Despite Late-Inning Runs, Paloma Softball Team Loses

Paloma Valley senior outfielder Dani Alvarez hits an RBI double to tie the game at 4-4 in the fifth inning of Tuesday's game. Paloma went on to lose 7-6 in extra innings against Lakeside.

The Paloma Valley High School softball team suffered a tough defeat on Thursday, losing to Lakeside 7-6 in extra innings.

Despite the long ball helping the Wildcats to tie the game and take the lead in the eighth, defensive mistakes gave the Lancers of Lakeside the win.

In the top of the seventh, Lakeside led the game 5-4. With the game on the line, Paloma Valley junior Savanah Ruiz hit a solo home run to tie the score. Even tough Lakeside loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, a timely double play by Paloma senior left fielder Dani Alvarez sent the game into extra innings.

"That was clutch," said Paloma Valley head coach Jim Jones of Ruiz's home run.

Alvarez came up big in the top of the eighth inning on the offensive side, hitting a home run to left field to put the Wildcats up by one run. However, the Wildcats struggled on defense in the bottom of the eighth, allowing Lakeside to load the bases for the second consecutive inning. Then, junior pitcher Brittany Broderson walked in the tying and winning runs.

Broderson threw most of the game for the Wildcats, pitching the first 4.2 innings, then pitching the fifth through the eighth. Despite a rough start and rough finish, she pitched strongly in the middle innings with three strikeouts.

Jones said he was proud of Broderson’s outing today as she battled through long innings and pressure situations.

"She did awesome today," said Jones. "That’s the longest she’s ever pitched."

Paloma Valley started out the game behind by four runs after two innings. The Wildcats cut the deficit to two runs in the third inning on an RBI single by senior Kayla Velardez and an RBI double by freshman Emily Berni.

The Wildcats then tied the game for the first time at 4-4 on an RBI single by freshman Hannah Hopkins and an RBI double by Alvarez in the fifth inning. Alvarez went 2 for 3 on the day with two RBIs. Berni went 3 for 4 with an RBI.

Lakeside took the lead again in the bottom of the fifth inning, which brought the score to 5-4 before the Wildcats’ first home run in the seventh.

The Wildcats fell to 11-7 overall and 4-3 in league after the loss. They will face off against Elsinore High School on Tuesday.