By Uy Pham
On Tuesday, Fountain Valley High School’s softball team proved victorious against the Godinez Fundamental High School Grizzlies, winning with a score of 9-0. The Barons played their second non-league matchup of the season after previously losing against Aliso Niguel 8-19. By securing their first win of the season, Barons’ softball now has a record of 1-1.
Sophomore and Wave League MVP pitcher Courtney Kols pitched the game for the Barons, striking out several Grizzlies for crucial outs throughout the game. Hitting two home runs, junior and Boise State University commit Makenzie Butt helped score six runs for the Barons, along with catching several outs at first base. Junior Jenna Bixler also hit a home run. On the defensive side, junior Marissa Sardinas caught several fly balls to achieve several key outs.
To start the top of the first inning, the Grizzlies secured a runner on third base; this came with the cost of a runner thrown out on first following a bunt. However, Kols struck out the next two Grizzlies batters to transition to the bottom of the first.
Sardinas began the Barons’ offense with two strikes and then a fly ball for the first out. Following two successful hits, junior Delaney Mondino and senior Veronica Moore set up Butt with runners on second and third. On the first pitch, Butt hit a home run to score three runs for the Barons.
Quickly in the second inning, Kols struck out two more Grizzlies. The Grizzlies proceeded to hit a double, but a Baron outfielder caught a fly ball at left field for the third out. Likewise, the Barons failed to score any runs with three strikeouts and only junior Samantha Estrada was able to secure a double.
Again in the top of the third, the Grizzlies failed to run past first base with two outs on first base and Sardinas catching a fly ball. Mondino initiated the bottom of the third by bunting the ball for a single. A double by Moore positioned the Barons with runners on second and third.
Like the first inning, Butt hit another home run for another three runs. Quickly followed by a Bixler home run, the Barons expanded their lead to 7-0. The inning quickly ended afterward with the Grizzlies catching two fly balls and getting an out on second.
The fourth inning began with Butt catching for two outs on first, followed by another fly ball to the center caught by Sardinas. Next, freshman Rylee Jimenez secured a double, and Moore hit a double to send Jimenez home for another run. Plagued by three outs on first base, the Barons finished the inning.
Estrada caught a fly ball to begin the top of the fifth. The Grizzlies seemed to regain some momentum by securing runners on second and third after two hits. However, two more outs on first base ended the Grizzlies’ hopes of a run this inning.
The Grizzlies caught a fly ball to the center for the first out of the bottom of the fifth. Freshman Kileigh Villalobos achieved a walk to first, and sophomore Andrea Maldonado hit a single to put runners on first and second. However, two more caught fly balls led to three outs for the Barons.
In the top of the sixth, the Grizzlies achieved a walk to first, and a base hit for runners on first and second followed. A fly ball caught in the center right by Mondino and a throw by Moore to third base led to another three outs for the Grizzlies.
Two ground balls that led to two outs positioned the Barons with one out remaining and a desire to score more runs. Moore hit a double, and Butt followed up with a hit that allowed Moore to run home for a score of 9-0. The third out from a strikeout ended the inning.
To finish the game, the Grizzlies attempted to put up a fight in the top of the seventh. However, Sardinas and Maldonado caught two balls for two outs, and an out at first base secured the third and final out of the game.
The Barons’ next game will be the league opener away against the Huntington Beach Oilers on Mar. 3. The Oilers are currently 1-0 following a 10-0 victory against San Clemente.
