East Bay power too much for SCL-leading Petaluma

North Coast Section Division II softball champs have no trouble with the T-Girls.|

Highly rated Alhambra of Martinez rapped its way to a convincing 12-0 win over Petaluma in a Saturday morning softball game played on the T-Girl diamond. The North Coast Section Division II defending champs had no trouble as they scored in every frame in the shortened game against the co-leader in the Sonoma County League.

Petaluma appeared to dodge a bullet in the first inning when the aggressive Lady Bulldogs ran themselves into a quick out at the plate on a heads up scoop play by T-Girl pitcher Emily O’Keefe. O’Keefe shoveled an attempted squeeze bunt home to nail Kimiko Zapanta in one of the best defensive plays of the game.

The T-Girls’ success was short lived, however, when Alhambra sophomore Alena Lewis lofted a soaring home run over the right field fence to get the Bulldog scoring parade underway.

Alhambra featured a stable of very quick hitters who immediately become a threat to run after they reach base. The Bulldogs wound up stealing seven bases, and two runs scored on a play at first base.

Among the dangerous Bulldogs is UCLA-bound Brianna Perez who didn’t start in this contest. Perez did make her mark, however, by scoring two runs after reaching base in her only two plate appearances.

Perez, hitting an astounding .696, stole two bases to put pressure on second T-Girl pitcher Ava Chabot. Teammate Karlee Sparacino, headed for the University of Oregon, had three hits and scored three runs for the Lady Bulldogs.

Before the game Petaluma coach Kurt Jastrow noted that Alhambra pitching would be, “Good but not overpowering. It will be about the level of some of the batter teams we have played this season.” Jastrow proved to be on the money as Petaluma batters routinely put the ball in play against Bulldog pitcher Brianna Edwards.

Grace Ghiradelli ripped a line drive base hit into left field to open the third inning for the T-Girls, and Alexis Silinonte found the gap with a drive to the left-field fence for a double in the fourth frame.

Silinonte, returning to the Petaluma lineup following concussion like symptoms that had sidelined her for a few contests, also made a terrific defensive play at third base. The junior veteran made a diving stop of a hard ground ball off the bat of Madeline Cervantes, and jumped to her feet to nail the speedy Bulldog senior at first base.

Alhambra improved to 14-2 for the season with the victory and the Lady Bulldogs continue to vie for a top spot in the Division II rankings. Alhambra is 6-0 in the Diablo Foothill League.

It was the first loss for Petaluma (11-9) after six consecutive wins in SCL play. The T-Girls have now played five non-league section contenders in another aggressive effort to prepare for playoff action which begins later this month.

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