Pilot Grove too much for California

Jenna Reynolds takes a lead off at third base after a pitch by Pilot Grove on Monday.
Jenna Reynolds takes a lead off at third base after a pitch by Pilot Grove on Monday.

photo

AP

Sudanese war refugee Madhel Majok, 17, left, now a high school student in Holliston, Mass., programs music in his mobile phone at the foster home where he lives in Holliston, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010. As a 9-year-old orphan, Majok escaped the mass slayings and genocide of the Sudan that claimed his parents, then fled to neighboring Kenya where he survived vigilante shellings on his crowded refugee camp. In Kenya Majok remained in limbo for eight years while waiting for any country to grant him refuge.

Despite Paige Johnson's 3-for-3 from the plate performance, the Lady Pintos couldn't keep up with Pilot Grove Monday afternoon, losing 9-1.

"We made some good plays tonight," California head coach Darrell Bolin said. "I'm proud of the girls, they hung in there as always. They always keep their heads up."

California started the first inning off by getting the first two runners on base. Jenna Reynolds walked and Kaylee Vanloo singled to put runners on first and second with no outs. They moved up one base off a passed ball during the next at-bat. But neither could score after the next three batters struck out swinging, popped out to the shortstop and stuck out in that order.

That would become a theme for the night, as California stranded seven runners on the day.

"We're just not putting it together," Bolin said. "We've got to be able to string together hits whenever it's needed."

Pilot Grove's Melony Wolfe was on the mound and able to get out of those jams. Six of her seven strikeouts came with runners on base. She finish the day with one earned run off six hits in seven innings of work.

"She threw the ball well tonight," Bolin said. "She threw a lot of strikes and made our batters chase some out of the strike zone which helped her quite a bit. Giver her kudos, she threw the ball where she needed to tonight and kept us off-balance."

With the Lady Tigers leading 4-0, California put together a couple hits to get a run home. Braleigh Johnson led off the bottom of the fourth with a single down the left field line, then Sam Beckham sacrificed her down to second with a bunt. Braleigh Johnson's twin sister Paige Johnson changed places with her at second base, as she roped a pitch to right center field to score the run.

"(Braleigh Johnson and Paige Johnson) put the ball in play a lot," Bolin said. "I can always count on them to get a hit because they're always putting the ball in play. They're good players. Offensively, they're really solid, they have a good eye for the ball."

Paige Johnson was eventually stranded at second base with the next two Lady Pintos batters striking out.

Paige Johnson was 3-for-3 with two singles and a double and Braleigh Johnson was 1-for-3 with a single.

After the Lady Pintos cut the lead to 4-1, Pilot Grove scored two runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and two in the seventh to extend the lead to 9-1.

California (3-7, 1-3 in Tri-County Conference) will travel to Praire Home on Thursday at 5 p.m., then host Warsaw on Monday, Sept. 21 at the same time.