Softball roundup: Pinole Valley stays perfect as Kailani Tatro strikes out 11
LAFAYETTE – Kailani Tatro struck out 11 batters, gave up just three hits, and finished the complete game with her and Pinole Valley’s 10th victory of the year.
And somehow, the 5-2 victory over Acalanes could still be considered an “off game.”
That’s how dominant Tatro, a senior pitcher with a knack for locating offspeed pitches, has been for the Spartans.
“When I’m in the game, and my arm starts feeling tired, I just take a deep breath and rely on my spin,” Tatro said. “That’s what gets me through all the games.”
It took until her 56th inning of the season for Tatro to surrender an earned run, the bottom of the sixth in Friday night’s cold and windy contest in Lafayette.
Acalanes sophomore Esa Orman smacked a double into right field to drive in teammates Emme Young and Hailey Strippling. The Dons, who played a 10-inning game the night before, showed no signs of fatigue.
“This is a really good team we just played, and we found out we can play with them,” said Acalanes coach Victor Silva, who added that his team is looking forward to following up back-to-back games with a morning practice. “Their work ethic is fantastic.”
That two-run frame was nothing more than a blip for Pinole Valley’s ace, who put away the last three batters in a 1-2-3 inning.
Pinole Valley’s bats were active too, with Aneesa Brewer getting the Spartans on the board when a slap into right field drove in Vanessa Castenada.
Senior first baseman Milanya Rosales belted a two-run shot over the centerfield wall during the top of the third to give the Spartans a 3-0 lead.
“Going into this game, I was in a bad hitting slump,” Rosales said. “So I kind of just tried to relax myself and focus on the fundamentals.”
After Acalanes (3-3) cut the Pinole lead to one run, the Spartan bats responded in the top of the seventh. Castaneda walked, and then Tatro pounded a ball into right-center for an RBI double.
Cleanup hitter Aneesa Brewer, who went 3 for 4, drove Tatro in with a line drive that lasered through the right side of the Acalanes infield.
Tatro, the only pitcher on the roster, made quick work of most of her Acalanes opponents.
Her coach and father Jason Tatro said he purposefully front loaded the schedule to avoid having Kailani pitch too many games down the stretch.
The Robert Morris commit does not throw bullpen sessions, resting her arm by sticking to long-tosses on off days. She will need to stay fresh if Pinole Valley (10-0) is to finish where their coach believes they are capable of.
“I think this team can win NCS,” Jason Tatro said.
No. 11 Livermore 6, Amador Valley 4
Maggie Pyke, Anne Polaski and freshman Laine Macosky each had two hits for the Cowboys in the matchup between East Bay Athletic League teams.
Kerigan Coates and Pyke combined to drive in three runs during a pivotal sixth inning that started with the teams tied.
McKenna Charbonneau had three hits for Amador Valley, which fell to 3-6 and 1-2 in league play. Meanwhile, visiting Livermore improved to 5-2 and 1-1 in EBAL competition. .
No. 16 Branham 4, Homestead 0
Jacqueline Connolly Hojas breezed through the Homestead lineup on Friday night, allowing one hit and striking out seven in six innings of work against the non-league opponent.
Branham’s hitters gave her run support early, with Kaliya Yco driving in one runner on a groundout and Hojas scoring a few batters later when a hard hit ball from Abigail Fales was too hot for an infielder to handle in the bottom of the first.
Yco scored from third on a wild pitch in the fifth inning, and Hojas came home on a sacrifice fly soon after. Gabby Guerra had Homestead’s only hit of the night. Homestead dropped to 2-5, while Branham moved to 6-2.
No. 17 James Logan 15, Kennedy-Fremont 0
Eight Logan batters had at least one RBI in the Colts’ five-inning Mission Valley league victory over Kennedy-Fremont.
Shortstop Erin Garcia, who went 3 for 4, had a solo inside-the-park home run, and Ava Medellin and Malia Athey each had RBIs during a nine-run second inning for the home team.
Angel Hernandez and Gabriella Garcia combined to strike out eight Kennedy batters while allowing one hit. James Logan improved to 4-2 and 1-1 in league play, and Kennedy dropped to 1-1.
Mount Eden 14, San Lorenzo 0
Mount Eden totaled 10 hits and 10 walks during its run-rule victory at San Lorenzo. Pitcher Andrea Toledo was also a force at the plate, going 2 for 4 with three RBIs.
Catcher Serenity Temoche also made the most of her one knock, a single into left that drove in two teammates during an 11-run fourth inning that broke the game open.
Center fielder Burgos scored twice and drove in one teammate for the 4-0 Monarchs. San Lorenzo’s Ruby Nunez had all three of her team’s hits as San Lorenzo fell to 5-4.