With a 1-6 record in the Sierra Foothill League, it's been a tough year for Folsom High's softball team. Oak Ridge, meanwhile, seems to be coming around after a five-game losing streak a few weeks ago.
The two teams met for their second league meeting Thursday at Oak Ridge, as the Trojans looked to win their sixth straight game and the Bulldogs hoped to rebound from a 20-0 loss to Rocklin two days earlier.
When the team's met earlier in the season, Oak Ridge rolled to a 15-3 win. This time, Folsom played one of its best games and gave the Trojans all they could handle in a 3-2 Oak Ridge victory.
The Trojans scored all three of their runs in the third inning, starting with a leadoff double from Amber Orchard. After Lauren Niemiec walked, Cameron Kirtlan dropped down a bunt and was safe at first when Jacqueline Denning couldn't handle the throw, allowing Orchard to score. Three batters later with two outs, Sky Divinagracia had the game's big hit with a two-run single to center field to score pinch-runner Kelley Renner and Kirtlan.
Folsom got a run back in the fourth. Crystal Alvarez started the inning with a single and Lizzy Lavagnino then reached on an error. Kacie Hurlimann was safe on a fielder's choice, which allowed Alvarez to reach third. Taylor Grego then was out at first on a bunt, but Alvarez made it safely home once Oak Ridge pitcher Ally Orman threw to first.
Sami Allen followed with a base hit to put runners at the corners, and Oak Ridge coach Mike Martis brought it Reagen Jacobs to face Miranda Sutter. Jacobs got a big out, inducing Sutter to ground out to short to end the inning.
Folsom picked up another run in the sixth and had a good chance to get more. Hurlimann doubled inside the bag at third to put the tying run on second. Taylor Grego walked to load the bases, but Jacobs struck out Allen for the second out of the inning. Sutter followed with a single to left to cut the lead to 3-2, but Hannah Cristo grounded out to second and the inning was over.
Folsom put the tying run on second in the seventh inning, when Jessilyn Barrow walked and advanced on Denning's sacrifice bunt. Jacobs again came through in the clutch for the Trojans, getting Alvarez and Lavagnino to ground out to end the game.
"It was a nail biter," Martis said. "Their pitcher threw a great game and kept us off-balance and we did not make the adjustment."
While Martis was pleased the team earned its sixth straight win, it wasn't their best performance.
"We thought we'd just show up and put a win in the win column and you just can't do that against anybody," Martis said. "I hope they learn from this. During this win streak, we've been doing everything well and have been a complete club. We'd like to make some noise down the stretch so we have to continue to play that way."
While Folsom coach Matt Holbert was disappointed not to win, he was thrilled with his team's performance.
"This and the Granite Bay game were our two best performances of the season," Holbert said. "I was happy with everything we did. Miranda came out with a fire today and pitched absolutely fabulous. She had more pop on her ball and located well. She was mentally tough and stayed strong. Hannah at shortstop made that great catch (by the fence in foul territory in the sixth inning) and had a couple hard hit balls and awkward bounces that she handled."
Holbert told his team they put themselves in position to win the game against a strong Oak Ridge squad and told them to use the momentum gained from their performance to carry them the rest of the season.
"We had our chances and that's been the story of our season," Holbert said. "We've left a lot of runners on base. Against Nevada Union we left 14 on base. We had our chances at the plate today. We've got to learn how to manufacture runs and part of that is on me. I'm very proud of our performance today. The girls played a great game."
