Patriots defeat Cardinals on road

HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL

Pioneer High School defeats Woodland Christian in nonleague city showdown

Pioneer High School junior Marisa Bryson takes a lead off third base with Cardinals freshman Kaylee Michel awaiting the outcome of the pitch during a nonleague matchup between the Woodland softball teams on Tuesday. PHOTOS BY CARLOS GUERRERO — DAILY DEMOCRAT

Woodland Christian junior Maggie Wurzel pitched 3 innings and struck out a batter and only allowed an earned run during the Cardinals’ nonleague game against Pioneer High School on Tuesday.

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By Carlos Guerrero

cguerrero@dailydemocrat.com

When two surging city rivals meet up, records and league status are thrown out the window.

That is exactly what happened Tuesday evening as the Monticello Empire League’s Pioneer High School took a short trip down Gibson Road to take on the Sierra Delta League’s Woodland Christian for a nonleague tune-up match ahead of both of their respective playoff pushes.

Pioneer got off to an early lead they would not look back from, scoring 1 run in the top of the first, four in the top of the second, one in the top of the fourth, before a final insurance run in the top of the sixth to win 7-1.

“I think it’s good for the city to play this game,” said Cardinals head coach Christie Miller. “All the girls know each other and have been playing together for years. We all want to come out on top, but Pioneer is just a solid team, so hats off to them for pulling off the win.”

“These games are fun,” said Patriots head coach Linda Merrida. “We haven’t played this team in a few years, so it was our turn to come play here at their place. I was looking forward to this, and when the opportunity came, I said, ‘What day do you want us?’ and it all worked out.”

The Patriots (13-4, 7-1 MEL) came into the same-side-of-town showdown one game up on Vanden for first place in the MEL standings, thanks to big league wins over Sacramento (2X), Vacaville, Rodriguez, and a season split against Vanden, trading off home wins.

Nonleague wins include victories over Sheldon, Davis, and St. Francis in the early part of the season.The Cardinals (17-3, 12-0 SDL) came into the matchup in similarly hot form, winners of 12 out of the past 13 games, including emphatic league sweeps over Vacaville Christian, Highlands, Rio Vista, Lindhurst, San Juan and Golden Sierra. Their one loss during the run came in their most recent game, a 7-6 extra-inning loss to Ben Holt College Prep Academy.

Pioneer kicked off the scoring courtesy of a Sofia Hernandez double that scored Grace McGinty.

In the top of the second, a 2 RBI single from Jia Beebe scored Kylie Cueva and McGinty again to make it 3-0. Follwoing a flyout and then two consecutive walks, Sofia Castro got in on the fun with a single that scored Lizzy Vargas and Hernandez to make it 5-0.

In the bottom of the second, the Cardinals would respond with a run courtesy of a passed ball that allowed Woodland Christian’s Morgan Sanders to score and make it 5-1.

Sanders would finish the game with a run scored and a hit. Maggie Wurzel also had a good game at the plate, helping out her cause from the circle by picking up 2 hits.

Wurzel went on to pitch three innings, striking out one batter. Chayse Anderson came in for an inning of relief and struck out two batters before Teagan Hayes came in to pitch the top of the seventh.

Despite runners now on second and third base, Beebe managed to get out of the inning relatively unscathed. From the circle, Beebe finished with a complete seven-inning gem, striking out 5 and only allowing 4 hits and one earned run.

Things remained calm for an inning before Pioneer’s star junior Marisa Bryson came up to bat to hit her sixth home run of the year to left field to make it 6-1.

Byrson would make it 7-1 in the top of the sixth inning after a single and working her way around the bases, eventually touching home on a Castro fielder’s choice.

“I think they (Woodland Christian) will do very well in their division,” Merrida said. “It’s going to benefit their playoff push to play a team that is going to help them get better.”

Bryson finished the game with 2 hits, 2 runs and 1 RBI thanks to her home run. Castro enjoyed a game-high 3 RBI to go with her single hit. Hernandez, Beebe and Abril Parker all finished the game with 2 hits.

“I always appreciate the opportunity to play teams from the same town,” Miller said. “Pioneer has such a great squad and such a solid pitcher. We put the bat on the ball against her but didn’t find the holes. The hits we got weren’t enough to string together some runs.

“We can use these opportunities to push forward to the end of the season, but there are some takeaways to work on when we get back from spring break.”

Up next for the Cardinals will be a long week break before they return to SDL play with a road trip to Mesa Verde High School set for Tuesday, April 9. They will then host Mesa Verde for the second game of the series on Thursday, May 1, with a special 5:30 p.m. start time.

After that, they will close the regular season with a nonleague home game against Ben Holt on May 6 before a final road playoff tune-up against Colusa High School on May 8.

“I want us to keep up the intensity and never give up on games and the opportunities that we are going to get,” Miller said. “We have our eyes looking forward to the playoffs beyond the league, so that’s what we are working towards now.”

The Patriots will resume MEL play right away with a home game against fifth-placed Rodriguez High School on Wednesday at 4 p.m. They will then host former Golden Empire League rivals Dixon for a nonleague tune-up match on Friday at 4 p.m.

“We are facing a lot of adversity this year, and I think it has really pulled us together,” Merrida said.