Sonoma’s softball girls beat Kennedy, head for semis

Lady Dragons clobber Kennedy, face Drake in semi-final round Tuesday|

The Sonoma Valley High softball team took a big step deeper into the playoffs on Friday, May 26, with a win against Kennedy High of Fremont. The final score was 14-8 and, although starting pitcher Alissa Orr fell behind by giving up a run in the top of the first, the Lady Dragons roared back to score 5 in the bottom of that inning and were never threatened.

After the five-run first, the girls scored another three in the second and two in the third, to pull well ahead 10-1 as the fifth inning opened.

Standout players on offense included senior Isabel Hernandez going 3-4 with an RBI, and five players going for 2-4 including freshman Kaliya Hensic and junior Lyndsey Lee, both with 2 RBIs. Freshmen Ally and Abby Alcayaga also got two hits each, as did senior Maddy Lentini. But hopes of a mercy-rule finish ended when the Kennedy Titans rallied for five runs in the top of the fifth to close within striking distance.

The bottom of the sixth however saw the Sonoma Valley team match rally with their own, and put across four runs in the bottom of the inning. Two runs from Kennedy in the top of the final inning made the score 14-8, and that’s where it ended as the home team didn’t need to bat at the bottom of the seventh.

“Everybody had a huge contribution to this win,” said head coach Keeley Ray. “They showed up and hit the ball like we know how!”

Next game in the NCS playoff round is the semifinals tonight, Tuesday, May 30, at home. Their opponent are the Drake Pirates, who squeaked by Pinole Valley last Friday, 8-7. The local girls met the Drake team in San Anselmo earlier this year in March, and came away with a 3-2 win in a tight match.

Game time is 5 p.m. at Sonoma Valley High.

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