Four homers, strong defense leads Heritage past Paloma

Heritage catcher Sydney Farmer had a standout game and pitcher Cassidy Shaw struck out nine batters. (Staff photos)

By Doug Spoon, Editor

It all starts with the pitcher and catcher, as the Heritage High softball team proved again Wednesday with the success of Cassidy Shaw and Sydney Farmer. But that duo simply set the tone for the rest of the Patriots, who joined the party in a 12-5 victory over crosstown rival Paloma Valley.

Shaw struck out nine, Farmer homered and made several clutch defensive plays, and the Patriots improved their record to 16-2 overall, 2-0 in the Sunbelt League. Meanwhile, the Heritage offense accounted for 12 hits – including four home runs – and showed defensive strength at several positions.

“The one thing with this team, we rise to the occasion,” said coach Raul Olivas about the Patriots’ play in big games like this one. “We always talk about supporting each other and staying focused. In these tough games, that’s when they support each other. One person picks up the next.”

Heritage scored five runs in the first inning off Paloma Valley pitcher Hadley Pettit. Tyler Suttles led off with a single and scored on a double by Tara Skinner. Two batters later, Kaylee Fraund launched a line drive over the left field fence for a home run.

After Raina Olivas reached base on an error, Adriana Abrantes hit a shot over the right field fence.

Farmer hit a two-run home run in the third inning and Skinner hit a two-run shot in the sixth to pad the Patriots’ lead.

“We focus on hitting line drives, hitting the middle of the ball and trying to get on base,” Olivas said. “If it goes over, it goes over. With a line drive, you get that backspin and the ball flies.”

Paloma Valley cut the Patriots’ early lead to 5-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the third. Jillian Garcia and Camrynn Gordon both walked and ended up coming around to score on a wild pitch and an error. But Heritage escaped further damage when Shaw struck out Charlee Sinderud with a nice changeup and Farmer throw out Yazmine Mendez trying to steal second.

Heritage padded its lead with four runs in the bottom of the third, including Farmer’s home run, an error, a bunt single by Abrantes, and an RBI single by pinch hitter Presley Vasquez. Paloma tried to rally in the top of the fourth with runs scored by Adrianna Ron and Maddy Cox, but Shaw responded by striking out the next two batters. Angelina Granados followed with a single but was forced out at second, thanks to a diving tag of the base by shortstop Fraund.

Farmer made two key defensive plays for Heritage in the Paloma half of the sixth inning. She fielded a bunt by Garcia and fired to first for the out. Then when Granados lined a ball into center field, Suttles threw a strike to the plate and Farmer was in perfect position to tag out Emma Lesieur and end the inning.

“We made some great defensive plays,” Olivas said. “We have some strong arms in the outfield. You saw the center fielder make that throw to the plate. And our catcher is amazing. Just being able to make those plays behind the plate and the arm she has … just an incredible arm. She also had a home run going the other way.”

Farmer went 2 for 4 at the plate and threw out two baserunners trying to steal.

Paloma Valley's Adrianna Ron leads off first base after reaching on an error in the fourth inning.

 Kaylee Fraund takes the throw from catcher Sydney Farmer and tags out Charlee Sinderud trying to steal second.

 Tyler Suttles of Heritage rounds second base on a play in the fourth inning Wednesday.