Jags win round-robin tournament with a shutout 6-0 victory by pitcher Haley Castro and a 4-3 walkoff by Melissa Felix after nine innings.
By: Malaya Street / Photo: Oscar Lopez
The San José City College Jags (18-14, 5-7 Coast) hosted a nonconference round-robin tournament at home to play against Solano Community College Falcons (11-18, 6-0 Bay Valley) and Fresno City College Rams (18-14, 11-2 Central Valley) to get as many wins under their belt before the postseason as they have five more games remaining this month.
In the first game against the Falcons, the Jags scored 6 runs in three innings. Haley Castro dominated in the circle by allowing no runs, four hits, no walks, and four strikeouts. The Jags' defense supported H. Castro with solid plays that included a diving catch by Kiya Sandoval and an infield double play. The standout offensive player of the game, Jade Henry, went 3 for 4 including a double with three RBIs.
In the first inning, the Falcons threatened to score first after a double on the left field line, but the runner who was on first rounded third and was thrown out at home by a mile. The Jags shifted this momentum into their offense with Keana Castro, who started the inning with a slapped single over the shortstop. Jade Henry stepped into the batter's box and gapped the ball in right-center for an RBI double to lead 1-0.
The Jags scored 4 more runs in the second inning with Kiya Sandoval's and Felix's back-to-back RBI doubles. K. Castro followed with an infield hit, just past the tip of the pitcher's glove to put runners on first and third. Henry delivered again with a 2 run single up the middle to make the scoreboard 5-0.
In the third inning, Deja Jimenez popped the ball to the shortstop who dropped it, and Jimenez hustled to second to get into scoring position. Karissa Smith bunted a sacrifice to advance Jimenez to third which later allowed her to score easily after Malia Venegas punched the ball in the 5-6 hole. The Jags won 6-0, and their hot bats carried into their second game against the Rams.
The Jags had a game break as the Falcons and the Rams faced off, and the Rams won 11-2 in five innings. Both the Jags and the Rams were coming into the third game confident to win after spanking the Falcons.
The Rams scored first after an infield single, followed by two stolen bases, and executed an RBI single to right field. The Jags tied the game with a two out base hit to center by H. Castro to score Felix who was on third. The Jags got the lead after Venegas scored from third on a wild pitch.
In the sixth inning, the Rams homered and scored 2 runs to lead 3-2. Bottom of the seventh, and the Jags had one last chance to tie the game. Felix had begun the inning with a leadoff walk.
K. Castro bunted a sacrifice to advance Felix to second, but the speedy Felix sprinted safely to third to give the Jags an easier opportunity to score her home. Henry hit a sacrifice fly, and Felix slid home as the umpire called her safe to tie the game. The Jags could not score the winning run, so they had to go into extra innings.
Top of the ninth inning, the Rams began with a leadoff double and a sacrifice bunt, but Alaina Valdez - who still had gas in the tank after pitching throughout the whole game - prevented the Rams from touching home plate.
Venegas led the final charge with a single in the 5-6 hole. The Rams changed pitchers, but Sandoval was locked in as she bunted the very first pitch down the first base line. The first baseman threw the ball to Sandoval's back as Venegas easily dashed to third base.
Felix had an eight pitch battle and struckout, but the second-string catcher dropped the third strike. Felix ran to first, and the catcher threw the ball to get Felix out - not acknowledging the winning run on third.
The throw home by the first baseman was not in time as Venegas slid under the tag. The Jags ended the day with cheers on the field for Venegas who scored the winning run and congratulated Felix to force a chaotic game winning play.
