Halsey’s solid game in the circle leads Justin-Siena to dispatching of Piner
By Kyle Foster
Twitter: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
It’s always rewarding to see a well-played game.
But when you can do it in dominant fashion makes it even better.
The Justin-Siena softball team accomplished both of those on Friday afternoon when they dispatched Piner of Santa Rosa 10-0 in a five-inning mercy-rule shortened game.
The game was dominated by Justin-Siena junior pitcher Clare Halsey who went all five innings and recorded the win in the circle. In the five-inning complete-game, she struck out 11 and walked four on the day.
“Clare kind of had a couple of walks there in the first inning,” Justin-Siena coach Tim Garcia admitted. “But, you know, she reeled herself back in. She pitched a good game.”
“I started off kind of rough, but then I brought it back,” Halsey explained of her start.
It also helped that the Braves (5-1) had a great offensive output on the day. The biggest inning they had was in the fourth inning when they scored five times. The rally all started when Noelle Wright reached on an error and scored on a Jocelyn Stojack double. A Paige Horn single later brought in Stojack. Horn then came home on a Tessa Salvestrin double. Abby Maciel’s single then brought in Salvestrin. Finally, a Halsey sacrifice fly to left field brought in Maciel.
Justin-Siena also scored four times in the bottom of the third. But the highlight of the inning came when Halsey belted a solo home run over the fence in left-center field.
“The last few games I’ve been batting good,” Halsey said. “So, that just felt really good.”
“When she’s on she’s on,” Garcia continued. “She does a job and she’s been hitting the ball really hard.”
The rally began when Stojack reached on a bunt single and later scored on a Horn single. Another double by Salvestrin plated Horn. Salvestrin then came home on a wild pitch.
Justin-Siena’s other run in the game came when Salvestrin doubled, stole third, and then came home on a wild pitch.
Leading the Braves at the plate was Salvestrin (3-for-3, 3 doubles, 2 RBIs, 3 runs).
“She’s just consistent,” Garcia explained of Salvestrin. “She’s a free-swinger and I just let her go do her thing.”
Other having nice days include Stojack (2-for-3, single, double, two runs, RBI), Horn (2-for-3, two singles, two RBIs, and two runs).
Justin-Siena will be back in action next Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. when they visit Middletown.
