Pintos in control vs. Jamestown

On the evening of the team’s Pink Out game, the California Pintos softball team (15-4) defeated the Jamestown Eagles (2-10) 14-0 on Oct. 5.

California led 1-0 after the first inning, but the Pintos pulled away even further in the bottom of the second. After a runner was hit by pitch and another was given a walk, California had two runners on base in the inning. Both runners moved into scoring position and, with Lanie Holtsclaw at the plate, a pitch got passed the catcher and Kaylena Riggs scored to make it 2-0. Another pitch getting past the catcher allowed Sydney Percival to score to make it 3-0. Later in the inning with two more runners on base, another wild pitch followed by a throw that got away from third base allowed both runs to score to make it 5-0. After two more walks, the Pintos scored yet again to make it 6-0. The Pintos scored once more to make it 7-0 before the end of the inning.

Head coach Steven Stock said the team took what they could get on the base path.

”You just get on the bases and you watch and if teams don’t throw it around or don’t throw it well, then you just keep rolling,” Stock said.

After a scoreless top of the third inning, California really pulled away after scoring six more runs in the bottom of the third. All of those runs came with the bases loaded. The first two runs came when the ball dropped on an infield fly rule that made it 9-0. The other four of those runs came off the bat of Ellie Clay, who hit a grand slam on the first pitch of her at-bat to center field to make it 13-0.

The Pintos scored one more time in the bottom of the fourth inning to get to 14 runs.

With the team scoring in every inning on the night, Stock said he told the team to just keep at it.

“One of our philosophies is win every inning,” Stock said. “I believe in that and I think if you win more innings than the other team, you are going to win most of your games. That is what we tell them; after we win the first inning, that inning is over and we try to win the second inning and keep going.”

The Pintos scored 14 runs on three hits and had no errors, while Jamestown scored zero runs on one hit and had five errors in the game.

The Pintos’ next game is at 5 p.m Oct. 8 at the Hallsville Indians (16-2). For Jamestown, their next game is also at 5 p.m Oct. 8 against Eugene (12-5).