By Shayan Abbasi
Fountain Valley High School (FVHS) softball won against Corona del Mar (CdM) Sea Kings in a shutout victory with a score of 23-0. The home team was firing on all cylinders, thanks to stellar performances by senior Kaylin Osborn, junior Samantha Estrada and sophomore Samantha Sameshima.
The first inning commenced with Fountain Valley achieving a strikeout and a groundout on first early in the game. Though CDM was able to get two runners on base, Fountain Valley was successful in getting a runner out in a well executed defensive play, through throwing to home plate from the outfield.
On Fountain Valley’s at-bat, freshman Rylee Jimenez stole two bases on third, Sameshima got walked and senior Veronica Moore hit a fly ball out to center field. With two runners on base, senior Makenzie Butt stepped up to the plate and successfully hit a three run homer. Junior Kira Velasco immediately followed up with hitting a double, allowing for junior Marissa Sardinas and Estrada to reach home and extend the Barons’ lead to 5-0.
Holding things down on the defensive end, Fountain Valley shut out the CdM offense in the second inning, throwing for two strikeouts. At the bottom of the second, the Barons got off to another hot start, with Jimenez stealing two bases.
Moore then got on first base and stole second base after a fielding error. Velasco quickly got a base hit out to center field and reached first, loading the bases.
After Osburn got a base hit, the runners on base all reached home and the score hit 11-0. Since Fountain Valley scored the maximum runs in an inning, which is six, the inning was over.
The bottom of the third inning commenced with Jimenez getting walked, leading to Sameshima stepping up to the plate and getting walked.
Junior Camila Becerra’s at-bat culminated in a walk after the batter was hit by a ball. The bases were subsequently loaded again with Kols, Sameshima and Becerra all on base. Butt successfully hit a ground ball to left field, allowing Kols to reach home and extend the Barons’ lead to 12.
After Moore hit out a long ball, Sameshima and Becerra both reached home to score two additional runs.
Continuing Fountain Valley’s offensive brilliance, sophomore Andrea Maldonado hit a long ball out to center field, allowing for Butt and junior Jenna Bixler to get on base. Junior Delaney Mondino stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and hit a long ball out to left field, allowing the runner to reach home.
On Estrada’s at-bat, she hit a ground ball to left field, leading to two runners advancing home. Following this, Fountain Valley’s lead increased to 17.
The fourth inning commenced with Butt stepping up to the pitcher’s mound. Clinching the third out Bixler caught a CdM fly ball, as the Barons were successful in shutting out the Sea Kings in an inning once again.
In the bottom of the fourth, Sameshima hit a long ball to center field and reached first base. Becerra’s at-bat culminated in a long ball out to far left field where Sameshima reached home plate. Fountain Valley’s dominance continued throughout the fourth inning, as the Barons’ lead was extended by seven heading into the fifth.
The game was called after five innings, and Fountain Valley won in a shutout with a score of 23-0, and anticipates the same level of energy in their three more home games this week.
“We need to win the next three games this week and keep going,” head coach Rick Aldrich said.
Fountain Valley’s next game is at home against Calvary Chapel on Thursday at 3:15 p.m.
