Elsinore hands Paloma Valley softball team a 3-2 defeat

Paloma Valley pitcher Kaydence Koepsell delivers a pitch on Wednesday. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 
By Paige Mendez, Correspondent

The Paloma Valley High School softball team lost their game against Elsinore 3-2 Wednesday afternoon. The loss is the first the team has had in its last seven games and the first in three league games.

Elsinore’s first two batters both doubled, bringing in their first run of the game before Wildcats pitcher Kaydence Koepsell recorded a flyout and two strikeouts to end the first.

Elsinore brought in their next two runs in the third inning in four singles. Meanwhile, Paloma had just one hit in the first three innings before a rally started by Lynda Guerra brought in two runs to keep them in the game. Abigail Rogers had an RBI single that contributed to that rally, as well as Meghan Bradley, who got an RBI when she reached first on an error.

Koepsell found a way to keep Elsinore to just those three runs by throwing nine strikeouts in the game.

“It feels good to know I can do something like that,” Koepsell said of her pitching performance. “It’s also nice to know that I always have back up offensively. Any other game but today you would see that in our team.”

Paloma (8-7, 3-1) has averaged over 16 hits in their last seven games, including a season high of 32 in their first league game of the season against Lakeside.

Guerra lead the team Wednesday with two hits in the game, including a double that put her courtesy runner in scoring position to be the tying run in the bottom of the sixth, though she never got home as the next two batters flew and grounded out.

“I think Lynda is honestly a beast behind the plate,” Koepsell said of her teammate and catcher. “Some of those pitches I threw were called strikes because of her. On top of that, her bat is on fire and gets us going on offense.”

Guerra hasn’t had a game without a base hit in all of league play so far.

The Wildcats were ready to make a rally in the seventh inning but didn’t convert any runs in just three quick at-bats.

Koepsell said she hopes people see past their Wednesday performance.

“We’re always going to fight no matter what,” she said. “But usually we’re better than this and you can see it if you look at literally any other game.”

The next chance for the Wildcats to improve that league record is their Friday home matchup against Orange Vista at 3:15 p.m.

Ashleigh Pyle takes a high pitch for a ball during Wednesday's game. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 

Shortstop Berni Brooklyn throws out a runner during Wednesday's game. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

Faith Joseph settles under a deep fly ball to make the catch. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 

Catcher Lynda Guerra takes a breather during Wednesday's game. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)