Napa’s offense erupts on heels of huge rallies in third, fifth innings to beat Sonoma Valley
By Kyle Foster
Twitter: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
Sometimes, a good offensive eruption is just what the doctor ordered. It can get things going in the right direction and bring confidence to a group.
On Wednesday afternoon at the Napa softball diamond, the offense had no trouble scoring runs as the Grizzlies beat Sonoma Valley, 16-6, in a mercy-rule-shortened six-inning game.
Napa (3-6 overall, 2-3 Vine Valley Athletic League) was able to end the game in the bottom of the sixth, where they scored five times. It all began with Jessaye Wood getting hit by a pitch which was followed by a single by Lauren Nicklas and then a walk by Bella Cook that loaded the bases. Wood scored on a bases-loaded walk by Ally Michie. A single by Molly Travis brought in Nicklas and Cook. To end the game, Ella Johnson ripped a double to left center that brought in Michie and Travis.
“Ella is a gamer,” Napa High head coach and manager Ron Walston explained of Johnson. “She goes 110% all the time. She’s one of the ones I’m talking about. She goes up there with an attitude (of) ‘you’re not gonna get me out.’ She’s a smart player. She knows how to work the count. She knows what she should be looking for in a count. Defensively, I can put her anywhere.”
The Grizzlies also put up seven runs in the third when the game had been tied at 3. Wood began the inning by reaching on an error then got to second on a single by Reilly Parga before scoring on a Nicklas single. Parga moved to second on the Nicklas single and then to third on a Cook walk that loaded the bases. A walk by Travis brought in Parga before Johnson ripped a single to center that brought in Nicklas and Cook. A single by Olivia Horn brought in Travis and Johnson, which allowed Horn to get to second base on the throw, and then score when Sonoma Valley hurled the ball into center field.
Napa was able to score all these runs due in large part to working the count and extending at-bats.
“I think that the biggest thing I’ve been talking to them about is looking for your pitch,” Walston said of Napa’s approach at the plate. “Till you get two strikes, get your pitch. But when you get it, I’m going to quote (former baseball coach) Todd Pridy ‘you better not miss your pitch.’ But it’s a mindset. ‘You can’t get me out, and if you throw my pitch, I’m going to hit it.’ I think that’s starting to sink in a little bit. I just believe more so than anything, it’s a confidence thing, and I think it’s starting to come around a bit.”
In the fifth, the Grizzlies scored a run in exciting fashion when Travis ripped a single to right field before it ate up the outfield, allowing her to fly around the bases and score.
They also scored twice in the third to go up by two. Cook started the rally when she reached on an error and got to second on a Riley Brodie groundout before scoring when Michie reached on a bunt single, where the throw went into right field by the Sonoma pitcher. Johnson then doubled to bring in Michie.
Napa scored their first run of the game in the first when Horn reached on a fielder’s choice and then got to second on a walk by Wood, and then came in on a single to right field by Parga.
Leading the Grizzlies’ batting attack on the day was Johnson (4-for-5, 2 doubles, run scored, 5 RBIs), Travis (2-for-4 3 runs), Nicklas (2-for-4 walk, stolen base, two runs), Cook (1-for-2 3 runs, 2 walks), Parga (1-for-3 walk, run, RBI), and Horn (1-for-4 2 runs, 2 RBIs).
Sonoma Valley (6-5, 2-3 VVAL) scored once in the first when Katherine Kiser reached on an error that allowed her to get to second before going to third on a bunt single by Kayla Amormino and then scoring on a sacrifice fly to left field by Kassedy Midgley.
In the third, they scored twice when Kiser doubled and scored when Amormino reached by way of an error and got to second. Amorino scored on a Gianna Chiotti groundout, but before that she got to third on a groundout by Midgley.
The Dragons scored twice more in the fourth when Lexi Evoy singled and got to second on a fielder’s choice before coming to the plate on a singly by Eliana Landy. Landry got to second on a fielder’s choice and then scored on a single by Amormino.
Finally, in the fifth, they scored once more Chiotti singled and got to second on a groundout by Victoria Magnani before scoring on a single by Evoy.
Getting the win for Napa in the circle was Brooklyn Miller. The sophomore right-hander worked all six innings, striking out 2 and walking nobody. She also gave up 6 runs, 3 of which were earned on just 63 pitches.
“She’s been struggling a little bit with pitches up in the zone. But she’s made the adjustment,” Walston said of Miller’s game. She threw really well today. She didn’t throw a lot of pitches. Errors are going to happen. One thing that I can see especially being a sophomore, (is) she doesn’t let things get to her.”
The victory came at a key time as well for the Grizzles. It ended a three-game skid and could be the jolt needed to get on a winning streak.
Both teams will take a day off before hosting the Napa High Easter Tournament at their venues on Friday. Napa will have a doubleheader against Arroyo-San Lorenzo at 9:30 am and Archie Willams of San Anselmo at 11 am. As for Sonoma Valley, they’ll play three games to begin their tournament with a trio of games against Dixon at 8 am, Arcata at 9:30 am, and Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park at 2 pm.
In other VVAL games Wednesday, Vintage beat American Canyon 11-6 and Petaluma beat Justin-Siena 12-0. You can view the updated league standings here.
