Paloma rallies from 7-run deficit to beat North, 14-10

Meghan Bradley slides safely into home with one of Paloma's 14 runs. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

By Paige Mendez, Correspondent

The Paloma Valley softball team is now one win away from the league title after a 14-10 victory over JW North Friday afternoon at home.

The game started out shaky for the Wildcats, with three runs scored for the Huskies in the first inning on a single and a home run, followed by a few errors and a double in the second, giving them a 7-0 lead over Paloma.

Paloma Valley starting pitcher Kaydence Koepsell recorded two strikeouts in those first two innings and only walked one batter. She said her teammates are the reason her confidence didn’t waiver, despite the seven runs she allowed.

“I know how great my team is, so I just stayed positive,” Koepsell said. “Everyone was keeping each other positive and that was huge for me and not getting in my head.”

Her level-headedness led her to drive in the first Wildcat run in the bottom of the second off a hard ground ball to center field. Then three batters and two outs later, thanks to some aggressive base running by Jaylin Haacker, Paloma was fully in the game with three runs on the board. The second and third came in on a line drive single from Kayla McGee, who was 3 for 4 with three RBI’s.

Then Brooklyn Berni and Faith Joseph both doubled and the Wildcats were within one run before they had cycled through the whole lineup. Koepsell took the plate again and singled, this time to center with a line drive, bringing in the run that put the Wildcats ahead for the first time in the game.

A Huskies error brought in one more run before the last out of the inning and Paloma had a 9-7 lead and a whole new ballgame going into the third.

The visiting Huskies seemed stunned by the comeback, as they got three quick outs in just four at-bats, giving the Wildcats a chance back at the plate.

Lynda Guerra launched a home run over the center field fence and scored the one run they got that inning.

“It felt so good to just get another run on the board for my team,” said Guerra, who was 3 for 5 in the game, of her sixth home run of the season.

With a 10-7 lead, Koepsell stayed in the circle for the Wildcats and battled back to throw two strikeouts after two singles and a home run tied the game for the Huskies.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the sixth, when Laila Gonzalez came in to throw and shut down three of the first four batters in the Husky lineup. The score changed next when a Paloma rally -- started by Ashlynn Ferguson’s double to left field -- brought in Abigail Rogers.

Meghan Bradley kept the momentum going with a double of her own that brought two more runs in, then McGee rounded it off with a single, bringing in the 14th run of the game.

Koepsell then re-entered for Paloma to close the game and recorded three final strikeouts in four batters faced to take the victory. The freshman finished with nine strikeouts and one walk.

Wildcats head coach Will Nelson said he is proud of his team’s resilience.

“I just want to commend these girls,” he said. “We were down hard in the second and didn’t have a lot of hope, but they never gave up and they did this one run at a time.”

Guerra and McGee led the team with three hits apiece, while McGee and Koepsell both had three RBI’s. Four players had doubles in the game, and the team totaled 18 base hits compared to JW North’s 11.

This win puts the Wildcats at a 14-9 overall record, 5-2 in league. With a win on Monday’s senior night next week, they could clinch the league title.

“This is the first time in a long time that Paloma softball is doing really well and playing at the top of the league,” Nelson said. “We’ve got a great group of girls and they’re young, too, so we’re excited to just get better and better.”

The final regular-season game for the Wildcats will be Monday at 3:15 at home against Lakeside (0-6) before the team prepares for postseason play.

Lynda Guerra rounds the bases after hitting a home run for the Wildcats. (Photo by Action Captures Media Grouo)

 Pitcher Kaydence Koepsell fields a ground ball and prepares to throw to first. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 Brooklyn Berni makes the play on a ground ball during Friday's game. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 

Meghan Bradley catches a pop fly for the Paloma Valley defense. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 In addition to her three hits, Lynda Guerra played a solid game on defense. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)