Laura Liera’s teammates are waiting at home after she hit a 3-run home run. (Photo by Action Captures Media)
Behind great pitching from Kadie Urban and a late-inning onslaught with the bats, the Paloma Valley High School softball team (16-2) extended its winning streak to 13, beating Rancho Verde 10-0 on Friday afternoon.
Coach Ray Arredondo commented on the mindset the Wildcats have taken during this win streak.
“Our motto is nobody cares,” he said. “We don’t really talk about it much. It comes up from time to time, but we don’t really care. We’re just playing every game and practicing every practice and going day by day. Nobody cares what your ranking is right now; it’s what your ranking is at the end of the season. That’s what we’re looking forward to.”
Utilizing small ball, the Wildcats were able to get on the board early after a clean top half of the first inning. Following a shallow pop-up, Brooklyn Berni shot a ball into the outfield for a single. She then immediately stole second, giving Paloma a runner in scoring position. On another flyout, Berni tagged up from second. She made it to third base and came home to score off an errant throw to third to give Paloma a 1-0 lead at the end of the first.
Once again in the third, Paloma took advantage of the Mustangs’ defensive mistakes. With one out, Ashlynn Ferguson was hit by a pitch. Just like in the first inning, she stole second and was able to advance to third off of an errant throw into center field by the catcher. Berni then drove her in to double the Wildcats’ lead through 3 innings.
From then on, Urban continued to deal, keeping the Rancho Verde bats quiet as the Wildcats worked to muster up some runs on offense. Urban pitched a complete-game shutout, giving up only 2 hits and striking out 3.
“Kadie was phenomenal today — 2 hits in 6 innings,” Arredondo said. “It’s great to know that you can rely on your pitching to be solid, a huge advantage.”
In the fifth inning, Paloma’s bats again came alive. A Kennedi McGee walk followed by a bloop single from Ferguson set up the Wildcats for a potential big inning. Berni once again stepped up to the plate with an opportunity to drive in a run and she did just that with a single to center. With two runners still on, up stepped Laura Liera, who made the most of the moment, crushing a 3-run homer to blow the game open, making it 6-0 Paloma.
Arredondo had high praise for Liera’s performance Friday and throughout the season as a whole.
“Laura Liera doesn’t get the credit that she deserves,” he said. “I think catchers are overlooked, but she’s been so solid. She’s been solid behind the plate, solid in the box. I think she’s batting over .500 right now. She’s been one of those foundation blocks. We don’t have to worry about somebody behind the dish, knowing that she can stop the ball, or that she can throw somebody out. She deserves that recognition and I’m very thankful to have her in the program.”
Liera finished the game 1 for 3 with 3 RBIs, while Ferguson and Berni each tallied 2 hits, with the latter finishing with 2 RBIs as well. Brooke Bobbette, Lynda Guerra, and Hailey Alarcon also tallied a hit each.
A pair of singles followed the homer and gave Maya Lawrence the chance to extend the lead even further. She took full advantage and hit the second 3-run home run of the inning for the Wildcats, extending the lead to 9-0 before Rancho Verde finally got out of the inning.
After another clean inning in the top of the 6th, Paloma looked to end the game early. Bobbette singled, then stole second, and with two outs, Hailey Alarcon laced a single through the infield to plate the 10th run for the Wildcats, ending the game by the mercy rule.
Paloma Valley will try to continue its winning ways next Wednesday in a league matchup at Canyon Springs (7-11).
Maya Lawrence watches the ball sail over the fence for a 3-run home run. (Photo by Action Captures Media)
Kadie Urban pitched a complete-game shutout. (Photo by Action Captures Media)
Ashlynn Ferguson heads home to score another run for the Wildcats. (Photo by Action Captures Media)
Brooklyn Berni reacts after hitting an RBI double. (Photo by Action Captures Media)
Brooke Bobbette makes a diving catch in the outfield. (Photo by Action Captures Media)
