Napa’s bats heat up in seven-run fifth inning to beat Sonoma Valley
By Kyle Foster
Twitter: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
When the bottom of the order sets the table for the top of the order, good things normally come from it.
In Tuesday’s game, that’s what the Napa High softball team did when they beat Sonoma Valley 8-4. In the first half of the game, Napa was producing quality at-bats with hard-hit balls that ended up finding leather.
“There (are) times, we feel like they’re guessing instead of going up there expecting a strike and getting a pitch that they’re looking for and just actually going after it,” Napa High manager Ron Walston explained. “It felt like they were a little tentative the first two or three games especially. I think it’s starting to turn around. They’ve been working hard. We work on it every day, so it’s good to see that. Good for them.”
The Grizzlies (2-4 overall, 2-3 Vine Valley Athletic League) gained the lead and never looked back thanks to a seven-run fifth inning that was highlighted by two home runs. Napa took the lead on a Karen Sepulveda single to right field that brought in Brekley Kramer and Molly Travis. Kramer got on by way of the double and Travis was hit by a pitch. Sepulveda scored along with Olivia Vavricka, who reached an error when Caity Newburn roped a three-run homer to left-center, which was her fourth homer of the season. Dalila Tapia also added a homer in the inning that was to left-center field. The last run that inning was scored by Olivia Horn who doubled and came in when Ava Moreci reached by way of an error.
“I think they focused, went up there with a plan at the plate, looking for a certain pitch or a certain side of the plate,” Walston said as to what changed in the bottom of the fifth. “They weren’t going away from that. I think that’s the biggest thing.”
The homer by Tapia was her first of the season.
“Delila, that’s big for her,” Walston added. “She’s been struggling at the plate a little bit. Hopefully, that little boost of confidence and she can start hitting like she’s capable of. You know, more consistently.”
Napa scored their only other run in the fourth inning when Newburn hit a solo shot to left-center in what was her third homer of the season. Newburn ended the day going 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs.
“I was really just focusing on being aggressive at the plate and trying to get my a swing off and really just get my pitch,” Newburn said of her two home runs. “I think the pitches that I did hit really well, they’re just pitches in my zone that I think I connected with I saw the ball really well. So just trying to stay relaxed at the plate.”
Sonoma Valley (1-6, 0-5 VVAL) scored the first two runs in the game. During the top of the third, they scored on a triple by Taylor Owen. They also scored a run in the sixth and seventh innings.
Getting the win in the circle was junior Alyssa Michie. In a complete-game effort, she walked four and struck out three. She also allowed four runs on the day.
“She looked very good,” Walston said of his junior pitcher. “She was ahead in the count. I’d have to look at the book, I’ll bet you 80% of the time she started ahead in the count. Then, she can work the corners a little bit more. She didn’t get behind a lot. I think she got tired a little bit at the end, but she pushed through it. That’s good for her.”
Both teams will continue their seasons with league games this week. Napa will host Casa Grande-Petaluma on Thursday at 4 pm. Sonoma Valley will make a return trip to Napa on Wednesday at 4 pm when they visit Justin-Siena.
In the only other VVAL game Tuesday, American Canyon beat Vintage 2-1.
