By Shayan Abbasi
On Apr. 7, the Fountain Valley High School softball team took on Newport Harbor and won with a score of 9-3. Being the Barons’ third straight win, the team’s defensive side has seemed unstoppable, allowing only eight runs in the last three games.
Standout players on the offensive side included juniors Jenna Bixler, Camila Becerra, who contributed to three runs batted in (RBI) in total. On the defensive end, sophomore Courtney Kols successfully held the Newport Harbor offensive to one earned run and striking out four hitters.
The first inning opened up with junior Samantha Estrada hitting a double out to right field and reaching second base. Following this, senior Veronica Moore hit a long ball out to left field, allowing for junior Kira Velasco and Estrada to reach home, making the score 3-0. On Newport Harbor at-bat, the Barons shut out the Sailors through striking out a batter and throwing to first base.
The second inning commenced with juniors Marissa Sardinas, Delaney Mondino and Estrada all getting base hits. Mondino a bunt to reach first base, then stole second base on Estrada’s ground ball to center field. However, the Newport Harbor defense to get an out at first base, and the inning ended with neither side scoring a run.
The third inning commenced as Newport Harbor hit a home run to open up the inning. The momentum of the game shifted in favor of the sailors, as they to score two more runs to even up the game at three runs each. Stopping the Newport Harbor offense, Kols in striking out the final hitter.
Freshman Kileigh Villalobos hit a ground ball to left field, allowing Moore to reach home to score Fountain Valley’s fourth run of the game. Bixler hit a ground ball to center field, allowing both Villalobos and Makenzie Butt to reach home to score two more runs. This forced Newport Harbor to call a timeout. Though Sardinas and Mondino both recorded hits, the Newport defense got both out at first base and ended the inning.
The fourth inning started as Velasco caught a long Newport Harbor fly ball. Fountain Valley got the second out through throwing to Moore at first base. Shutting out the Sailor offense in the fourth inning, Kols successfully struck out the third batter.
Fountain Valley commenced the bottom of the fourth inning through a long ball to far left field by Estrada, just short of a home run. Moore reached first base after hitting a ground ball to left field, allowing for two Fountain Valley runners to be on base. A base hit by Becerra allowed for both Estrada and Moore to reach home, as Fountain Valley’s lead extended to eight.
The fifth inning commenced as the Barons shut out the Sailors once again by striking out one hitter and getting two runners out by throwing to Moore at first base. On the offensive end, a bunt by Mondino allowed for the bases to be loaded. A fly ball by sophomore Andrea Maldonando allowed for Bixler to reach home and score Fountain Valley’s ninth run of the game.
The sixth inning started as Fountain Valley got runners out by throwing to first and catching a fly ball. On the Barons’ at-bat, Becerra hit a long ball to center field that was caught by a Newport Harbor outfielder. Though Butt managed to get on second base, a strikeout by the Sailors led to the inning being over.
Since the Barons were ahead, only the top of the seventh inning needed to be played, as that was when the Sailors would be on offense. Fountain Valley was successful in shutting down the Sailor offense, as they threw to Moore for the first out, and caught two fly balls for the last two outs. Villalobos caught the final fly ball of the game.
The Barons’ next game is a league matchup against Newport Harbor on Tuesday, Apr. 18. It is an away game starting at 3:15 p.m.
