Patriots capture win against ’dogs

HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL

Pioneer defeats Vacaville in showdown with Monticello Empire League nemesis

Pioneer High School junior shortstop Marisa Bryson goes to apply a tag on a baserunner during a Monticello Empire League game against Vacaville on Friday. PHOTOS BY CARLOS GUERRERO — DAILY DEMOCRAT

Pioneer High senior Ashley Gruben scores after hitting a sixth-inning home run against Vacaville on Friday.

Pioneer High senior Abril Parker throws the ball to the infield after making a nice catch.

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By Carlos Guerrero

cguerrero@dailydemocrat.com

Thanks to an emphatic insurance run via an Ashley Gruben home run, the Pioneer High School varsity softball team remained perfect in the new Monticello Empire League after defeating the formidable Vacaville 5-2.

After two straight 10-run wins to start the league season over Sacramento and Rodriguez, the Patriots (9-3, 4-0 MEL) showed that along with blowing teams away, they could also grind teams down, picking up an 8-3 win over Vanden this past Tuesday and the 5-2 home win over the Bulldogs Friday afternoon.

In the 10-0 win over Rodriguez back on March 21, senior Jia Beebe pitched a full five innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 2 batters.

Star junior Marisa Bryson led the way at the plate for the Patriots with a home run and a double, knocking in 3 runs and scoring 3 herself. Senior Sophia Hernandez had a game-high 3 hits, with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Junior Sophia O’Quelly scored a run while picking up 2 hits and driving in 2 runs.

Strong performances at the plate from Beebe and junior Zayda Rodriguez, who had a hit, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI led the way during the Patritos’ 8-3 win over Vanden this Past Tuesday.

The following day, on Wednesday, they’d lose a 3-2 nonleague road game against Central Catholic, who happens to be MaxPrep’s No. 9 ranked team in the Sac-Joaquin Section. Freshman Lizzy Vargas and junior Gracie McGinty scored the Patriots two runs.

“I just wanted to play them because I wanted to play a team that would really challenge us,” Pioneer head coach Linda Merrida said. “The game could have gone either way as it was only 3-2.”

Vacaville (6-4, 3-0 MEL) came into the clash tied with the Patriots for first in the league. While the Bulldogs’ offense was slightly more prolific, scoring 56 runs to the Patriots 39, the Patriots came in with a better defense, only allowing three so far compared to 10 for the Bulldogs.

League wins for Vacaville this year included an 11-5 win over Vanden in the league opener on March 19, an 8-5 win over Rodriguez on March 26, and a 37-0 win over Sacramento on Thursday.

After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the second inning, the Patriots responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-1 lead.

Bryson kicked things off with a one-out single before Hernandez walked. Gruben then came to bat and smacked a problematic single to left field, leading to a throwing error that allowed Bryson to score from second.

Following an Abril Parker bunt that loaded the bases, O’Quelly would take one for the team and get hit by a pitch to bring home Hernandez and give the Patriots a 2-1 lead. The lead grew to 4-1 after Rodriguez reached first on a throwing error from the third baseman that allowed both Vargas, who was in base running for Gruben, and Parker to score.

The Patriots had a great chance to grow the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning but could not bring home a runner from second base after two straight pop-flies to end the inning. That looked to come back to haunt them as Vacaville brought home a runner to make it 4-2.

After showing off her range with various nice plays out in center field throughout the game, Parker dove for a ball that was just out of her reach, allowing a Vacaville baserunner to make it to third before eventually scoring on a single a batter later.

Luckily for the Patriots, she’d forget all about the play and run down the final out a few moments later, making another nice catch.

“I was full send on that diving play,” Parker said. “I love laying out for balls and love when my teammate’s layout for balls. Thats what I really appreciate about defense. The next play came right away and led to another ball being hit to me, and I made the play, so that was great.”

The next inning, Gruben made sure not to waste a chance to add an insurance run by blasting a line drive home run right over the center field wall, making it 5-2 in a flash.

“I didn’t know it was out until I saw it roll past the fence,” Gruben said. “I thought it was just a double. My mindset during the at bat was to get on base, try to start something, and get those insurance runs for Jia and the team.”

In the top of the seventh, with Beebe still on the mound, the Patriots recorded three straight outs to close the game out, which was highlighted by another fantastic catch by Parker in center and a routine grounder scooped up and sent to first by Bryson.

Beebe finished the game with a full 7 innings pitched, striking out 2 and only allowing the 2 runs. At the plate, Gruben led the way with 2 RBI and 2 hits thanks to her solo home run.

Up next for the Patriots will be another home league matchup against Wood, set for Wednesday, April 2.