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Prep Roundup
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Hilmar softball defeats Hughson 12-11 after 12 inning game; playoff hopes still alive for both teams

 

Hilmar and Hughson softball put on a show to remember on Wednesday in their final league meeting of the year that ended in 12 innings as part of the international tiebreaker rule.

 

After the momentum and leads swung to one side and back to another in a drastic way during the game, in the end, the Yellowjackets of Hilmar were able to fend off the Huskies of Hughson, and keep their postseason hopes very much alive.

 

“We hit the ball right at them and then other times they had base hits,” said Hilmar coach Paul Willis. “When it was over everyone took a deep breath. I mean such a good game, exciting and both teams battled. It was fun.”

 

The win gives Hilmar a 4-3 Trans-Valley League record and Hughson falls to 4-4 after starting 4-1, with both fighting for the third and fourth spot in league with just three games in league remaining.

 

Going into the fourth, the score was tied at 8-8 after multiple lead changes and ties.

 

Nobody went on to score again until the 11th inning when the international tiebreaker rule was in effect and each side exchanged two runs each.

 

Then in the 12th, McKenzie Martinez started at second base and Sarah Hughes smacked an RBI base hit to make it 11-10.

 

Kassidy Mendes then hit an RBI single to drive in Hughes for the 12th and final run. Hughson tacked on another run to make it 12-11 and had two runners in scoring position, but Hilmar starting pitcher Madison Aguiniga managed to get the final out for the win.

 

Aguiniga pitched all 12 innings and only walked two batters.

 

Hilmar's Katelyn Canella, Brielle Balswick and Hughes were 2 for 5. Mendes was 2 for 7 and Morgan Amarante was 2 for 6.

 

“When you go 12 innings, it means these girls were battling,” said Willis.

 

Hughson's Lauryn Avila was 3 for 7 with a triple. Haylee Williams was 3 for 7 and Amanda Fisher was 3 for 5.

 

“It was back and forth, neither team was going to give in. Both teams battling and working hard and neither team wanted to lose,” Willis added.

 

Hilmar will next take on Escalon on the road at 4 p.m. Friday.

 

Hughson will take on Riverbank on the road at 4 p.m. Friday.

 

 

Turlock softball tops Golden Valley, gets one up for third place in CCC

 

The Turlock varsity softball team defeated Golden Valley in a 4-0 road shutout on Wednesday.

 

With the win, the Bulldogs are now 5-8, the same as GV in the Central California Conference.

 

It is also their third win in their last four contests before heading into the final stretch of league.

 

In order to clinch that third and final spot in the CCC, Turlock will have to win out against Merced and then Pitman.

 

Turlock will take on Merced at 4 p.m. Friday.

 

 

Delhi tennis falls in second round; Turlock tennis eliminated by Oak Ridge in first match

 

Coming off a 5-4 win over Sacramento Community Day in the opening round of the CIF Sac-Joaquin section tournament, Delhi then met Rosemont in the second round and lost 3-6.

 

Turlock was hosting Oak Ridge in their first playoff match in the Sac-Joaquin Section but lost it 8-1.

 

William Anderson was the only player to manage a win for the Bulldogs.

 

“Match was much closer than the final score,” said Turlock head coach Jack Schneider. “My No. 6 player missed his third straight match for us, which forced us to tweak our doubles, which made a difference.”

 

Delhi's second round match was highly anticipated for the Hawks who have seen major success over head coach Felipe Espino's tenure.

 

Of the three wins was the No. 2 boys singles player, Jorge Carrillo, who had a 6-1, 6-1 win over Philip Garrett.

 

David Reyes and Ernesto Meza won their match at the No. 1 boys doubles and Roberto Mendoza and Evelyn Vega won their mixed doubles match.