made Tafoya, who allowed just three hits and walked two batters, pay dearly for the pitches they hit.
Brawley scored on a second- inning game- tying solo home run by catcher Tanner Carranza and then went up 2-1 on an RBI double.
In the sixth inning, Brawley senior first baseman Eli Salgado hit a solo home and then pitched a scoreless seventh to pick up the save.
“Tanner got all of it,” Carranza said. “I haven’t seen too many hit like that by a right-handed hitter to right-center. Eli’s (also) was well hit, and he gave himself a two-run lead, which was nice.”
Tonight Brawley (12-9, 3-0 IVL) travels to Southwest (8-14, 2-1 IVL) in the home-home series, while Imperial (7-13-1, 1-2 IVL), 4-3 winners over Central on Tuesday at home, travels to play the Spartans ( 10-14, 0- 4 IVL). Both games start at 7 p.m.