Reedley and Sanger both collect victories before storms delay tourney wrap-up to next week
Reedley High shortstop Ashlee Chavez (10) fields a late throw as Hanford High’s Kynzu Ayala (14) slides safely into second base during a Swing Into Spring softball tournament game on March 9. The Pirates led the Bullpups, 3-1, before the game was suspended by rain after three innings.
Reedley High center fielder Kristyn Gordon (20) reaches the fence chasing a long fly ball during a Swing Into Spring softball tournament game on March 9 at Reedley High. The hit ended up as a double. The Pirates led the Bullpups, 3-1, then the game was suspended by rain after three innings.
REEDLEY – Officials with the 12 schools involved in the Swing Into Spring Softball Classic at Reedley High School made multiple adjustments to make sure nearly all the pool play of the event was played, despite separate bouts of heavy rain through the week.
With thunderstorms in the forecast for both March 10 and 11, officials moved the opening day of pool play up a day to March 9 and two additional schools served as host site. The strategy paid off for the most part, with 10 of the 12 games being played.
Host Reedley (3-2) almost managed to get both its games in; defeating Mt. Whitney 3-0 and then leading Hanford 3-1 after three innings in Pool C before the mid-afternoon rains and wind arrived. Sanger (2-1) also had an opening day win (22-0 over Torres) and then was tied 1-1 with Mission Oak when Pool D play was suspended by rain. Taft High went 2-0 in Pool B play in Visalia while Lemoore and Shafter were each 1-0-1 in Pool A play in Hanford.
The championship and consolation bracket play scheduled for Saturday, March 11, was canceled by stormy weather in the forecast. The tentative makeup bracket showed games scheduled for Monday, March 20, although that had not been finalized as of press time. Whenever the tournament is completed, fifth place games would be scheduled at 4 p.m. while third place and championship games would be at 6 p.m. at Reedley High fields.
Other games were squeezed in before the tournament. The Pirates won 11-0 at Dos Palos on March 7, getting four runs in the third inning and collecting 11 hits. Sophomores Isabella Marin and Kristyn Gordon each had two hits with Marin homering, while junior Sierra Hallum picked up the pitching win.
Sanger, meanwhile, scored a 9-1 win at Porterville on March 8 and then weather permitting will play in the Clovis West Invitational against the Golden Eagles (2 pm. Friday, March 17), Atascadero (9 a.m. Saturday, March 18) and Mission Prep (11 a.m. March 18).
Emperors slip to 1-5 with home loss to Redwood
The day after losing three Buchanan Tournament games, the Dinuba High Emperors dropped a 16-9 decision to visiting Redwood High on March 7 in its only game of the week. The Rangers (2-2-1) finished with 16 hits on offense, erupting for 6 runs in the second inning for an early 7-0 lead and then adding seven runs in the sixth to wipe out a 9-7 deficit.
Bella Valdez homered and drove in four runs for Redwood, while Kenzie Cantu and Alexis Rico each collected three hits. The Emperors (1-5) had a March 14 home game against Liberty-Madera Ranchos, then travel to Fresno for a 7:30 p.m. game at Edison High on Friday, March 17.
The Emperors then will be back home to play Selma at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 21.
Immanuel opens with rout at Madera South
Immanuel High finally opened its season last week, rolling to a 14-0 shutout at Madera South on March 8. Senior Tylee Erickson picked up the pitching win with four shutout innings allowing just four hits and striking out seven; also knocking in three runs while going 2-for-4.
Junior Leah Thomas went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a double while junior Ava Regier doubled and drove in two runs. Freshman Natalie Delgadilla was 2-for-4 with a double and four runs batted in.
The Eagles had scheduled games with Kerman and Sanger West rained out, and weather permitting are scheduled to play Lemoore at 10 a.m. and Bakersfield High at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 16, at the Redwood Invitational in Visalia. Games on Friday, March 17, will be against Centennial (noon) and Chavez (4 p.m.)
TRACK AND FIELD
Apaches win 11 events at CMAC quad meet
Sanger High collected 11 individual varsity wins, six by the girls, during a March 8 County Metro Athletic Conference four-team meet at Dodson Field in Sanger.
Multiple winners junior Atianna Marquez (200 meters, pole vault) for the girls while junior Daniel Galvez (1600, 3200) and senior Gavin Gonzalez (high jump, pole vault) won two events each for the boys. In addition, Estevan Gonzalez won the 400 meters with a PR time of 51.71 seconds, fourth best in the Central Section this season.
Gonzalez also holds the fourth best section time of 11.21 seconds in the 100 meters and fifth best time of 23.21 in the 200. Other Apaches girls winners were senior Leah Mendibles (1600), sophomore Alex Vaca (3200), sophomore Alayna Altaffer (300 hurdles) and senior Aaralyn Vang (discus).
Sanger was scheduled to compete on March 10 at the Clovis East Track and Field Carnival, but the event was rained out. Also slated to be in the field for that meet was Dinuba, Reedley, Orange Cove and Sanger West.
BASKETBALL
Crab feed fundraiser for Reedley High girls set for April 1
A crab feed fundraiser for the Reedley High School girls basketball Division V section championship team is scheduled for Saturday, April 1, from 6 to 9 p.m. at St. La Salle School in Reedley. The crab feed includes pasta, salad and bread, and beer and wine also will be available for purchase.
Tickets are $60 per person, and funds raised will go to benefit the Pirates’ girls basketball program. For more information or to order tickets, contact coach Mike Pallesi at (559) 907-4583.