Vintage squeaks past Maria Carrillo in home-opener
By Kyle Foster
Twitter: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
Good pitching, timely hitting, and good defense are how the San Francisco Giants won their three World Series titles.
But on Thursday the Vintage softball team took a page out of three-time champs book as they won a 2-1 over Maria Carrillo-Santa Rosa in their home-opener.
“Absolutely,” Vintage coach Robert Poppe said of winning the home opener. “It was a good showing by all the girls. I’m very happy for them.”
The Crushers (2-0) tallied the first run of the game in the bottom of the first. With runners on first and second Morgan Groves singled home Simone Sullivan, the courtesy runner after Shelby Morse singled.
Then, in the top of the second the Pumas (1-1) pushed across their only run of the game. They were able to push their lone run across thanks to an infield single, and a throwing error by Vintage catcher Sierra Crocker on an attempted back-pick at second base.
Vintage scored their final run in the bottom of the third. After reaching on a bunt single Jordan Allen scored on a Groves bases loaded walk.
Groves led the Crushers hitting on the day as she went 1-for-2 with a walk, single, fielder’s choice, and two RBIs. Morse went 2-for-3 with two singles. Taylor Brandt was 1-for-3 with a single and a walk.
“Mo’s a big surprise for me because she plays basketball, so I didn’t get to see her for anything, and then she comes out and I’m just looking at the books and info from last year. I knew she’d be a contributor, but I think she’s getting a much better start this year than she did last year,” Poppe explained. “I expect a lot of good things from her.”
Although the Crushers won the game they left a total of nine runners on base throughout the game.
It was a good day for Morse in the circle too. She struck out six, walked one all while getting the win on her birthday.
Maria Carrillo could’ve had a big inning in the top of the fourth, but Sarah Husted, Hailey Schreiner, and Sierra Crocker teamed up for a 6-3-2 inning-ending double play.
“That was huge for us, especially because that was inquiring both my middle infielder and my third baseman who are both first-year varsity kids, so we’ve been working on that with them and they has some struggles last week against Vanden, and it was nice to see them get that double play,” Poppe explained of the play.
Raimy Gamsby recorded the save. Over three innings of work she struck out four batters.
Up next for Vintage is a meeting with Santa Rosa in Santa Rosa on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
